Check out Charles Thériault’s new video. The power that an intense look and intelligent rhymes can have is truly impressive! The arts sure have their role to play in the environmental movement. Thanks to Charles Thériault for this interesting perspective on forest issues. Click here to watch the video.

“The amount of wood cut from Crown land in 2006-2007 was double what was cut in 1966-1967.  We have seen the amount of wood cut from Crown lands on a five-year average increase by roughly 80%  over the past 40 years from 2.7 million cubic metres per year in the late 1960’s to almost 5 million cubic metres in the past decade ,” said Coon.    “The bottom line is we have overcut the public forest so wood quotas have got to be reduced in 2012,” he said.  “The good news is private woodlot owners across this province have plenty of wood to sell that can make up the difference and create work at the same time,” said Coon.

Half of New Brunswick’s forest is found on Crown land, while 30% of the forest is owned by private woodlot owners.

Five Year Average    //    Volume of Wood Cut from Crown Land (millions of cubic metres)*
1967-1972                      2.7 million cubic metres
1972-1977                      3.7 million cubic metres
1977-1982                      3.1 million cubic metres
1982-1987                      3.5 million cubic metres
1987-1992                      4.4 million cubic metres
1992-1997                      4.4 million cubic metres
1997-2002                      4.9 million cubic metres
2002-2007                      8.0 million cubic metres

*Data from DNR’s Timber Utilization Survey

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Contact:  David Coon, 458-8747

Come see why this property is so important.

http://forestsinternational.org/projects/conservation-of-working-lands/

Since early 2009, CFI has been working with organic farmers and sustainable woodlot owners Clark Philips and Susan Tyler, as well as the New Brunswick Community Land Trust (NBCLT), in order to develop a succession plan for a unique 650 acre farm and Acadian Forest woodlot called Whaelghinbran Farm. Clark (74) and Susan (72), have been farming organically and practicing ecological forestry on their woodlot for over 40 years. By carefully harvesting and marketing timber they have begun a process of restoration, working to achieve the health and diversity found within the Acadian Forest Eco-region prior to European settlement. In order to continue this legacy, Clark, Susan, CFI and the NBCLT are working to uphold the principles and techniques employed at Whaelghinbran Farm through a working lands conservation agreement. CFI intends to steward the farm and woodlot under the conservation easement with a community of interested organizations and individuals, and is striving to establish a rural training centre on site.This training centre will provide students from the region with the knowledge, skills, and network necessary to become involved in a movement rooted in ecologically-based working lands in the Acadian Forest Eco-region. The multi-stakeholder community-based ecological forestry practiced at Whaelghinbran will also provide a strong example of alternative approaches to woodland management in the region.

(Fredericton)  The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, New Brunswick Chapter (CPAWS NB)  says the new Crown forest management plan announced today by the Minister of Natural Resources is a step backwards for conservation.

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS NB, said, “The new Crown forest plan reduces the overall conservation of wildlife habitats and riverbank buffers.  This is disturbing because we know that wildlife researchers believe that current conservation levels may not be enough to maintain all the kinds of native wildlife throughout the province.  The government has now approved a plan to go even further below what is needed.  This is the wrong direction for conservation.”

Clowater said, “While the plan approves an increase in protected areas from 4% of Crown forest to 8% of Crown forest, this will result in only 4.5% of the province being protected.  This is not even in the ballpark of what is needed to ensure conservation of our rivers, wilderness areas and sensitive wildlife.  New Brunswick will still have the lowest protected areas proportion in Canada, only above PEI.  As well, the new protected areas will come from the currently conserved old forest, so there is actually a net loss in area to conservation.”

“Given concerns about climate changes and uncertainty about how well we are currently conserving habitats and water, we are very concerned about the decision to go from a 5 year plan to a 10 year plan.  We believe this is a risky move, one that locks us into very limited conservation objectives, and doesn’t provide the flexibility to improve conservation for another decade.”

“CPAWS NB appreciates that the Minister took the time to review the forest plan approved by the previous government, which would have severely rolled back conservation on public land.  We’re pleased that the Minister consulted widely with the conservation community, and recognized the value of habitat conservation as in important factor in his considerations,” noted Clowater.

CPAWS had recommended that at least 17% of Crown land (8.5% of the province), including the largest patches of old forest, be designated by 2015 in permanent protected areas, where no logging or mining would take place.  This amount would move us closer to the level in other provinces, where the average amount of land protected is nearly 9%.

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Contact:

Roberta Clowater, 506-452-9902; cpawsnb{at}nb.sympatico.ca

CPAWS is New Brunswick’s voice for wilderness.  For more information on CPAWS NB and our conservation work, please visit www.cpawsnb.org

August 9 2023

Mike Holland
Minister Natural Resources and Energy Development

Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre
Floor: 3
P. O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1

Subject: An open letter

Dear Mr. Holland,

On behalf of Green Light NB Enviro Club Feu Vert and as a rural resident of the Upper Saint John River Valley, I am writing to you because of my concern about forest conservation in New Brunswick.  I am writing to you as you are the minister responsible for the protection of the NB environment – which includes forest lands, waterways such as rivers and their tributaries, and farm lands.  These three seemingly separate types of environments are interconnected and are integral parts of the Saint John River Valley ecological system.  All three are under attack due to over-exploitation; a direct consequence of clear cutting of woodlands (private and public), and intensive industrial crop management systems which favor large expanses of land in monoculture crops- specifically -- potatoes.  

One obvious result of clear-cutting of forests is the accelerated snow melt which endangers communities along the Saint John River every spring.  The over-use of farmland increases erosion resulting in tons of top soil being washed down waterways and into rivers and streams.  Along with the topsoil, chemicals and fertilizers used in potato production also find their way to the Saint John River and into the water sources of the communities along the river.

It surprises me that the provincial government is not talking more about flooding.  I searched the internet to see what the New Brunswick Government is doing to address climate change – to move this province in the direction of responsible stewardship of the environment. 

I found the infographic below on the government of New Brunswick’s website.  Though on the surface, it may look like the province is doing its share to address conservation, it falls very short of Canada’s target for conservation- which is the conservation of 30% of the nations’ land and water by 2030.  This target, in part to address climate change,  was set and agreed by 55 countries who are part of the United Nations.  This target was set to ensure that natural areas that provide essential benefits to humanity such as food, clean water, clean air and a stable climate are protected. 

 The general public is finally accepting that climate change is a reality.  Temperatures are rising, and our forests are suffering. Some tree species will not survive rising temperatures and drier conditions, and we need a variety of tree species to ensure that at least some will survive climate change.  We need a program to re-establish natural forests throughout the province where people live; not only in isolated parks, or along highways to camouflage the clearcutting of forestlands.

As illustrated by the map above, the Government of New Brunswick has decided that only 10% of the province’s environment needs protection.  The small squiggly lines on this map represent narrow strips along roadways and touristy places that the government deems worthy of protection. However, climate change is everywhere… not just a narrow strip along the Renous – Plaster Rock highway, not just 10% of the province. 

If our legacy is to protect 10% of the province’s environment, it means that 90% is unprotected.  It is startling to see that the map which illustrates the chosen protected area has a huge gap of unprotected region – that is the entire Saint John River Valley system which stretches from Edmundston to Saint John.  It is important to protect the areas where people actually live. 

The following is a list of actions that needs to be taken immediately in order to mitigate climate change:

1. Increase the target for conservation to 30% of New Brunswick’s land, in line with Canada’s and the United Nations conservation target.   
2. An immediate focus on the health of forests, specifically - identifying tree species that are dying because of climate change. 
3. Re-planting of forest must include a variety of native trees – both conifer and deciduous.
4. To slow down the spring melt, and prevent erosion, laws that protect waterways must be enforced.   This includes enforcing the prohibition of tree harvesting within the buffer zone on either side of waterways. 
5. Financial incentives to private land owners to preserve existing woodlots, especially woodlots that have a 20% or greater slope and/or are adjacent to streams and rivers.
6. Waterways on crown land must also be protected from harvesting. 

We cannot treat climate change as an exercise in window dressing along highways for the benefit of the tourist industry while 90% of New Brunswick – where NB citizens live is left unprotected in toxic industrial farm regions, such as in the upper Saint John River area.

I would like to learn what the New Brunswick government will do to protect New Brunswick’s biodiversity and the well being of our citizens.   The current targets are simply not enough. 

Sincerely,

Floranne McLaughlin
Member of Green Light NB Enviro Club Feu Vert
Grand Falls, NB

The UNESCO-designated Fundy Biosphere Reserve (FBR) has released the long awaited results of research into climate change-resilient tree species in southern New Brunswick.

The FBR recently completed an analysis of which native tree species has the most chance to prosper under changing climatic conditions over the next 100 years, as well as those that will most probably merely persevere, and which could even decline. Northern trees species like spruces, fir, birches, and poplars will likely face more insects, disease, extreme weather, and competition, which would lead to slower growth and higher mortality. By contrast, southern species such as maples, oak, pines, beech, hemlock, and cherry should have a longer growing season and thus, faster growth. 

The FBR has created a pamphlet that describes the eight ‘winners’ for the changing climate.  It describes the trees and their preferred growing conditions, so that woodlot owners, foresters, municipalities, and the general public are armed with the right information about what to plant and where

As the climate changes and less-resilient species begin to decline and disappear, the Acadian Forest composition in southern New Brunswick (as well as throughout the Maritimes) will also change. This means that the forest as we know it today will later contain fewer of those northern species, and probably more of these “winners”. But the forest will need help from residents of the region, notably in planting these resilient species.

By planning ahead for climate change and planting tree species that have a better chance to thrive, we can help ensure that there will be healthy and beautiful trees in our neighborhoods and parks as well as in the forest, to be enjoyed by generations to come. An informative brochure has thus been developed to help 

The other component of this research is related to forest corridors. As climate change and deforestation affect the forest, wildlife can become cut-off.  The FBR is working with other organizations to try and establish forest corridors based on areas with climate change resilient trees, helping plants and animals move freely around the FBR or to and from Nova Scotia.

Commentary - February 27, 2014
Scientists Concerned Upcoming New Brunswick Forestry Plan will Eliminate too Much Habitat

We are writing as a collective of concerned scientists and professionals who have spent many decades studying the needs of wildlife, healthy forests, and rivers in New Brunswick. Less than two years ago (March 2012), the Minister of Natural Resources announced a new 10-year Crown forest management plan that, while not acceptable to all, at least attempted to hold the line on keeping a minimum amount of habitat for wildlife, and appropriate buffers along rivers and streams. This was a plan that the Department developed after a year of consultation with wildlife researchers, forest companies, hunting and angling groups, environmental groups and First Nations. It was supposed to have set the amount of forest managed for conservation goals at 28% of the public forest. This was the bare minimum deemed necessary by government wildlife managers to make sure we have enough old forest to maintain healthy populations of our wildlife. The 2012 plan would have reduced clearcutting in certain Acadian mixed-forests, and reduced the amount of wood logged from hardwood stands to make sure there will be enough hardwoods to log in the future.

We thought the 2012 plan was the path forward. Now we are deeply concerned to learn that a new plan has been in development behind the scenes, government is apparently ignoring previous recommendations from their own staff, and did not ask for input or feedback from wildlife researchers or others who could speak on behalf of the public’s stated priority values - water, wildlife and basic sustainability of the forest.

The Premier in his 2014 State of the Province address, and Minister of Natural Resources in recent media interviews, both alluded to a new strategy that will allocate more wood to the province’s mills. Having not been part of the discussions that led to these decisions, we cannot be sure where this wood will come from. Since all Crown forest is already allocated, we are concerned the wood will come from buffer strips on brooks and wetlands, from deer yards, and from the small pockets of forest used to maintain wildlife and old forest. We are left to wonder if the wood will come from these previously conserved habitat areas, taking us below the minimums that are deemed necessary for wildlife and the health of our rivers. If this is what is being proposed, we believe it would be an irresponsible plan that will have serious negative consequences for the sustainability of our public forests for a long time to come.

Roberta Clowater (Executive Director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-NB Chapter); Dr. Tom Beckley (Professor, Forestry and Environmental Management, UNB); Dr. Tony Diamond (Research Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Biology Dep’t and Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Management, UNB); Dr. Graham Forbes (Director, New Brunswick Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, UNB); Dr. Roger Roy (Professor and Interim Director, School of Forestry, UdeM); Dr. Marc-André Villard (Professor, Biology, Université de Moncton).

www.cpawsnb.org

Since 2019, New Brunswick has begun the largest increase in land protection in the province’s
history, promising to protect 10% of New Brunswick’s public land.

This month the government of New Brunswick announced almost 100,000 ha of new protected
areas. This is another step towards reaching their 10% goal. CPAWS NB is continuing to
encourage the government to fulfill their promise and prioritize both nature protection, and a
commitment to collaboration with Indigenous Nations to set out a path for future conservation
action.

Click here to send a letter to thank the government for taking this step and encourage them to
keep the momentum going!

Public Forest Conservation Campaign – Fall 2011

The provincial government will be deciding this fall whether to go ahead with the previous government’s plan for public forest use and conservation. The plan that was on the table would decrease the amount of forest that is managed specifically to conserve deer wintering habitat, old forests and stream bank buffer zones.

Based upon what we have learned from the Department of Natural Resources, this could mean a reduction of as much as 25% (one quarter) of some of these habitats. At the same time, the amount of plantations on public land would be increased to 28% of Crown forest.

The new Minister of Natural Resources has announced he will re-examine the previous plan this fall, and will announce a new forest plan after December.

New Brunswickers have rejected this before

The majority of the public told the Select Committee on Wood Supply in 2004 that they do not want fish and wildlife habitat to be sacrificed to increase wood supply. The Select Committee rejected industry’s request to put a cap on conservation zones, and instead recommended that the amount of clear-cutting be reduced.

A 2007 survey of the New Brunswick public showed that the overwhelming majority of people surveyed place highest priority on the forest’s protection of fresh water, air and wildlife habitat (Public views on forest management in New Brunswick: Report from a provincial survey).

Both the Select Committee hearings and the survey of New Brunswickers showed that our citizens expect government to stand up for what the people want, and to work with the natural forest we have.

The public also expressed they want more say in how forests are managed. Government has still not implemented any real public consultation strategy to involve the public in the public’s forest.

Will the government listen this time? We think yes.

We believe there is a real opening for New Brunswickers to speak up on behalf of our forests once again. This is a new government, and the Minister said he wants to hear more from conservationists and First Nations.

Please write a letter that tells government what is important to you about our forest, and what you expect government to do.

Send your letter to: Bruce Northrup, Minister of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1, and a copy to your MLA. We can provide a list of MLAs if you are not sure.

Make a short version of your letter and send it as a letter to the editor to your local newspaper, or one of the daily newspapers.

If you are part of a community group or NGO that would like to invite one of us to speak to your group on this topic (to answer questions, provide more detail), please contact us, as below.

For more information, please contact forest@ccnbaction.ca. More detailed information can be found on the following web sites: www.acadianforest.ca; www.cpawsnb.org.

Prepared by Crown Lands Network steering committee (CCNB Action, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-NB Chapter, Meduxnekeag River Society, Nature NB, Public for the Protection of the Forests of NB), a caucus of the NB Environmental Network.

We've been waiting over a year since many hundreds of people who care about New Brunswick's wilderness submitted comments to the provincial government on a proposal for new protected natural areas. The candidate areas included old forests, sensitive wildlife habitats, and wild rivers located in all corners of New Brunswick. More than a year later, the province still hasn’t announced what will happen with those candidate areas and while we wait for them to decide, industrial development approvals are proceeding at a rapid pace.

We need your help to keep the pot boiling so these proposed protected areas don’t drop off the province’s agenda. Please take a moment right now to send a simple letter to the Minister of Natural Resources, asking about the status of these candidate protected areas.

Take Action Now - Go to this link to write a letter: http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2463/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14746

Currently, only 3% of New Brunswick is under any form of permanent protection. With your help, we can change that.Take action today!

The Rural Community of Upper Miramichi, Central NB Woodmen’s Museum and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick are proud to present the Upper Miramichi Forest Festival on Sunday, August 21st from 11am-4pm at the Woodmen’s Museum and Upper Miramichi Community Park (6342 Route 8, Boiestown). The first ever forest festival will also mark the official opening of the Upper Miramichi Community Park.

The forest festival will feature:

Morning run with the Miramichi River Runners

Wild blueberry pancake brunch

Vendors displaying wild berry jams & jellies, fiddleheads, crafts, wreaths and soaps.

A “Taste of Metepenagiag Tour” with berry teas and a demonstration of sealing a birch bark canoe with spruce gum.

Learn how to make cedar shingles, inoculate logs for shitake mushrooms and make soap.

Laugh out loud at a play by the The Saplings Theatre Production.

Join a forest scavenger hunt designed for all ages and learn how to identify the variety of flora and food in our forest.

Enjoy a game of horseshoes or washers, face-painting, tours of the Museum grounds and forest games for kids.

Learn about Upper Miramichi’s community forest initiatives. Check out a showcase of maps of Upper Miramichi’s forest produced by Mojo Mapping, Fundy Model Forest, the Rural Municipality of Upper Miramichi & the Conservation Council. Videos and literature on community forestry initiatives will be on hand for you to check out.

Enjoy a great day with family and friends and discover the many wonders and opportunities that our forest provides.

For more information, visit Upper Miramichi Community Forest Partnership at http://www.uppermiramichic​ommunityforest.org/

Detailed schedule coming soon!

1(tie) 

-First nations: "You will not be bringing this(shale gas) to our territories" 

-Don't forget about the Pipelines


2(tie) 

- Don't vote Red or Blue- any colour but that.

- Take our province back, take our government back.

- Take corporations out of politics

- Look to areas that have succeeded in transitioning to a new way of thinking


3 - Treaties protect us all


4(tie)

- True consultation with First Nations

- Let's focus on what we want versus what we don't want.


5 - Demand a moratorium on fracking 

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE TOUR:
Red Dot Poll Results Summary for Woodstock, March 25 2014
- 45 citizens (approx.) in attendance


1) Shale gas moratorium

2) Consult with First Nations before entering into resource agreements.

3) Change Forest Act as BC, Quebec and Ontario have done

4) (tie)
-Discontinue subsidies to BIG corporations
-People before profi

5) (tie)
- Government needs NEW thinking esp. jobs, value added, renewables
- Windmills and small local energy generation
- Energy efficiency

6) Tour going to First Nation communities

7) (tie)
- Community bill of rights
- Contact influential people in your community.
- Education: Spread the word

8) Proportional representation

9) “ Land Caution” on Crown land