Features Environment & Sustainability
Nova Scotia creates advisory committee to focus on forestry

The Department of Natural Resources has created a Forest Biodiversity Science Advisory Committee to enhance the management of Nova Scotia’s Crown-owned woodlands. The committee includes experts on forest science, biodiversity, ecological planning and spatial modelling.

Natural Resources Minister Lloyd Hines thanked the participants, and said: “I know their contributions will add tremendous value as we move forward in improving forest management in Nova Scotia.”

During quarterly meetings, the members share knowledge and guidance as Nova Scotia moves to landscape-scale management of Crown-owned lands. Only 35 per cent of all land in Nova Scotia is owned by the province. Meaning most forest lands in the province are privately owned and managed.

“The members of the new committee have very extensive and broad experience of biodiversity science,” said Sherman Boates, chair of the committee. “Their independent advice will improve government’s capacity to address complex biodiversity conservation and resource-use issues.”

Members of the Forest Biodiversity Science Advisory Committee are:
– Sherman Boates, Department of Natural Resources, PhD, chair
– Peter Duinker, Dalhousie University, PhD, forest science expert
– Tom Herman, Acadia University, PhD, biodiversity expert
– Thom Erdle, University of New Brunswick, PhD, spatial modelling expert
– Graham Forbes, University of New Brunswick, PhD, ecological planning expert
– Peter Bush, Department of Natural Resources, PhD