NOVA SCOTIA REPORT: Experts discuss future outlook of our Acadian Forest
by Don Cameron

Recently the Nova Scotia section of the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF) hosted a well-attended one-day conference focused on the future of the Acadian Forests of the Maritimes. Over the last several years there has been much interest and debate regarding the health and future well-being of this type of forest, which is located across mainland Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and part of the northeastern New England states.

The keynote speaker, Karen Beazley, a Dalhousie University professor, spoke about a special project that she is part of entitled, “Science-based landscape conservation in the Northern Appalachian/Acadian Ecoregion”. She outlined how this international effort, including more than 50 organizations from the Maritime provinces, Quebec, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York have been working collaboratively. The main objective of the project from the landscape to the local level is to protect the unique, natural heritage of the Northern Appalachian/Acadian region. Karen stated that the vision of the project was to scientifically determine why the ecoregion is worth conserving, and then publicize the conclusions and affect policy to help attain the objective. 

Researchers are determining the current human footprint and then the future footprint of society in this ecoregion. Then the sites that are determined to have critical conservation values will be identified. Networks of conservation areas will be determined and analyzed using various computerized models and analysis systems. Various scenarios will be developed, given different input factors to determine future conservation targets.

Sean Basquil of the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre provided an interesting discussion regarding the pre-settlement history of the Acadian Forests. He stressed the importance of considering the scale and time period being analyzed, as there has been tremendous change over millions of years in what is now the Acadian Forest type. 

Early post-glaciation and pre-settlement historical data is available from various sources such as early land survey data, old existing trees, dendrochronology (analyzing the past through tree rings), and preserved pollen deposits in bogs (paleo-ecology).

Sean tracked climate warming post-glaciation and the resulting encroaching vegetation cover in the Maritimes, on what we now consider our native plant and tree species. He concludes that climate is the strongest determinant of forest composition and distribution. Other major influences on forest landscape patterns include post-glacial species spread and interaction, island effects, and the disturbance of mankind. Sean also acknowledged that the relationships of plant species are still relatively new, and are still changing and naturally adapting as time passes. Peter Neily, a senior forester with the Department of Natural Resources, spoke about natural disturbance regimes in the Acadian Forest of Nova Scotia. He described how natural disturbance regimes are part of the ecosystem-based management system, whereby the land base is identified according to appropriate similar characteristics, which are indicators of similar ecosystems. Natural disturbance-based management is a prescriptive method of managing the various ecosystem units.

Peter recognizes that there is much debate about the past stature of the Acadian Forest, which can vary greatly depending on perspective, time-frame, and scale. There are various disturbance agents such as fire, wind, insects, and man that may cause small or large forest disturbances over different periods of time. He stated that by man becoming so efficient at preventing and suppressing wildfires, he has dramatically decreased the amount of land burned, which at one time was common across the landscape. He also showed the routes and times of past hurricane events in the province that have caused tremendous disturbances and destruction. Surprising to many in attendance was the fact that there is currently more than 20% more forested land in the province then there was 100 years ago. The natural disturbance regimes that have been developed include frequent, infrequent, gap replacement, stand maintaining, and open seral. 

Tony Pesklevits of Dalhousie University discussed old growth forests within the Acadian Forest. He conceded the difficulties and confusion regarding the defining of old growth and its importance. He spoke of the contextual, emotional, and practical aspects of old forests such as age, structure, and the amount and type of disturbance.

Generally, the characteristics of old growth forests include large live tree stems, large snags and downed trees, decaying of dead and dying trees, uneven-aged tree canopy, and multiple vertical layers. They are composed of long-living, shade tolerant species.

Don Cameron, RPF, is CIF (NS Section) Information Officer.