New Forest Research Program in Nova Scotia

Halifax – Northern Pulp Nova Scotia is creating a new Forest Research Program in the province. Northern Pulp’s initiative and $1 million investment over five years will drive research to study the impacts of current forest management practices and help shape and improve forest management strategies in the future.

“As one of Nova Scotia’s largest forest products companies, the health and sustainability of the forest ecosystem is extremely important,” said Michael McLarty, Timberlands Manager at Northern Pulp Nova Scotia. “We believe the best way to maintain a healthy forest and ecosystem, while producing forest products to meet society’s needs in a safe and economical manner, is to continually gain more knowledge and understanding of the impacts of applied forest management strategies.”

The Forest Research Program will be chaired by Dr. Peter Duinker, Director and Professor, School for Resource and Environmental Studies and Associate Dean Research with Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Management. “I am deeply impressed that a Nova Scotia forest-products company would make such a huge commitment to improving forest-management knowledge through research”, said Dr. Duinker. “There is strong potential to match the company’s research funds with money from Canada’s granting councils, so we are anticipating a vigorous research program on sustainable forest management.”

Northern Pulp’s investment will fund and support the Forest Research Program’s research in several areas that will be determined through a needs assessment and discussions with the Advisory Committee. This investment is instrumental to conduct scientific research specific to Nova Scotian forests and will help to influence further investment from national foundations and departments. Northern Pulp is looking forward to working with other forest-sector stakeholders and resource and environmental professionals to establish a baseline of research that will help guide improved forest management strategies and ultimately a future of healthy and vibrant forests for all to enjoy.

Over the next several months, Dr. Duinker along with Northern Pulp will invite members of industry, academia and other stakeholder areas, including government, to join the Forest Research Program Advisory Committee. The next step will be a needs assessment to ensure the research conducted delivers relevant, meaningful and defensible results while maximizing resources.

“For more than 40 years, our team at Northern Pulp has successfully used existing science in managing Nova Scotia forests,” said Wayne Gosse, CEO and CFO for Northern Pulp. “We have learned over this time that society’s needs and our natural systems are ever-evolving and there is a need for up-to-date in-depth forest research like this Forest Research Program.”