Lichen discovery could halt tree harvest
Clearly, DNRR needs to authorize a proper survey ... but is that what DNRR will do or will they declare this surve y good enough ... Nina Newington Protestor
The discovery of three types of endangered lichens in a forested area of Annapolis County targeted for harvesting has protesters calling for government to pause or cancel the cutting permit.
“Lichenologist Chris Pepper’s discovery of more rare lichens in this forest confirms its value as a haven for flora, fauna and whatever exactly lichens are,” Nina Newington, a member of the group encamped on South Moutain near Beals Brook since early December to protest a planned cut there, said in a news release.
“There are so few forests of this age or older left in the province. Clearly, DNRR (Department of Natural Resources and Renewables) needs to authorize a proper survey here when it is possible to see the whole trunks of the (snow-covered) trees and also to travel further into the proposed cut block. But is that what DNRR will do, or will they declare this survey good enough, slap a 100-metre buffer zone on the individual specimens of lichens found so far, and lift the freeze they put on this harvest? Get that forest cut before anyone has a chance to find any more pesky lichens.”
The department paused the planned harvest of the 24-hectare area about a month ago after a lichen enthusiast found three kinds of rare and sensitive lichens growing on oak and maple close to the nearby swamp.
A department spokesperson said at the time that, in step with the harvesting pause, a lichenologist had been contacted to visit the site to confirm the occurrence and review the surrounding area near the harvest for other potential occurrences.
The lichenologist found three lichen species that are considered at risk, namely the Frosted Glass Whisker, the Black-foam and the Wrinkled Shingle.
Each species-at-risk specimen requires a 100-metre buffer zone around it where no cutting is supposed to take place.
Newington said local citizens protested the Natural Resources-approved cut of the 80-year-old forest as soon as they learned about it because they knew how valuable the area is to wildlife.
The locals, Newington said, were told it was too late to stop the cut.
WestFor, the mill consortium that manages Crown land in western Nova Scotia, said in late November that the cutting activity was scheduled to begin any day.
The forest protectors, including members of Extinction Rebellion, set up their Last Hope Camp on Dec. 1 and have been at the site since.
The protesters have called on government to halt the harvest and add the forest there to the protected areas leg of the triad proposed in the 2018 Lahey Report on forestry practices.
“Does DNRR actually care about protecting species at risk, whether lichens or mainland moose or wood turtle, or do they want to do the barest minimum?” Newington
asked.
“Doing the minimum required by law or, often, less than that, has been business as usual for decades. But citizens are saying no. Enough is enough. We need a livable planet and that means protecting and restoring nature. Starting here, starting now.”
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