The
North Mountain
Old Forest
A Non-Profit Group
Helping woodlot owners manage woodlots in the context of Acadian old forest restoration.
Nova Scotia CANADA
Who are we? * Why are we
concerned? * What
are our goals?
For the long term * How you can join us * Now underway!
* Links
View scenes from ...
Low-impact logging with horses * Planting old-forest trees * Our work with nesting boxes!
Who Are We?
We are a non-profit group
founded in January 2001, dedicated to ensuring the long-term well-being of
privately owned woodlands in Nova Scotia. We are woodlot owners, foresters,
ecologists, and concerned members of the
Why Are We Concerned?
Acadian old-growth forests take hundreds of years to form. They are complex and diverse, containing trees of all ages from seedlings to old giants. Unfortunately, these old forests are severely threatened by large-scale changes made by humans. They presently exist only as tiny islands within a growing sea of even-aged young softwoods, single-species plantations, and clearcuts. These tiny habitat fragments can only be inhabited by very small populations of old-forest species, and thus their populations are extremely vulnerable to becoming extinct.
If we can protect and restore
Acadian old-growth forests, we will save a vital source of * watershed
protection * wildlife habitat * biological diversity * scientific information *
valuable timber * human livelihoods * and recreation.
To increase awareness that Acadian old-growth forests are unique and valuable - and that they are threatened;
To develop methods of restoring old-growth characteristics to younger, second-growth forests, that enhance their ecological, economic, and social values;
To support and facilitate
initiatives for old-growth forest restoration and conservation, by providing
educational, financial, and human resources.
For The Long Term
Ultimately, we hope to expand the representation of old-growth forests, and ensure that these ecosystems are protected far into the future.
To achieve these ends, we are working towards a concept of forest stewardship that balances a diversity of values - ecological, economic, and social.
If
you are interested in old-forest ecology, restoration and conservation, or if
you're a woodlot owner who wants to learn more about forest stewardship for the
long term, please get in touch with us. We welcome your knowledge, ideas, and
energy. Together, we can make a significant contribution to the cause of
old-forest restoration and conservation. 
Contact
us at:
The North Mountain Old Forest Society
RR#5 Canning, Nova Scotia, B0P 1H0
Telephone: (902) 582-1208
E-mail: djbishop@glinx.com
Our First Project Now Underway!
Thanks to initial funding from Environment Canada's EcoAction 2000 Community Funding Program, The North Mountain Old Forest Society started work on its first project early in 2001. Entitled "Restoring Old-Forest Integrity on Private Woodlands", the project is designed to initiate old-forest restoration within younger forests. To date 19 North Mountain woodlots have had some sort of restoration work done, extending from Scott's Bay to Morden.
In January 2001, we began by selectively harvesting trees of the second-growth type (such as white spruce, white birch, and balsam fir) using low-impact logging with horses. This was meant to change the tree species mix, by opening up small areas to make room for old-forest species.
Each year since 2001 participants planted tree seedlings. The species are typical of Acadian old-growth forests: red spruce, white pine, eastern hemlock, yellow birch, white ash, and red oak, and sugar maple. They are more toterant to shaded growing conditions, longer lived, and grow larger in diameter than the species found in younger forests.
To date we've built and installed over 300 nest boxes intended for a wide array of old forest wildlife. Many animals, like flying squirrels, barred owls, and fishers, normally require large, mature, or dead trees for nesting cavities. These trees are typical of old forests, but scarce in younger forests. The nest boxes will provide nesting habitat until the forests produce nesting sites on their own.
