In partnership with Nova Scotia Natural Resources and Renewables (NRR) and Disaster Financial Assistance of Nova Scotia (DFA), the Association for Sustainable Forestry (ASF) is coordinating a cleanup program which will assist landowners whose woodlots have been significantly impacted by windthrow caused by Hurricane Fiona.

Incentives will assist with cleanup and removal of merchantable wood fibre, and renewal of existing boundary lines.

Rates for softwood have been increased due to drying of stem wood since the windthrow event in September 2022.

For more information, contact the Association for Sustainable Forestry. Call 902.899.5066, 902.324.0811 or e-mail fiona@asforestry.com.

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Cleanup Challenge

Introduction

The Province of Nova Scotia is funding a program of evaluation and assistance for the purpose of cleaning up low-grade fibre resulting from Hurricane Fiona damage. This program will help meet multiple objectives including but not limited to reducing the risk of forest fires, reducing habitat for invasive pests, creating areas where young healthy forests can thrive.

Natural Resources and Renewables, NRR, is providing funding to the Association for Sustainable Forestry (ASF), to implement a Fiona low-grade fibre Clean-up Program. The funding may be payable to Landowners, Harvesting contractors, Trucking contractors, Private operators.

Objective

The ASF will call for forest industry operators to propose incentive-based programs (up to 2 years) to support the clean-up of low-grade fiber from private lands damaged by Hurricane Fiona.

The ASF will work with industry, key organizations, private operators to propose innovative and effective solutions to recover marketable low-grade fibre, while producing economic benefits.

Program Proposals

The ASF is accepting proposals from the sector for the purpose of cleaning up low-grade fiber resulting from Hurricane Fiona on private lands. Proposals will include; Species, Volumes, Location, Timeline, Budget, and will need to consider effects on Private Landowners, Contractors (harvesting and trucking) as well as the Forest Industry in general.

The proposals will be assessed and discussed with NRR. Approved proposals will be outlined with a budget, timelines and documentation.

Contact Us

Paul Gilbert
902-899-5066
Paul@asforestry.com

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Forms

ONLINE REQUEST FORM or PDF Version (113KB)
ONLINE CLAIM FORM or PDF Version (223KB)
ONLINE CHALLENGE CLAIM FORM or PDF Version (208KB)

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Post Hurricane Fiona Satellite Imagery

Post-Fiona Imagery (arcgis.com)

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Frequently Asked Questions

For information and details on the Hurricane Fiona cleanup funding assistance – CLICK HERE

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Biodiversity and Nutrient Sustainability Guidelines for Clean-up Operations on Private Lands

Fiona Salvage Guidelines Private (PDF)
SusMAI Tables (XLS)

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Rates

Severe Damage ($617.50/ha)
A forested area where >75% of the trees are blown down, has stems broken or are leaning at greater than 15 degrees from vertical.

Moderate ($325/ ha)
A forested area where 50% to 75% of the trees are blown down, had stems broken or are leaning greater than 15 degrees from vertical.

Blended ($474.50/ ha)*
A forested area where the damage is moderate or greater, but highly variable and cannot be placed completely in the severe or moderate category.
* If the opinion of the Association

Previously Treated Stands ($325/ha)
A forested stand, previously treated by merchantable silviculture prior to September 23, 2022. These stands are only eligible for the moderate category.

Hardwood Clean-up ($1000/ha)*
A >50% hardwood forested area where >50% of the trees are blown down, has stems broken or leaning at greater than 15 degrees from vertical.
*Minimum property (PID) area is 4 hectares

Boundary Line Identification ($500/km)*
To cleanup existing and established boundary lines on cleanup areas that are bordered by a boundary line.
*Only those sections of boundary lines forming part(s) of the clean-up area are eligible for this assistance.

Boundary Line Retracement/Establishment ($1500/km)*
Means to engage the services of a licensed Nova Scotia land surveyor for the purposes of re-tracing an existing boundary line that cannot be found or the establishment of a new boundary line.
*Only those sections of boundary lines forming part(s) of the clean-up area are eligible for this assistance.

Challenge Rates
For area-based submissions that are not associated with a low grade clean up proposal, the following rates will be used for all applicable harvest areas.

Zone 1 (South of the 104 in Colchester County and all other counties to the east of the 106 highway to the Pictou causeway) – $1,800/ha
Zone 2 (North of the 104 in Colchester County and Cumberland County and to the west of the 106 highway to the Pictou causeway) – $2,200/ha

These submissions will be approved only for blocks with >50% low grade pulp/ha and approved area-based claims cannot be used or overlapped with another Fiona low grade proposal. This structure is subject to change in short notice due to changing markets.

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Clean-up Treatment Criteria

• Areas claimed for clean-up must have evidence of removal of wood products and left in a condition suitable for reforestation by planting (which may include site preparation) or natural regeneration. Completed clean-up areas must be able to be 70% stocked to commercial forest species at 2.4m x 2.4m spacing. Future silvicultural operations will not be hindered by excessive amounts of un-clean-up material, or by dangerous trees or overhead hazards.
• The Association shall confirm the accuracy of all claimed areas.

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Boundary Line Identification Criteria

Boundary line identification is the process of cutting out and clearing an existing boundary line to make it more visible.