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"Protect and Preserve the Forests of Nova Scotia": Opinion Survey

February 02, 2000

A public opinion survey on forest issues released today by the federally-funded Nova Forest Alliance suggests Nova Scotians want the Province to take action to protect the environment from forestry.

The survey of 643 residents of central Nova Scotia, conducted by researchers at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the spring of 2000, concludes, "The recurring theme throughout this project is the need to protect and preserve the forests of Nova Scotia, not only for now, but for future generations." Respondents were particularly critical of clearcutting, and most (84%) want government regulations to control the practice. The results suggest that public aspirations are at loggerheads with government and industry priorities for forests, which focus on timber harvesting, usually at the expense of the environment. The Province and most of the forest industry oppose strong forestry standards, including regulations to curtail clearcutting.

Public slams clearcutting, as only 1% oppose clearcutting restrictions

Specific survey results include:

Just 1% believe "there should be no restrictions placed upon clearcutting", while 87% believe clearcutting should be permitted only in certain cases or banned altogether. 84% want the provincial government to introduce regulations to control clearcutting.
Only 15% believe that the clearcutting of public (Crown) lands is acceptable.
Private landowners would accept cutting restrictions on their land by almost a 3 to 1 margin.
85% believe that "the most important objective of forest management should be environmental protection".
At least 80% feel current forest uses threaten wildlife and fish habitat.
Only 12% disagree that "Nova Scotia will have very little harvestable wood in 10-20 years".
78% want more action to protect old growth forests.
Only 3% believe that "protecting jobs in the forest industry is more important than protecting the environment.
80% agree that "forest companies should do more to protect the environment, even if it results in the loss of some jobs".
Respondents agree, by a 6 to 1 margin, that Nova Scotia has too little protected wilderness.

Conservationists say the survey sends a strong message to the Province to introduce regulations curtailing clearcutting. "Today we're logging without laws, it's a free-for-all out in the woods. The public isn't buying assurances from the mills and Natural Resources that clearcutting regulations aren't needed", according to Kermit deGooyer of the Ecology Action Centre. He says the Province should eliminate clearcutting on public lands, restrict it on private lands through regulations and incentives, and eliminate government subsidies to companies and landowners who clearcut. But he cautions that moving ahead will require political will. "This survey should help convince MLAs that the public would support efforts to safeguard Nova Scotia's forests from destructive practices."

Survey results are considered accurate to within 3% nineteen times out of 20. Urban and rural respondents did not differ significantly in their views. A free copy of the survey is available by contacting the Nova Forest Alliance at 902.639.2921.

Provincial regulations proposed for this fall have been widely criticized for being far too weak. They do not address clearcutting. In 1997, over 680 km² of Nova Scotia's forests were clearcut, an area half the size of Antigonish County.

Please Note: The full survey results report is available on the Nova Forest Alliance website. Direct link: http://www.novaforestalliance.com/media/documents/publicperceptions.pdf