Nova Scotia - Ontario
Conservation Initiatives
Neenah Paper Company of Canada - Nova Scotia Division operates a
bleached kraft pulp mill at Abercrombie Point, Nova Scotia, and its Woodlands
operation is coordinated from Debert, Nova Scotia.
Neenah Paper's pulp mill is the key driver of the forest economy in central
Nova Scotia. Together with its 325 employees and a large workforce of
independent contractors, the mill produces approximately 260,000 tonnes of
softwood and hardwood kraft pulp annually. The Woodlands operation is also
supported by a large number of independent contractors throughout central
Nova Scotia.
Neenah Paper is the largest private forestland owner in Nova Scotia, and it
holds a significant crown license. Its freehold land base, of approximately
400,000 hectares, represents 10.3% of the total forested land in Nova Scotia,
which accounts for 15% of the privately owned forestland. This land extends
from Cape Chignecto and the Annapolis Valley in the west, to Antigonish and
Guysborough counties in the east. The crown license of approximately 80 000
hectares, granted in 1965, accounts for 7.6% of the provincial crown forestland
in the province, and it is situated in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The company has been operating in Nova Scotia since the 1920s, first as
Hollingsworth & Whitney; it merged with Scott Paper Company in 1954. In
1995, Kimberly-Clark Corporation merged with Scott Paper Company. In 2004,
the pulp mill and Woodlands assets became part of the newly created Neenah
Paper Company of Canada.
Neenah Paper is third party certified to a forestry standard referred to as the
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and to an environmental standard referred
to as ISO14001. These are rigorous processes, and as a forest manager, Neenah
Paper is proud to have achieved these standards. Neenah Paper takes pride in
displaying the SFI logo to demonstrate its participation in a comprehensive
forest management program that combines environmental stewardship and
sound business practices.
For a complete copy of the standard visit:
www.aboutsfi.org
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
As part of Neenah's stewardship program, several unique areas have been
protected by the company for many years. Two of these, old growth red
spruce at Abrahams' Lake in Halifax County and Spencers' Island in the Bay of
Fundy have been given to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to be
preserved for future generations. Abrahams' Lake features some of the
oldest red spruce trees in Nova Scotia. Spencers' Island is one of a handful of
islands in the Bay of Fundy and is a virtually untouched sanctuary for
seabirds.
Neenah has worked with the Province of Nova Scotia to make available
thousands of hectares of company lands for ongoing public enjoyment. Two
such unique sites are the highlands at the Cape Chignecto Park and lands
around Cumberland County's beautiful Economy Falls. The Neenah Paper has
also released several thousand hectares of its crown-leased lands for parks
and wilderness areas. These are located at the Clattenburg Brook, White Lake
and Tangier Lake Wilderness areas, and as well as, Boogs Lake and Taylor
Head.
Protection of Special Sites and Forests
with Exceptional Conservation Value
YEAR
ECODISTRICT
PROPERTY
RELEASED TO
AREA
1992
Cobequid Hills
Cape Chignecto
Province of Nova Scotia
5830##
2000
Cobequid Slopes
Economy Falls
Province of Nova Scotia
90*
2003
Central Uplands
Deyarmont Lake
NCC
150*
In Progress
Cobequid Slopes
Economy Falls
Province of Nova Scotia
139##
In Progress
Cobequid Hills
Hidden Falls
Province of Nova Scotia
52##
1978
Eastern Granite Uplands
Tangier Grand
Province of Nova Scotia
28555#
1993/94
Eastern Interior Governor Lake
Abraham Lake
NCC
320*
1999
Eastern Granite Uplands
Mooseland Road
Province of Nova Scotia
1750*
1999
Eastern Drumlins
Kelly Lake
Province of Nova Scotia
204#
In Progress
Eastern Interior
Dollar Lake
Province of Nova Scotia
20#
1992
Northumberland Lowlands
Monroe's Island
Province of Nova Scotia
130*
1992
Central Lowlands
Falmouth Watershed
Municipality of the District of West Hants
91*
2001
LaHave Drumlins
Hardwood Lake
Nova Scotia Nature Trust
137*
2001
Eastern Shore
Clam Harbour
Province of Nova Scotia
109#
1996
Parrsboro Shore
Spencer's Island
NCC
8*
* Land Donation
** Financial Contribution with Other Partners
# Crown Lease Released
## Land Trade
Nova Scotia
In 2002, Neenah Paper initiated the development of an Integrated Resource
Management Pilot Project in the Eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, with a
focus on wildlife management. Neenah Paper worked with a wildlife
biologist and created a proposal that combined wildlife management
guidelines, a master's level research project, wildlife mapping flights,
wetland/waterfowl management resources, and a consultation in the
development of a final management plan that would serve as a blueprint for
management in other areas of the forest. Neenah Paper now looks forward
to the final plan report prepared in 2005.
Extensive research has been done on the area of biodiversity with a focus on
ecosystem representation, but maintaining broad forest plant communities
and forest wildlife considerations with a special emphasis on the
identification and tracking of species at risk. Biodiversity strategy is a
complex area of forest management, and Neenah Paper looks forward to the
continuous improvements in the development of its program.
Water Quality Management
Neenah Paper is Committed to Protecting
Water Quality on all of its Lands.
Neenah Paper has implemented special provisions with regard to the
location and the schedule of harvesting in watersheds that serve as a
community water supply. This is consistent with the primary goal of Neenah
Paper's Environmental Management System, that is, the protection of soil
and water in forest management. Neenah Paper's forest lands overlap with a
number of municipal water supply areas. A large number of these areas have
been designated as "Protected Water Areas" under Section 106 of the Nova
Scotia Environment Act. Water supply areas pertain to drinking water supply
areas and river intakes. The locations of designated and non-designated
water supply areas, on and adjacent to company managed lands, are
available on the GIS system.
As the largest private landowner in Nova Scotia, Neenah is the steward of
about 27,530 hectares of some of the Province's most valued wetlands. To
ensure these delicate areas are protected, the company has become an
active partner with the Federal and Provincial Governments in the Eastern
Habitat Joint Venture part of the North America Waterfowl Management
Program.
Wildlife Conservation
Neenah Paper has developed programs to address species identified in the
Species at Risk (SAR) Act and the Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act.
Neenah Paper provides all contractors and staff with materials and training
to assist in the identification of these species in the field. Ecological land type
information and a Department of Natural Resources wildlife habitat
information layer are incorporated in the GIS to assist company planning
staff with the development of plans to manage wildlife habitat. Neenah
Paper has been collecting data on SAR occurrences on company land, and
provides this information to DNR biologists on a quarterly basis.
Nova Scotia
Neenah Paper has set aside additional areas for wildlife based on unique
attributes. These areas identified for moose management and bat
management are located on the special places GIS layer. Operating plans are
not being developed for these areas.
In addition to the work with the Department of Natural Resources to
delineate special areas, and to manage wildlife on a specific site basis,
Neenah Paper has also participated in cooperative wildlife management
projects and organizations, including the St. Mary's River Project, the Eastern
Habitat Joint Venture, Ducks Unlimited, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, and the
Nova Scotia Salmon Federation.
A list of Ducks Unlimited projects are included in the table below. On the
projects where water level is controlled to create wetland conditions, the
riparian special management areas will be extended to 30m. The location of
these wetlands are available on the GIS system. Additional information on
each site is available from the Long Term Planning Leader. The project sites
are monitored annually by Ducks Unlimited.
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
EXPIRY
Gough Brook,
Cumberland County
County Water level control to maintain and improve wetland as habitat
For wildlife and waterfowl; beaver leveler installed to control beaver damage.
April/2024
Mill Brook,
Cumberland County
Water level control to maintain and improve wetland as habitat
For wildlife and waterfowl; beaver leveler installed to control beaver damage.
Expired but
continues
Davis Lake,
Colchester County
Water level control to maintain and improve wetland as habitat
For wildlife and waterfowl; fishway installed to provide passage for fish.
Expired but
continues
Robinson Brook,
Hants County
Water level control to maintain and improve wetland as habitat
For wildlife and waterfowl; fishway installed to provide passage for fish.
March/2034
Bayhead,
Colchester County
Water level control to maintain and improve wetland as habitat
For wildlife and waterfowl; beaver leveler installed to control beaver damage.
Dec/2005
Ozie Meadow,
Kings County
Right of way access to Ozie Meadow dam
N/A
Big Meadow Brook,
Colchester County
Water level control to maintain and improve wetland as habitat
For wildlife and waterfowl; beaver leveler installed to control beaver damage.
Sept/2009
Working in Partnership
Nova Scotia
Neenah Paper woodlands staff has always worked diligently to ensure that
company owned lands are shared with organizations and the general public
to the widest extent possible. An essential part of this approach is the
company's open road policy that enables the use of thousands of kilometers
of company built roads for year-round outdoor recreation.
Each year, Neenah Paper welcomes thousands of responsible land users to its
forest lands. They include: hunters, fishermen, hikers, snowmobilers, and A.T.V.
users.
Neenah Paper has found common ground with outdoor recreational vehicle
groups through progressive partnerships with the Snowmobile Association of
Nova Scotia and the All Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia. With these
partners, Neenah Paper works to ensure that the forest environment is
protected through the development of responsible use guidelines.
Gitten's Lodge was conceived in the 1960s as an environmental centre in
partnership with the former Nova Scotia Teacher's College. The land where the
lodge was built was leased to the college and protected in 1973 as a wildlife
management area under the Lands and Forests Act. Gitten's Lodge is now
managed in partnership with the Nova Scotia Community College, and in
1993, an ecological study program was developed for the site. In an average
year, approximately 1500 children and 150 adults use Gitten's Lodge and
surrounding property as an educational/nature retreat.The Prince Andrew
Woodlawn Environmental Enhancement and Conservation Association
(PAWEECA) is a student driven non-profit organization located at Prince
Andrew High School in Dartmouth. PAWEECA initiates projects that enhance
the school, the community, the province, and the global neighborhood.
Neenah Paper has worked with the students since 2002 through their "Trees
for Kids" program. The Debert nursery donates annually about 20,000
seedlings to this cause, and to date the students have successfully raised
$50,000 for the benefit of the IWK Hospital for Sick Children.
Neenah Paper is an active member of the Forest Products Association of Nova
Scotia (FPANS); participates on the Board of Directors of the association; and
has memberships on the technical and communications committee. FPANS
represents the forests products producers of NS, and works to conserve the
productivity of forest lands; to sustain natural forest ecological processes; and
to provide continued employment, recreational benefits, and cultural benefits
to Nova Scotians. www. nsfpa.ns.ca
In cooperation with the Canadian Woodlands Forum and the Forests Products
Association of Nova Scotia, Neenah Paper participates in the annual Atlantic
Teachers' Tour to promote interaction and understanding between educators
and the forestry industry.
Historic Sites
Neenah Paper supports the preservation and enhancement of sites of historic
significance on our lands. The Iceandic Cairn commemorates the Markland
settlement, an area where settlers from Iceland established a community and
lived between 1875 and 1882. Neenah Paper manages this site in a manner
consistent with its preservation. For more information please visit:
www.nova-scotia-icelanders.ednet.ns.ca/markland.html.
Prince Andrew Woodlawn
Environmental Enhancement and
Conservation Association (PAWEECA)
Ontario
Neenah Paper Company of Canada - Ontario Division is responsible for the
management of the Kenogami Forest under the authority of a Sustainable
Forestry License (SFL) issued by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Neenah Paper recognizes the importance of the sustainable management of
forest lands of this magnitude from a social, economic, and environmental
perspective.
Neenah Paper has been actively involved in numerous conservation
initiatives over its 60+ years of forest management, most recently involved in
Ontario's Living Legacy (OLL) program. This program reflects the Province's
commitment to permanently protect 12% of Ontario's land base to represent
significant ecosystems within the Province. It is important to note that 15.5%
of the land base in northwestern Ontario, (where the Kenogami SFL is
located) has been set aside as Protected Areas. In addition, a new provincial
guideline requires the placement and configuration of a range of clearcut
sizes to simulate more natural disturbance patterns on a landscape level. On a
stand level basis, this guideline also requires that patches of standing timber
be retained on clearcut areas to provide biological structure to the site.
Classification of the Crown Managed Forest Area
Ontario
Neenah Paper's forest management plan requires many of our forests areas to
be set aside for the protection of a wide variety of interest (including social,
habitat and cultural values). Only 72% of the land base was considered as
Crown managed forest area available for timber production, during the strategic
modeling associated with the Kenogami Forest 2000-25 Forest Management
Plan. For strategic modeling purposes, the forest area was classified into three
broad categories: Reserved Forest, Non-Forest and Available Forest.
Non-Forest:
342,369 hectares
Available Forest:
1,402,169 hectares
17%
Reserved Forest:
207,618 hectares
11%
72%
Deferrals of Available Forest Area
Neenah Paper, along with a multi-disciplinary planning team comprised of
other stakeholders and representatives of the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, develop management objectives and strategies to ultimately
determine what land is harvested and what land is managed for social, wildlife
and conservation values. A total of 356,083 hectares was deferred from the
Available Forest (a reduction of 16%), to reflect caribou habitat strategies
applicable for a 100-year time period. A similar management strategy was
employed for the marten habitat, where an additional 135,537 hectares (a
reduction of 9.7%) has been deferred from harvest for a 60-year period. These
strategies to manage for the provision of caribou and marten habitat amount
to deferrals (reductions) of over 25% of the Net Available Forest.
Of the total area on the Kenogami Forest, almost 50% is actually identified
as unavailable for harvesting. On the areas that are selected for harvest
operations, restrictive measures are prescribed and enforced to protect all
identified values.
Deferrals for the Provision
of Caribou & Marten Habitat:
356,083 hectares
Non-Forest:
342,369 hectares
17%
Reserved Forest:
207,618 hectares
18%
11%
54%
Net Available Forest:
1,046,086 hectares
Parks and Conservation Initiatives on
the Kenogami License
A major part of the Ontario Living Legacy was government intent to
establish 378 new protected areas. This commitment marks the largest
expansion of provincial parks and conservation reserves in Ontario's
history.
The following parks and conservation initiatives are part of the
Kenogami License:
Sedgeman Lake Park (5,710 ha)
Sedgman Lake Provincial Park was regulated in 1985 and is classified as a
nature reserve. The intent is to manage the park as a nature reserve class
provincial park, in accordance with Ministry of Natural Resources and
Ontario Parks Policy. The natural features of the park consists of an eskerdelta complex, plain of sediments from a former lake, hills and ridges of
sand and gravel are among the glacial landforms present in the reserve.
The reserve also features low rock knolls and extensive wetlands. The
lacustrine sands are rare in the region.
Steel River Park (11,240 ha)
The Steel River Provincial Park is located northeast of Terrace Bay and
encompasses a 200 metre corridor along each side of the Steel Lake and
River system north of Santoy including Diablo Lake. The 160 km waterway
is a designated provincial canoe route consisting of 3 separate published
trips. Present recreation use consists primarily of unstructured public
recreation with an emphasis on canoeing, fishing and hunting. There is
some fly-in tourism for the same recreational purposes. The Steel River
Park was regulated in 1989 and classified as a waterway park. The
wishbone-shaped park consists of long, narrow lakes, rugged cliffs, ravines,
swamps, ponds, oxbow lakes, and a 20-metre waterfall. Great blue herons
nest on the islands of Cairngorm Lake.
Little Current Waterways Park (9,930 ha)
The park is located north of the Town of Nakina and is used by sport
fishermen, hunters, trappers and recreationalists. The boundary is defined
by a 200 metere corridor along the waterway commencing at the outlet of
Superb Lake. Part of the Little Current River Provincial Park is located
beyond the Ontario's Living Legacy planning area. Little Current River is
classified as a waterway park and was regulated in 1989.
Nakina Moraine Park (5319 ha)
Nakina Moraine was regulated as a provincial park in 1994 and is classified
as a natural environment park to protect significant earth science features.
The intent is to manage this park as natural environment class provincial
park, in accordance with MNR and Ontario Parks Policy. The park protects a
section of the Nakina End Moraine characterized by esker complexes and
associated outwash fan marked by drainage channels, eskers, kettle holes,
and lacustrine clay and silt deposits.
Ontario
Ontario
Gravel River Park (763 ha)
This nature reserve features a lazy, meandering river that neatly cuts into its
own deltaic sands, deposited over many centuries. The river has a good
example of bird's-foot delta-afan of sediment at a river's mouth dissected by
tributaries, giving the impression of a webbed bird's foot.
Lower Twin Lake Conservation Area (450 ha)
Lower Twin Lakes was regulated as a conservation reserve on June 25, 2004.
Management of this area is governed by an existing conservation reserve
policy and the Lower Twin Lakes Statement of Conservation Interest as well
as the general use policies contained in the Land Use Strategy (1999). This
site contains representative landform and vegetation types including mixed
forests on weakly broken ground moraine and end moraine, treed wetlands
and burns.
Long Lake Conservation Area (1762 ha)
Long Lake was regulated as a conservation reserve on June 25, 2004.
Management of this area is governed by existing conservation reserve policy
and the Long Lake Statement of Conservation Interest as well as the general
use policies contained in the Land Use Strategy (1999). This site contains
representative landform and vegetation types, including conifer and sparse
forests on moderately broken ground moraine. Long Lake also provides
significant recreational and tourism opportunities.
Fishnet Conservation Area ( 3448 ha)
Fishnet Lake was regulated as a conservation reserve on April 6, 2001.
Management of this area is governed by the existing conservation policy and
the Fishnet Lake Statement of Conservation Interest as well as the general
use policies contained in the Land Use Strategy (1999). This site contains
representative landform and vegetation types, including conifer forest with
some deciduous on weakly, moderately, and strongly broken ground
moraine.
Three Mile Narrows Conservation Area (1,554 ha)
Three Mile Narrows was regulated as a reserve on June 25, 2004.
Management of this area is governed by existing conservation reserve policy
and the Lake Superior North Shore Statement of Conservation Interest as
well as the general use policies contained in the Land Use Strategy (1999).
This site contains representative landform and vegetation types including
mixed forests and moderately and strongly broken ground moraine.
Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Area (4,404 ha)
This area was regulated as a conservation reserve on April 6, 2001.
Management of this area is governed by existing conservation reserve policy
and the Lake Superior North Shore Statement of Conservation Interest as
well as the general use policies contained in the Land Use Strategy (1999).
This spectacular scenic area includes all Crown lands between Highway 17
and Lake Superior east of Nipigon. These three areas of rugged cliffs and bays
contain representative landform and vegetation types, rugged coastal
terrain, and archaeological potential. There are a number of recreational and
tourism opportunities.
Ontario
Onaman Lake Conservation Area (4,404 ha)
This area was regulated as a conservation reserve on June 23, 2000.
Management of this area is governed by existing conservation reserve
policy and the Onaman Lake Statement of Conservation Interest as well as
the general use policies contained in the Land Use Strategy (1999).
Onaman Lake is also managed under the Onaman Lake Fisheries
Management Plan. This area includes all islands in Onaman Lake and
portions of the northern shoreline. This site contains representative
landform and vegetation types including mixed forest types and wetlands
on weakly broken ground moraine. The islands are important woodland
caribou habitat.
Low/Bell Conservation Area (5,300 ha)
Low/Bell was regulated as a conservation reserve on June 25, 2004.
Management of this area is governed by existing conservation reserve
policy and the Low/Bell Statement of Conservation Interest as well as the
general use policies contained in the Land Use Strategy (1999). This site
contains lacustrine deposits with esker formations that are very unusual in
this district.
Gravel River Conservation Area (45,426 ha)
The area consists of an undeveloped portion of the Lake Nipigon Forest
northwest of the Gravel River and a relatively undeveloped area east of
the Gravel River Conservation Reserve in the Kenogami Forest. At present,
the main uses are fly-in commercial tourism and low intensity public
recreation. Some timber harvesting is expected to occur in this area, This
area borders on several tourism lakes within Gravel River Conservation
Reserve. The following lakes are designated as tourism lakes: Liver, Hall,
Sandridge, Beavertrap, Carib, Charlotte and part of Dickson. Greenhedge,
Sinclair, Chance, and Pays Plat are tourism lakes that border this area.
These lakes will be given protection. The Gravel River follows a major
geologic fault structure with representative landscapes and vegetation
features. The terrain is very rugged with extensive uplands and mixed
boreal forests. The river is an important cold water fishery.
Lake Superior Shoreline Management Area (19,605 ha)
This area is intended to provide long-term tourism and recreational
benefits to local communities through conservation of the coastline's
significant scenic, recreational and tourism attributes. Local municipalities,
First Nations and resource stakeholders will play a major role in the future
planning and management of this area. In coastal areas, ecosystem
protection and the promotion of recreation and tourism are the primary
land use and resource management goals. This is a scenic and highly
traveled coastline with rugged cliffs and bays that provide habitat for
representative and endangered wildlife and vegetation. The area has high
tourism and recreational value, and many pristine environments.
Lands Donated
Ontario
Slate Islands Wilderness Park (6,750 ha)
This group of rugged islands is one of the places where woodland caribou
still roam. The islands are home to beaver, hare, fox, and various shorebirds.
Remnants of two native settlements as well as a former timber operation
are located here. The islands are covered with a southern boreal forest
with some artic-pine flora. For the most part, the rock is early Precambrian
of volcanic and sedimentary origin. There has been speculation that the
central islands are the remains of an ancient meteorite.
Slate Islands carribou