Panel urges overhaul of Natural Resources

An expert panel is recommending that Nova Scotia's natural resource managers start working more closely with each other and with outside groups.

The panellooked at how the Department of Natural Resources was managing the province's forests, minerals,parks and biodiversity.Its report was released Friday.

"It's time for natural resource managers to come out of their silos at DNR and work more collaboratively with each other, with other departments, with NGOs and external experts, with citizens and other governments," saidAllan Shaw, one of the three panellists.

"This strategic priority is the thread that cuts through our entire report and is how we believe this province and this government need to move forward in managing and protecting our shared natural resources."

Shaw said the first priority should be to look after Nova Scotia's forests.

The panel is recommending that a provincial permit be required for all clearcutting and spraying of pesticides. This would apply to both Crown and private land.

Warning against using biomass

The panel also urged the province to be careful in using biomass for power generation, warning that the province's already stressed forests can't handle more pressure from the hungry energy sector.

That position could make it more difficult for Premier Darrell Dexter to fulfil his pledge to produce 40 per cent of Nova Scotia's electricity from renewable resources, like biomass, by 2020.

Shaw said there is the risk that the province will deplete already taxed forests as it tries to ease its reliance on coal and other polluting energy sources.

Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell said he realizes the government has to find the right balance and he hopes to produce a position paper on the issue in August.

The Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia said the recommendations would choke off wood supply to the forest industry, leading to cuts at lumber, pulp and paper mills, and in the trucking sector.