The role of NSWWT as the easement holder is to ensure that the agreed practices set out in the easement agreement are being followed. NSWWT is also the carbon agreement holder and manages the verification and long-term monitoring to ensure that carbon stores are maintained. NSWWT can provide management planning services but also relies on woodlot service partners to facilitate ecological forest management on easement properties.  

A Working Forest Community Easement is a legal agreement between a landowner (the owner) and a private conservation/community organization or public agency (the easement holder). In our instance, the agreement is between NSWWT and a private woodland steward with the purpose of conserving, preserving or protecting working forest land under the Community Easement Act.  

The agreement separates the rights to exercise more intensive uses – such as constructing large buildings, subdivision, and liquidation logging – from other rights of ownership, such as recreation, farming, and forestry uses. Community easements are held in perpetuity and are linked to the land regardless of who may own it in the future. 

NSWWT seeks to protect forest lands that are carefully stewarded under the principles of ecological forestry. Agreed practices, which include permitted, restricted and prohibited uses, are specified within the easement agreement and are mutually agreed upon by both the owner and the easement holder. You can read more about the agreed practices in our information package.  

Many private woodlands in Nova Scotia are at risk of poor management, liquidation logging, or subdivision when they change ownership. Many forests are managed for generations without certain succession planning. Entering an easement ensures the woodlot will be sustainably managed in perpetuity. Easements are meant for woodland stewards who’d like to see the legacy of their woodlands maintained over generations.  

Agreed Practices are outlined in the Easement Agreement and describe which activities are and are not allowed to take place on the woodlot. There are three different tiers of agreed practices: prohibited, restricted (require 60-day notice beforehand), and permitted activities. Agreed practices are, for the most part, the same for all properties which NSWWT holds and easement on. An example of each might include: subdivision as a prohibited practice, forestry as a restricted practice, and recreation as a permitted practice.  

NSWWT focuses on properties greater than 200 acres, though we will consider smaller woodlots with special ecological or stewardship values. We are particularly interested in looking at properties that: (1) are or historically have been working woodlands; (2) have high forest conservation value including vernal pools, peat bogs, mature high vigour stands, or landscape connectivity value; (3) are unique or rare ecosystems or forest types including old growth, tolerant hardwood, karst, or wet forests; (4) are at risk of development, land conversion or subdivision and; (5) have special social, cultural or recreation values for the public. 

Many Nova Scotians live or farm within the same parcel as their woodland. NSWWT recognizes the importance of multifunctional parcels and has developed a zoning process to customize our easements to suit the needs of each land steward we work with. Within the Working Forest Community Easement, there are three zoning classifications:  

1. Residential: an area primarily used for housing, agriculture, or any other form of development. 

2. Working Forest: an area managed through an ecological forest management plan, and where wood is harvested. 

3. Conservation: an area that is valued for its contributions to biodiversity, culture, or connectivity over its timber value. No management takes place within these areas, and restricted activities include, but are not limited to, ATV use, road building or timber harvesting.   

Landowners still hold title to their property and enjoy all the rights of ownership, such as the right to sell or lease the land, to leave it to their heirs, to control public access, to have privacy, and so forth. The easement exists in perpetuity and is binding on future owners. Under the terms of a working forest easement, the property cannot be used in a manner that impairs the actual or potential use of the property as woodland, farmland, or open space.

A working forest easement does not affect your ability to sell or will your land in any way, though the easement will prevent further development of the land and thus may lower its marketable value. However, the terms of the easement will apply to the land regardless of who may own it in the future. 

Landowners still hold title to their property and enjoy all the rights of ownership, such as the right to sell or lease the land, to leave it to their heirs, to control public access or to have privacy. 

Yes. We advise that land stewards secure qualified legal counsel to assist them in the decision-making process and review legal documents. Placing a Working Forest Community Easement on your property can have land use and estate-planning implications and such a decision should be made with the advice of competent legal counsel. 

NSWWT strives to visit each of its easement-protected properties annually to ensure that there haven’t been any prohibited activities. Monitoring visits are intended to be friendly and informative, providing an opportunity to exchange information and answer any questions the land steward may have about the easement or the property. There is advance notice for each site visit, and the land steward is welcome and encouraged to participate.  

The visits usually involve walking through portions of the property, taking photographs, and filling out a questionnaire. NSWWT maintains communication with the land steward through their preferred form of communication (mail, phone, e-mail) and through its newsletter. Details regarding easement properties are never shared without land steward permission. 
 

If someone contacts you to propose a harvest on your land, it is possible that it is a legitimate introduction from a local forester or logger. However, all too often people receive an unexpected knock on the door or a letter from someone who is working on a neighbor’s land and would be happy to harvest your land at the same time. However, if any offer sounds too good to be true, or if there is any pressure associated with their pitch, we recommend that you do not work with them. NSWWT has an inventory of trusted contractors that work with our regional woodlot service partners who would gladly help you properly layout and execute a harvest on your property. 

A successful harvest should follow the guidance provided through management planning, and landowners should expect to be active partners in the process. Anyone promising you money for no real effort or decision-making on your part, likely would not be someone with whom you can entrust the ecological, economic, and aesthetic value of your woods. Forest harvesting is a restricted practice on easement properties, and any proposed activities require a minimum 60-day notification to NSWWT. 

Public access is not a requirement. Landowners are able to choose whether or not they wish to allow public access to their land when they place it under easement. However, NSWWT encourages public access as a way to promote multi-value forest management, demonstrate exemplary forest practices, and for educational purposes.