November 2023: Staffing changes, Eligible Body status update, and how you can help
Over the past few months, the NS Working Woodlands Trust (NSWWT) has gone through some significant changes, and I wanted to provide you with an update on our latest developments. In recognition of recent staff changes and ongoing needs of the MCFC and NSWWT, I decided to leave my position with Environment and Climate Change Canada to return to my old position as Executive Director for both MCFC and NSWWT.
As you may know, our land trust manager, Jennika Hunsinger, has chosen to move on from the organization and embarking to Central America to work and travel. We are grateful for Jennika’s efforts over the past 4 years with our affiliate organization, the Medway Community Forest Coop and the NSWWT, and wish her the best in this next chapter. Along with my return, we’re very excited to introduce you to our new land trust manager, Mhari Lamarque. Mhari is a comes from an agriculture, conservation and landowner engagement background and is a farmer and woodlot owner herself, residing in Lunenburg County. We are both looking forward to visiting some of you in the coming months, please feel free to reach out to her directly with any questions. We have also hired a stewardship coordinator who will be starting in January. This new position will be focused on landowner engagement, stewardship and monitoring.
Aside from staffing changes, we have been patiently awaiting Cabinet approval to become an eligible body under the Nova Scotia Community Easements Act. This has been a significant hurdle for us to proceed with holding easements and realizing the vision of the NSWWT. Our dedicated board has been working diligently to gather letters of support, writing and meeting with our MLAs, and leveraging political connections. Now, we're asking for your help to leverage political support.
It’s time to tell the Province that landowners want the ability to see their lands carefully stewarded in perpetuity through the establishment of working forest easements. We have prepared a template letter for landowners to write their MLA and the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Tory Rushton. By adding your voice to this effort, you can help us convey the urgency of our situation.
In absence of the eligible body status, we have continued to make progress on our key governance documents, including developing our easement template and deciding on agreed practices. We are also developing partnerships and internal processes to streamline our participation in the carbon market, a pioneering approach to the financial management of land trusts in Canada. We are committed to keeping you informed with monthly updates, story sharing from our partner landowners, and providing essential information for those interested in our mission.
The NSWWT offers a creative solution to protect the long-term stewardship and rich diversity of values found on Nova Scotia woodlots through ecological forestry and conservation. Our aim is not to fully restrict logging activities but ensure that forest management practices maintain biodiversity, build forest resilience, and improve the quality and value of standing timber over time. We understand how important woodlots are for weekend recreation, as an escape from our busy lives and connecting with family; and are enthusiastic about fostering the next generation of forest stewards.
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to once again be a part of the NSWWT and bring new experience from my time with government.
Sincerely,
Mary Jane Rodger
Executive Director, MCFC and NSWWT
