The Nova Scotia Working Woodland Trust (NSWWT) is making great strides in its mission to protect the province’s hemlock trees from the looming threat of the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA).
The organization has secured its very first easement in Lunenburg County, protecting 82.7 acres of mature woodland. This is just the beginning—NSWWT hopes to expand its efforts across the province, safeguarding exceptional old-growth forests from the growing menace of HWA.
HWA infestations can cause hemlocks to suffer from decline and mortality only four to ten years after initial infestation. It is believed that cold winter temperatures in Nova Scotia have historically kept the HWA south of the border.
A 2024 study on severe cold weather impact on HWA, however, showed that a cold winter was not sufficient to eradicate populations of this invasive insect.
Groups across the province are thus working to treat and protect as they anticipate further infestation with the warming climate.
Under the 2012 Community Easements Act, an easement can be established to “conserve, preserve, or protect working-forest land.” In essence, an easement ensures the land remains forested or in its natural state, limiting activities like logging or development that could harm the environment.
This particular easement was signed as part of NSWWT’s Hemlock Conservation Program. Through this program, the Trust will work with the Medway Community Forest Cooperative to control HWA with targeted insecticide applications.
“Signing our first easement is a considerable milestone for the Trust,” said Mary Jane Rodger, Executive Director of NSWWT. “It protects the ecological integrity of the land and establishes a new partnership with the land steward – one where we can support each other to achieve the best outcomes for the forest considering challenges like HWA. Keeping carefully stewarded woodlands intact will always be a win-win for our rural communities and the environment.”
These easements represent a forward-thinking approach to conservation, balancing responsible forest management with the prohibition of practices like clear-cutting or subdivision.
The Trust is looking to secure additional easements in mature Hemlock-dominated woodland in either Lunenburg, Kings, or Annapolis County. You can visit https://www.nsworkingwoodlandstrust.org/ for more information.
