Innovative solutions for ecological forestry

How NSCC funding is supporting ACFOR’s sustainable forestry advancements in Nova Scotia.

The NSCC Centre of Forest Innovation (COFI) is excited to highlight a significant milestone in advancing ecological forestry in Nova Scotia. As a part of its plan to support sustainable forest practices through its Forest Innovation Voucher Program (FIVP), COFI awarded funding to ACFOR, a full-service management provider based in the Maritimes. This funding has been instrumental in the development of the Transparency and Traceability Tool (ATTT), an innovative digital solution designed to promote responsible forest management and support clean energy goals through sustainable biomass management.

Addressing the need for ecological forestry solutions

Forests are indispensable in combating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and providing vital ecosystem services such as wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and drought mitigation. However, extractive, economically driven forest practices often result in forest degradation. They may alter species distribution, compromise soil structures and reduce climate resiliency. Often, these degraded forests lose their ability to store carbon and support biodiversity, diminishing their role as a climate solution.

Simultaneously, there is growing interest in using wood for energy as a climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. However, without proper tracking and management, biomass procurement can inadvertently contribute to forest degradation. To address this challenge, ACFOR developed the Transparency and Traceability Tool (ATTT), a solution that ensures forest operations are conducted sustainably and align with ecological forestry principles while supporting the responsible use of biomass for energy.

How the Transparency and Traceability Tool (ATTT) works

The ATTT is a comprehensive digital platform built with real-world data that tracks every step of forest operations from the planning phase to energy production. It ensures that forests are managed according to ecological values and supports Nova Scotia’s climate change reduction goals. Key components of the tool include:

1. Forest Measurement: Using remote sensing (like satellites, planes, and drones) and on-the-ground data collection, the tool measures the condition of the forest before any activity takes place. These data are then processed to reflect values like habitat quality, carbon sequestration, and forest vulnerability to climate change, along with economic numbers such as wood volumes and trucking rates.
2. Operational Thresholds: Relying on constantly updated research and best practices for managing the Acadian Forest, a harvest prescription is produced that puts the forest first. This will produce long-lived wood products like dimensional lumber but will mostly generate low-grade material that is best suited for high-efficiency heat generation in a boiler.
3. Tracking Operations: The tool then monitors the forest activities, ensuring harvesting is following the prescription outlined and within appropriate boundaries. Protection measures and management decisions far exceed the minimum required by law.
4. Post-Harvest Analysis: After harvesting, the forest condition is measured again to assess the impact and ensure the remaining forest is in good condition. These operations aim to retain the most vigorous, climate-resilient trees and keep soil structures and the forest ecosystem intact.
5. Supply Chain Transparency: Every load of biomass is tracked from the forest to the energy plant, with data proving its origin and the impact of its production. Once the wood is stacked roadside, it’s important to use it as close to the source as possible to reduce trucking distances and retain the benefits of using biomass for energy – its low cost and low carbon emissions.
6. Public Access: The tool makes the full process and all associated data accessible to the public and decision-makers. It creates a transparent "ledger" of the biomass and its production and accounts for the carbon emissions of the full lifecycle of the product, a feature that is often missing from biomass accounting. The area of the harvesting is also reported, along with detailed associated forest treatment data. This makes sure that harvested forests remain as forests in both function and appearance.

Showcasing real impact: transforming forest practices and community outcomes

The ATTT isn’t just a tool for tracking; it is a way to create demand for climate-focused biomass and ecological forestry. It does so by influencing factors that make these kinds of treatments costly and positions ecological forestry as a valuable climate resilience management strategy. Often, these restorative forest treatments are not economically viable (or implemented) without significant subsidies or reasonable market prices for the low-grade materials that result from these harvests. The ATTT’s impact spans environmental and economic considerations.

• Restoring Ecosystem Integrity: By guiding forest operations that preserve biodiversity, protect habitat quality, and maintain soil structures, the ATTT ensures that forests remain resilient against climate challenges. These practices help sustain ecosystems that are crucial for carbon sequestration, water filtration, and wildlife protection.
• Driving Clean Energy Adoption: The successful implementation of ATTT-supported forest operations at NSCC’s Bridgewater campus demonstrates the practical link between ecological forestry and renewable energy. By replacing 90% of fossil fuel use and saving 300 tCO2e annually, the initiative proves how sustainable forestry can contribute to significant carbon emission reductions.
• Informing Data-Driven Policy and Industry Practices: High-integrity data generated by the ATTT serves as a reliable basis for policymaking. It encourages the establishment of regulations that reward sustainable forest practices and ensures compliance with carbon market requirements.
• Encouraging Long-Term Ecological Investments: The ATTT supports the development of long-term supply contracts for sustainable biomass and makes sure forests continue to thrive post-harvest. The tool incentivizes investments that align economic growth with ecological stewardship by creating opportunities for biomass producers to participate in carbon markets and earn credits.
• Enhancing Transparency and Public Trust: The ATTT creates trust by providing transparent access to detailed forest operation data. This transparency holds operators accountable and builds public confidence in the sustainability of biomass energy sourced from local forests.

Looking to the future: A paradigm shift in forest valuation

The development of the Transparency and Traceability Tool (ATTT), made possible through NSCC’s Forest Innovation Voucher program, marks a significant advancement in ecological forestry. The tool’s ability to align ecological forest practices with clean energy objectives creates a market where sustainably harvested biomass holds increased value due to its positive impact on forest ecosystems.

By tracking the full lifecycle of forest products, from restorative forest operations to renewable energy production, the ATTT supports a balanced approach that benefits the Acadian Forest, biomass purchasers, and the broader economy. NSCC remains committed to driving innovation that prioritizes ecological integrity and sustainability and shaping a resilient future for Nova Scotia's forests.