MOVE AFOOT TO REDUCE CLEARCUTTING OF FORESTS

Nova Scotia is looking to reduce clearcutting of provincial forests by 50 per cent over five years.

Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell says such a reduction would be significant in a province where 95 per cent of harvesting is done through clearcutting.
Under the plan all commercial harvesters would have to register with the department and submit annual reports.
MacDonell says violators would face stiff fines.