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Index of Subjects In addition to concerns raised by the Nature article, a multi-authored paper published in the Policy Forum of Science in 2009 pointed out that there is a critical accounting error in the Kyoto Protocol that allows biomass energy to be treated as carbon neutral, regardless of the source. The error is very large for forest biomass. Searchinger. T.D. et al T.D. et al., 2009. Fixing a Critical Climate Accounting Error Science 23 October 2009: Vol. 326. no. 5952, pp. 527-528 In addition, we should be concerned about calcium losses in NS. NS forests are the most or amongst the most intensively harvested in Canada, half or more of our soils by area are very calcium poor and highly susceptible to soil acidification, and the area is stressed by acid rain. There are worrying signs that for large areas of Nova Scotia (esp in the SW), significant declines in productivity or other effects of low calcium may be only 1 or 2 rotations away, if not already beginning to happen. Further, climatic warming can be expected to exacerbate these stresses, e.g., because the deciduous species expected to be favoured have higher calcium requirements than softwood. Intensive forest harvesting can only exacerbate this problem, both by direct removal of nutrients and though increased losses from leaching. Loss of salmon from many of our rivers is attributed to acid rain but also reflects reduced levels of calcium in the upland soils. Birds are also affected, see http://news.psu.edu/story/155790/2011/09/15/research-shows-soil-calcium-limits-forest-songbirds ...we have many reasons to be concerned about continued clearcutting in NS, and the obscurification of this issue by the current government. Quoting Mary Macaulay <marymacaulay@hotmail.com>: > One of The Economist leaders this week warns against the trend > toward using forest biomass as fuel (they call it environmental > lunacy). It's a great article on page 71 for those who subscribe > or at this link > http://www.economist.com/news/business/21575771-environmental-lunacy-europe-fuel-future > > Please circulate this widely. It's nice to see this highly respected > journal calling an axe an axe. > > Mary Macaulay
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