The Nashwaak Watershed

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Mature Forests are Valuable

Mature Acadian forest provides a wide range of environmental services that far exceeds the value of timber resources alone. Some benefits of mature Acadian forest include:

  • Critical habitat – Mature Acadian forest provides important habitat features that younger forests lack. In mature forests, living trees of various ages provide multiple layers of forest canopy. Openings in the canopy provide sunlight to the forest floor, where regeneration takes place. Dead wood also provides important habitat, where standing dead trees provide food and nesting sites and fallen dead wood provides habitat for small animals and insects, lichens and mosses. Fallen logs also hold moisture, release nutrients, and provide superb growing conditions for tree seedlings. Forty-six of the 137 vertebrate species that use New Brunswick forests for nesting or foraging are dependent on these characteristics provided by old or mature forest. Some provincially and federally listed species-at-risk that benefit from mature forest include the Canada lynx, butternut tree, Canada warbler, and eastern wood peewee. A number of species that are associated with old forests are in decline, including the pine marten, fisher, and a number of vascular plants.

Department of Natural Resources, New Brunswick. 2013. Old Forest Community and Old-Forest Wildlife Habitat Definitions for New Brunswick; Noseworthy, J. 2018. New England–Acadian Forest Restoration: A Landowner’s Guide to Theory and Practice. Nature Conservancy of Canada; Loo, J. and N. Ives. 2003. “The Acadian forest: Historical condition and human impacts.” The Forestry Chronicle. 79: 462-474.

  • Carbon storage – Forests can help to counteract climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases like Co2. This process is known as “carbon storage”. While all trees provide this valuable service, mature forests can store more carbon per year than young trees. Planting tree seedlings is a popular strategy in the fight against climate change, but protecting and maintaining mature forests can make even more of a difference in the near future.

Moomaw, W.R., S.A. Masino and E.K. Faison. 2019. “Intact Forests in the United States: Proforestation Mitigates Climate Change and Serves the Greatest Good.” Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. Volume 2, Article 27.

  • Aquatic health and flood protection – Forests contribute to healthy aquatic ecosystems. Trees bordering rivers and streams provide cooling shade, water filtration, food, habitat and reduce flooding. Removing all the trees from a previously forested area of land is associated with increased overland flooding as well as erosion and sedimentation and increasing temperature in nearby watercourses. The presence of deep-rooted vegetation and trees along watercourses protects and anchors soils in stream banks, dissipating the erosive forces of the river and heavy precipitation. Forests also offer significant flood protection. They act like sponges during rainfall events, storing water and slowly releasing it to reduce the speed, height and intensity of flooding. 

Cheney, T. 2020. “Fish River Forest: Clearcut Consequences in Salmon Country.” Atlantic Salmon Journal Winter 2020: 18-23; Bancroft, B. in Simpson, J. 2008. “Managing the Riparian Habitat” in Restoring the Acadian Forest: A Guide to Forest Stewardship for Woodlot Owners in the Maritimes. Advocate Printing and Publishing: Nova Scotia. p. 23; Community Forests International. 2021. Forests and Floods: Natural Infrastructure for a Green Recovery.


The preservation and restoration of mature forest in the Nashwaak watershed will improve biodiversity habitat for a wide range of native species, capture increasing amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, provide a healthier aquatic environment and improve flood mitigation.


  • Nashwaak Forest Stewardship Project
  • What is the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest?
  • Our Impact on the Forest
  • Mature Forests are Valuable
  • Resources for Forest Owners
  • Managing Your Forest

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

NWAI on Twitter

We took part in a Wilderness First Aid Course this week. Blair Doyle ran us through realistic wilderness scenarios that taught us to keep a cool head and figure it out how to care for injured people in the great outdoors. Special thanks to @MCFTfredericton for hosting us! https://t.co/qUOHs7LYDO

- 3 days ago

World Migratory Bird Day was yesterday, 2022's theme is light pollution. Migratory birds travel throughout the day and night. Consider having your outdoor lighting on a timer and or motion sensor to reduce impact in the evening hours. #migratorybirdday2022 #lightpollution https://t.co/LVB2OR3q3o

- 4 days ago

Bio-diversify your yard like landscape photographer Jason Nugent of Devon, NB! Take the NWAI "Natural Yard Pledge" and commit to 3 of our 10 pledge actions to encourage native flora and fauna on your property and in your neighborhood. #MyNashwaak #NaturalYardPledge #nativespecies https://t.co/F7z5my7hnQ

- 11 days ago

Everyday is a great day for citizen science and yesterday was no exception when Bridgette L'Heureux her daughter partnered with NWAI to install @DucksUnlimited duck boxes on Marysville flats. https://t.co/tycwIAQijn #MyNashwaak #duckboxes #citizenscience #familyvolunteering https://t.co/xI14888UT3

- 12 days ago

Good Afternoon folks, unfortunately, we will be postponing the willow staking event scheduled for tomorrow, May 4th. We will let everyone know as soon as it has been rescheduled. We apologize for this inconvenience, but we hope to see you soon! https://t.co/4nB7pI6mE7

- 13 days ago

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

3 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Ian, Mariah, Lauren and Marieka took part in a Wilderness First Aid Course in Fredericton this week. Blair Doyle ran us through realistic wilderness scenarios that taught us to keep a cool head and figure out how to care for injured people in the great outdoors. Special thanks to Maritime College of Forest Technology for hosting us! #wildernessfirstaid #eauNBwater ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

4 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
We have been busy this week at the NWAI with training and field work and so we are a day late in celebrating World Migratory Bird Day. All the same, the ways we can help with 2022's theme of light pollution are just as relevant today! Many migratory birds travel continuously throughout the day and night and the decisions we make about lighting our homes and properties matter. Consider having your outdoor lighting on a timer and or motion sensor to reduce the impact of unnatural light in the evening hours. These efforts are important as navigation by way of the stars is key to migrating birds. Tell your neighbors, share with friends, our community efforts have an impact. To learn more visit www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/#migratorybirdday2022 #lightpollution #migration ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

1 week ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Thanks so much to Community Forests International, UNB and YSC for sharing such great information with us about climate-focused forest management. What a wonderful day in the field! ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Mail:
Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
P.O. Box 314, Station “A”
Fredericton, NB
E3B 4Y2

Office:
181 Westmorland Street
Fredericton, NB
E3B 3L6
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Phone: 506 261-4664
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