Cuun Niesink

Master of Resource and Environmental Management (MREM)

Dalhousie University

cniesink@strum.com

Interests and Expertise

Environmental assessment, environmental management, wildlife conservation

Short description of Project

Currently, there is no guidance for arborists around Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) regarding the protection of migratory birds and their nests in Nova Scotia. While HRM completes their cyclical pruning of street trees during the winter (outside of the breeding season), there remain situations when tree work must be done during the breeding season. Because of this risk and the associated laws and regulations that protect these birds, such guidance is necessary.

The goal of this project was to review best management practices to develop a guidance document for arboricultural practices during the songbird breeding season.

Short description of internship with partner

I aided Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) Urban Forestry with their annual urban-forest research program as well as reviewed best-management practices for arboricultural practices for the conservation of urban dwelling, tree-nesting, migratory songbirds. Throughout this review and through informal consultations with several urban forest experts, a set of guidelines were created for arboricultural practices during the songbird breeding season in HRM.

Furthermore, while not part of my internship, I built on this topic for my final project report for my master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management. This was completed in December 2022, entitled “A Review of Best Management Practices for Urban Birds in the Tree Care Industry: Is More Research Needed?”.

New position:

Junior Environmental Scientist - Strum Consulting

Responsibilities:

"I graduated from the Dalhousie MREM program in June 2023. I now work for Strum Consulting as a Junior Environmental Scientist. My responsibilities include: - Assisting with various field programs, including wetland and watercourse assessments, wildlife surveys, avian surveys, botanical inventories, remote sensing programs, etc. - Collection of accurate data in the field using a variety of equipment. - Compilation of clear, concise, and accurate field notes. - Technical report writing. "

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