Bear River Man Named Woodlot Owner of the Year

George Chisholm has been chosen Nova Scotia's 1998 Woodlot Owner of the Year. Seven regional finalists competed for the honour.

Now in its ninth year, this award is a project of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It recognizes outstanding woodlot owners who practice sustainable resource management.

Department of Natural Resources staff toured the woodlots of the seven regional finalists in late May and early June.

"Mr. Chisholm has a strong work ethic and is a committed landowner," said Natural Resources forester Bob Young, a member of the provincial judging team. "George is very active in many facets of forestry, including contracting, milling, and Christmas trees. He's also been heavily involved in community forestry development in western Nova Scotia."

Fred Smith, manager of Sissiboo Forest Management, said, "George has completed many silviculture treatments, including shelterwood harvesting, commercial thinning, pre-commercial thinning, conversion cutting, site clearing, salvage, planting, and weeding. He's also had roads and fire ponds constructed, and boundary lines renewed."

Mr. Chisholm credits a six month work exchange program in Scandinavia in 1986 for getting him "hooked" on forest management. Following his return, he purchased a tractor-mounted processor and uses it on his own woodlot, as well as lands owned by others around Bear River.

"If I do quality work, others will want my services," Mr. Chisholm said. "I'm not prepared to sacrifice quality for economic gain."

Mr. Chisholm describes himself as a conservationist. On his own lands he has made a commitment to leave 10 per cent untouched. His long-term goal is to see most of his land, which is largely abandoned farmland, restored to the Acadian forest type with long-lived species like red spruce, hemlock, white pine, and oak.

Bentley Rice, a DNR forest resource technician in Digby, said, "George considers wildlife habitat in all woodlot activities. He plans for deer wintering areas, cavity trees, snags, and riparian zones along streams. The woodlot is also used for a variety of recreational activities such as hiking, skiing, and hunting."

The Woodlot Owner of the Year award will be formally presented to Mr. Chisholm during a field day to be held at his woodlot in late August.