Nominations Open for Woodlot Owner of the Year

The province is going to honour woodlot owners again this year and is seeking nominations for Nova Scotia's Woodlot Owner of the Year.

If you own woodland and manage it in a sustainable manner, or you know someone who does, the Department of Natural Resources is accepting nominations until Jan. 31.

This is the 11th year for this competition, which is open to any resident who owns between 20 and 400 hectares (50 and 1,000 acres) of woodland in the province.

Winners are selected in each of the six regions of the province, from which a provincial winner is chosen.

"One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a judge is getting to meet some of the outstanding woodlot owners we have throughout the province," said Tim Whynot, forester with the Department of Natural Resources. "It is really a treat to visit these people and their woodlots."

Landowners are evaluated on their commitment to timber and wildlife management or any other aspect of woodlot management that the owner is interested in. Traditionally, the award has gone to people who harvest timber and have a variety of interests and activities on their woodlot. Managing for timber is no longer essential to winning the award.

The woodlot owner must be committed to setting and meeting sustainable goals for their land. Owners are also evaluated on the desire to improve their knowledge or understanding of their forestland or the forest in general, and their desire to improve the condition, access and health of their woodland.

In September, the successful landowner may host a field day for the public to highlight some of the activities carried out on the property.

Nominations are accepted by submitting the woodlot owner's name, address, phone number, woodlot size and location to a Department of Natural Resources office or to Tim Whynot, Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 698, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 2T9. You can also fax nominations to 902-424-7735 or e-mail twwhynot@gov.ns.ca .