News release

2003 Woodlot Owner of the Year Chosen

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

A resident of Baxters Harbour, Kings Co., is the 2003 Nova Scotia Woodlot Owner of the Year, Natural Resources Minister Tim Olive announced today, July 7.

Richard Irving was chosen as the western regional winner in May and was recently selected as the provincial winner from regional woodlot owners in central, western and eastern Nova Scotia.

"There are many positive changes happening on private woodlots across Nova Scotia," said Mr. Olive. "This prestigious award recognizes one woodlot owner a year who puts extra thought and care into woodlot activities."

The Department of Natural Resources received 11 nominations for the woodlot owner award from which three regional winners were chosen.

Mr. Irving was selected as the provincial winner for his special attention to increasing the diversity of plants and animals on his woodlot, which has been in the Irving family since 1917.

"He has changed the composition of his woodlot from an overgrown pastureland of white spruce back to a representation of an Acadian forest," said Dale Glennie, forester with the department and member of the judging committee. "Mr. Irving has also left special wildlife corridors and refuges for sensitive plant life. He also does all his own harvesting and silviculture work, spending as much time as possible on his woodlot."

"I congratulate Mr. Irving for his dedication and commitment to carrying out sustainable forest management on his woodlot," said Mr. Olive. "This award acknowledges his outstanding stewardship."

The 2003 Woodlot Owner of the Year award will be officially presented to Mr. Irving at a public field tour to be held on his woodlot in early October.

The other regional winners were David Meehan of Rawdon Gold Mines, Hants Co., for the central region, and Phillip Clark of Brophy, Antigonish Co., for the eastern region award. Field tours will be held on Mr. Meehan's and Mr. Clark's woodlots in September.

This is the 14th year for this award, which recognizes landowners who use sustainable woodlot practices. The award also increases public awareness of the importance of private woodlots in Nova Scotia. Woodlot owners are evaluated on their effort and commitment to setting and meeting sustainable goals for their land.

Nova Scotia residents who own between 20 and 400 hectares (50 and 1,000 acres) of woodland in the province are eligible. Nominations are accepted at Department of Natural Resources offices until Jan. 31 of each year.