2009 Woodlot Owner of the Year Announced
The winners of Nova Scotia's 2009 Woodlot Owner of the Year Award manage a 142-hectare woodlot in Barss Corner, Lunenburg Co., that has been in their family for four generations.
"The Department of Natural Resources is proud to present the 2009 Woodlot Owner of the Year Award to Rex Veinot and his family," said Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell. "This year, we celebrate 20 years of this important award, recognizing those who demonstrate outstanding achievements in woodlot management."
Woodlot management has been a career for the Veinots and their ancestors since 1890. Thoughtful stewardship through previous generations has led to a largely uneven-aged Acadian forest. Multiple forest values have been maintained over time, including high-quality timber, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and many more. The property includes a large sugar bush, apple trees and many varieties of Christmas trees.
The Veinot woodlot has also been used for many years as an outside classroom by various groups for education and information sharing. Mr. Veinot has served as past president of the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers' Association, which promotes the province's Christmas tree industry around the world.
The 2009 Woodlot Owner of the Year Award will be presented to the Veinot family at a public field tour on their woodlot on Oct. 3, during the annual Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers tour.
Other regional winners are: Brian Archibald and family of Aspen, Guysborough Co., in the eastern region, and George and Phillis Cook of Truro, Colchester Co., in the central region.
All three winners use an integrated management approach that considers wood production, wildlife enhancement and recreation improvement. The result is a forest that includes high-quality timber, wildlife habitat, and water quality that allows people to enjoy the aesthetic appeal, recreational opportunities and spiritual aspects of nature.
The Department of Natural Resources receives several nominations for the award each year. All nominations are evaluated by department staff for regional winners, while the provincial winner is selected by a committee of two foresters, a wildlife technician, a former award winner, and an environmental studies undergraduate student.
Nova Scotia residents who own 20 to 800 hectares of woodland in the province are eligible for woodlot owner awards. Nominations are accepted at Department of Natural Resources offices until March 31 each year. More information is available on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/woodlot/woya/ .