2014 Woodland Owners of The Year Announced

Hiram and Ernest Carver, John Simons, and Richard Rowter are the 2014 Woodland Owners of the Year in the western, central and eastern regions, respectively. The Carvers are also the Provincial Woodland Owners of the Year.

"My sincere congratulations to the Carver, Simons and Rowter families on being recognized by their peers as innovative and skilled woodland managers," said Natural Resources Minister Zach Churchill. "They demonstrate the important contribution that individual woodland owners make to maintain healthy and diverse forests in Nova Scotia."

The Carvers, a father and son team from New Germany, Lunenburg Co., are the Provincial and Western Region Woodland Owners of the Year. Formerly Christmas tree growers, they now manage 142 hectares of woodland, and focus on selection harvesting and regeneration. To protect the beauty and biodiversity of their forest, the Carvers have set aside some of the property for conservation.

Mr. Simons, the Central Region Woodland Owner of the Year, harvests pulpwood and firewood on the family's 263-hectare property in Springhill, Cumberland Co., with the help of his son, Justin. The family is also expanding their sugar woods which were once operated by Mr. Simons' father-in-law.

Mr. Rowter, the Eastern Region Woodland Owner of the Year, was one of the first members of the new Cape Breton Private Lands Partnership, an agreement announced by government in May. He manages a 54-hectare property in Boularderie East, Victoria Co., which he purchased in 2006.

This is the 25th anniversary of the Woodland Owner of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding woodland stewards, encourages sustainable woodland management and increases public awareness of the importance of private woodlands.

To be eligible for nomination, one must own 20 to 800 hectares of woodland in Nova Scotia. Nominations are evaluated by a committee of foresters, wildlife specialists, industry representatives, previous winners, and environmental or forestry students.

Evaluation criteria include integrated resource management with an emphasis on wood production, commitment to sustainable goals, wildlife habitat protection and recreation, forest knowledge, and their woodland's health.