~Honouring Outstanding Stewardship on Private Woodlots ~

The Nova Scotia Woodlot Owner of the Year Award (WOYA) recognizes and rewards landowners for outstanding stewardship of their woodlots. It was developed to encourage woodlot owners to practice sustainable woodlot management and to increase public awareness of the importance of private woodlots in Nova Scotia and good woodlot management.

Woodlot owners are evaluated on their effort and commitment to setting and meeting sustainable goals for their land; improving their knowledge or understanding of the forest land or the forest in general; improving the condition of, access to and health of their woodland; using integrated resource management, with an emphasis on wood production; and considering values such as wildlife habitat protection and recreation.

Nova Scotia residents who own between 20 and 800 hectares (50 and 2,000 acres) of woodland in the province are eligible. Nominations are accepted at Department of Natural Resources offices until March 31 of each year. The intent of the award is to:

• recognize and reward landowners for outstanding stewardship of their woodlots.
  
  
• encourage woodlot owners to practice sustainable woodlot management.
  
  
• increase public awareness of the importance of private woodlots in Nova Scotia and good woodlot management.
  
  
  For more information:
  
  Stewardship and Outreach Section
  P.O. Box 698,
  Halifax, Nova Scotia
  Canada B3J 2T9
  
  Phone 902-424-6295 or 424-5444
  Toll free: 1-866-226-7577
  E-mail: woodlot@gov.ns.ca
  Fax: (902) 424-7735