2008 Woodlot Owner of the Year Announced

The 2008 winners of Nova Scotia's Woodlot Owner of the Year Award nurture an 81-hectare woodlot in Greenfield, Colchester Co., with thoughtful management.

"The Department of Natural Resources is proud to present the 2008 Woodlot Owner of the Year Award to Russell and Margaree McNally," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "The McNally's demonstrate outstanding achievements in woodlot management."

Other regional winners recognized are Royce and Christine Ford of Maitland Bridge, Annapolis Co., in the western region, and Neal Livingston and Peggy Cameron of Mabou, Inverness Co., in the eastern region.

The McNally's purchased the woodlot in 1981 and it has been a family endeavour since. Mr. McNally retired from the Department of Natural Resources as a researcher in 1995, yet maintains his ambition to contribute to sustainable woodland management through research and innovative techniques.

His woodlot is comparable to an outdoor laboratory with several sites dedicated to experimental treatments. Over the past 25 years, Mr. McNally has supplied wood to various local mills, sold about 25,000 Christmas trees, and produced and sold maple syrup to local businesses. The McNally family also opens their woodlot to the community for fishing, hunting and skiing.

The 2008 Woodlot Owner of the Year Award will be presented to the McNally family at a public field tour on their woodlot on Oct. 4.

Winners of the annual award 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 allow people to enjoy the aesthetic appeal, recreational opportunities and spiritual aspects of nature.

The Department of Natural Resources receive 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.

"In the past 19 years, 109 woodland owners have been recognized for setting and meeting sustainable goals for their land, improving the condition, access and health of their woodland, and considering values like wildlife habitat," said Mr. Morse.

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 on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/extension/woya .