An Antigonish County family that manage a 190-acre woodlot in North Lochaber are Nova Scotia's 2010 Woodlot Owner of the Year.
"The Department of Natural Resources is proud to present the 2010 Woodlot Owner of the Year Award to Jim Webber and his family," Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell said July 15. "Mr. Webber and his family have demonstrated outstanding innovations in integrated resource management."
The Webbers were chosen as the provincial winners for their excellent planning and management. The property has been salvaged from neglect and molded into a thriving woodlot, including 36 acres of blueberry farm, 10 acres of grassland, and a Christmas tree farm. The woodlot provides a source of income, a place for recreation, and a means to an enjoyable lifestyle.
Within a few years of purchasing the woodlot, Webber developed a management plan with the assistance of Scott and Stewart Forestry Consultants Ltd., following forestry trends, and updating his management plan to reflect the Forestry Stewardship Councils (FSC) Maritimes Standards.
The Webbers have been implementing sustainable practices since acquiring their woodlot, allowing only small areas of the woodlot to be harvested at a given time. This has fostered the development of uneven-aged stands and the maintenance of wildlife habitat.
The 2010 Woodlot Owner of the Year Award will be presented to the Webber family, along with their award as winners of the eastern region, at a public field tour of their woodlot on Oct. 2.
Other regional winners recognized are: Dave Thomas and family (western region) North Range, Digby County and George Post and family (central region) West River Station, Pictou County.
