Woodland Owner of the Year | Forestry Sector Council

From the Province

NATURAL RESOURCES & RENEWABLES

James Leggate Forestry Named Woodland Owner of the Year

September 22, 2022 | Government of Nova Scotia News Release

The winner of the 2022 Woodland Owner of the Year Award is James Leggate Forestry of Five Mile River, Hants County.

James Leggate and Christina Millar are silviculture contractors and have a 243-hectare (600-acre) woodlot. They have done several silvicultural treatments on the property, including tree planting, appropriate selection-harvest methods, commercial thinning and pre-commercial thinning.

“Private woodlot owners play an important role in Nova Scotia’s future. This year’s winners show how sustainable woodland ownership and biodiversity go hand in hand. It’s wonderful to have private woodlot owners working with us to foster biodiversity as we advance ecological forestry on Crown land in Nova Scotia.”
– Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Tory Rushton

The Woodland Owner of the Year Award recognizes private landowners for outstanding stewardship of their woodlands and excellence in forestry techniques on private land. It encourages sustainable stewardship and increases public awareness of the importance of private woodlands in Nova Scotia.

There are also regional awards. The western regional winners are Peter and Angela Kennedy, Lunenburg County, and the eastern regional winners are Ron and Johanna Melchiore, Guysborough County.

Nominations were evaluated using several criteria including the quality of integrated resource management practices; employing environmental standards; meeting sustainable goals; protecting wildlife habitats; improving woodlots in general and for recreation; and how nominees developed and grew their knowledge of the field of forestry and woodlot management.

James Leggate & Christina Millar

The central region and provincial winners for 2022 Woodlot Owner of the Year are James Leggate and Christina Millar of Five Mile River, Hants County.

Ron & Johanna Melchiore

Ron and Johanna have lived for 42 years off grid on three different homesteads surrounded by forest in Guysborough County.

Peter & Angela Kennedy

Peter and Angela live on a 102-acre woodlot called “Crows Haven” with their three children Anthea, Ashe, Draven.

Quick Facts

The award has recognized private woodlot owners for outstanding stewardship for more than 30 years.
Nova Scotians who own between 20 and 2,000 hectares of woodland are eligible to be nominated.
Mr. Leggate and Ms. Millar will be recognized with a prize and a field day at their woodlot for the local community to learn more about sustainable forestry.
About 60 per cent of Nova Scotia’s woodlands are privately owned.