Who We Are
Research has shown that most of Nova Scotia’s 30,000 forest landowners are interested in sustainably managing their woodlands, but they want to explore alternatives to clear-cut harvesting.
NSWOOA has been a leader in promoting environmentally centered, socially responsible, and economically balanced forestry for more than 50 years. We believe that forest practices should mimic natural processes in the native Acadian Forest. Management that favors the growth of high-quality trees of our longest-lived, most valuable species offers the best opportunity to enhance timber value while restoring forest conditions to a more natural and desirable state.
These days, many companies and organizations claim to support sustainable forest management. Woodland owners have been demanding better forest practices for decades, and demonstrating their beliefs in the forest. They were leaders at a time when the concepts of ecological forestry were ignored or scorned by most forest professionals.
Click here to read a far-sighted brief that the late Murray Prest of Mooseland submitted to the Royal Commission on Forestry in April 1983.
Today's board members and officers are long-time advocates for responsible forest practices. The board is composed of new and multi-generation woodlot owners, forestry contractors, farmers, professional foresters and others who have a keen interest in the long-term restoration and management of the native Acadian Forest.
2022-23 Officers
Chairman Lorne Burrows (Old Barns)
Vice Chairman Ken Zwicker (Bridgewater)
Treasurer Norm Paupin (Londonderry)
Secretary Christie Verstraten (Halifax): Staff
2022-23 Board Members
Beau Blois (Old Barns)
Robert Frame (Dartmouth)
Jennika Hunsinger (Caledonia): Affiliate representing Medway Community Forest Co-op
Ruthe Macaulay (Little Narrows)
Lori Morton (Scotsburn): Affiliate representing Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest
Britt Roscoe (Port George)
NSWOOA Staff
Andy Kekacs, Executive Director (West Jeddore)
Christie Verstraten, Program Director (Halifax)
Family Forest Network Staff
Ryan Dickie, Extension Forester (Enfield)
Dan Hart, Extension Forester
Jackie Saturno, Network Manager (Halifax)
Members
NSWOOA members are people throughout Nova Scotia who support and practice ecologically sensitive forest management and who are willing to share their knowledge and experience with others. We share common values about responsible land management based on sustainable forest practices. Very likely, our members are people like you!
For more information about our organization and its work, call Andy Kekacs at 1-855-NS-WOODS (1-855-679-6637), write to us at info.nswooa@gmail.com, or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NSWOOA. To learn more about joining NSWOOA, visit our membership page.
Research has shown that most of Nova Scotia’s 30,000 forest landowners are interested in sustainably managing their woodlands, but they want to explore alternatives to clear-cut harvesting.
NSWOOA has been a leader in promoting environmentally centered, socially responsible, and economically balanced forestry for more than 50 years. We believe that forest practices should mimic natural processes in the native Acadian Forest. Management that favors the growth of high-quality trees of our longest-lived, most valuable species offers the best opportunity to enhance timber value while restoring forest conditions to a more natural and desirable state.
These days, many companies and organizations claim to support sustainable forest management. Woodland owners have been demanding better forest practices for decades, and demonstrating their beliefs in the forest. They were leaders at a time when the concepts of ecological forestry were ignored or scorned by most forest professionals.
Click here to read a far-sighted brief that the late Murray Prest of Mooseland submitted to the Royal Commission on Forestry in April 1983.
Today's board members and officers are long-time advocates for responsible forest practices. The board is composed of new and multi-generation woodlot owners, forestry contractors, farmers, professional foresters and others who have a keen interest in the long-term restoration and management of the native Acadian Forest.
2022-23 Officers
Chairman Lorne Burrows (Old Barns)
Vice Chairman Ken Zwicker (Bridgewater)
Treasurer Norm Paupin (Londonderry)
Secretary Christie Verstraten (Halifax): Staff
2022-23 Board Members
Beau Blois (Old Barns)
Robert Frame (Dartmouth)
Jennika Hunsinger (Caledonia): Affiliate representing Medway Community Forest Co-op
Ruthe Macaulay (Little Narrows)
Lori Morton (Scotsburn): Affiliate representing Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest
Britt Roscoe (Port George)
NSWOOA Staff
Andy Kekacs, Executive Director (West Jeddore)
Christie Verstraten, Program Director (Halifax)
Family Forest Network Staff
Ryan Dickie, Extension Forester (Enfield)
Dan Hart, Extension Forester
Jackie Saturno, Network Manager (Halifax)
Members
NSWOOA members are people throughout Nova Scotia who support and practice ecologically sensitive forest management and who are willing to share their knowledge and experience with others. We share common values about responsible land management based on sustainable forest practices. Very likely, our members are people like you!
For more information about our organization and its work, call Andy Kekacs at 1-855-NS-WOODS (1-855-679-6637), write to us at info.nswooa@gmail.com, or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NSWOOA. To learn more about joining NSWOOA, visit our membership page.