Wet areas and watercourses require Remember – woodlot management plans special consideration when planning are usually not complicated, but they need activities on your woodlot. For example, to be accurate. They are well worth your you may need to obtain a permit before time and expense to invest in one. A Quick Guide to constructing a watercourse crossing. Wet should be identified and WOODLOT protected from impacts caused by heavy equipment. For detailed information, please visit the MANAGEMENT Do you wish to pursue following resources: NS Department of Natural Resources PLANNING woodlot certification? www.gov.ns.ca/natr/woodlot 1-866-226-7577 [email protected] Woodlot certification is the matching of Professionals woodlot owners' goals with sustainable ŸRegistered Professional Foresters standards that have Association of Nova Scotia www.rpfans.ca been set by an independent third party. ŸNova Scotia Forest Technicians Association Rapidly becoming an important www.nsfta.ca marketing and forest management tool, ŸCanadian Institute of Forestry certification of privately owned www.cif-ifc.org E woodlots must contain an adequate level Woodlot Owner Organizations D I of planning. Woodlot owner ŸFederation of Nova Scotia Woodland associations are directly linked to Owners www.fnswo.ca U certification initiatives. ŸNova Scotia Landowners and Forest Fibre G Producers Association www.nslffpa.org Where can you obtain a ŸNova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators T woodlot management plan? Association www.nswooa.ca O L There are many forestry consultants and Harvesting and Silviculture Contractors woodlot owner organizations in the ŸNova Forest Alliance D

www.novaforestalliance.com O province that can provide you with a ŸAtlantic Master Loggers www.cwfcof.org good quality management plan. Most O forestry consultants are Registered Silviculture Assistance W

Forest Professionals. All woodlot owner ŸAssociation for Sustainable Forestry associations have professionals on staff www.asforestry.com Y L who can help you with your planning Woodlot Road Assistance I needs. A list is provided at the end of ŸForest Products Association of Nova Scotia this brochure. www.fpans.ca M A F

Natural Resources Information Circular Ext-11 Why is good planning the nA description of woodlot ecosites. most important step in Each ecosite should be identified on the ground, and a brief description of the managing your woodlot? area documented in your plan. Ecosites Planning can lay a foundation for the will have unique characteristics that will future of your property by improving the determine your future management overall effectiveness of your woodlot activities. activities, and by assisting in reducing nIdentification of wildlife habitat. costs. It can help your family reduce inheritance taxes, obtain woodlot Many species of wildlife require special certification and receive forest areas to exist. For example, the Nova improvement assistance. A plan is the first Scotia mainland moose, a provincially step on the road to managing your woodlot endangered species, needs adequate resources efficiently and effectively. nAn accurate map or aerial photograph. shelter and feeding areas. Other species, such as the northern goshawk, require Woodlot management plans do not need to This will identify significant areas within your woodlot and provide a reference for large old hardwood trees for nesting. be complicated. They should, however, These sites should be clearly identified contain the following basic information: all your future activities. Knowing the location of different types of forest in in your plan, along with a strategy to n Your goals and objectives. relation to watercourses, special minimize disturbance. No two woodlots are alike, in the same management areas and access roads is nIdentification of future activities. way that no two woodlot owners are the important in planning woodlot activities. A If forest improvement work (called common and convenient planning unit is same. Different owners have different silviculture) is recommended for your values which they place on their woodlots. the ecosite, which is a unique forest area woodlot, it should be described in a Some owners may place a high value on that is classified according to the vegetation section of the management plan. There recreation, wildlife viewing and fuel and types. must also be an indication of when the harvesting. Others may manage their nA description of your boundary lines. work should be completed for maximum woodlots for timber production, non- benefit. timber forest products like berries and Even with modern tools such as GPS, it is mushrooms, and as spiritual retreats. It is important to maintain accurate boundary In woodlot management planning, some extremely important to identify and review lines on the ground. Locating evidence of consideration should be given to the your goals and objectives as early as your boundary lines is usually not difficult, landscape outside the boundaries of your possible in the planning process. Keep in but in some cases a licensed surveyor property. Is there a large clear cut mind that there may be costs, too, should be consulted to verify or establish adjacent to your woodlot? If so, you including the cost of producing a property boundaries. Your woodlot map may want to consider letting the trees in management plan. should show indicators of boundary lines, this area regenerate to a height of at such as tree blazes or old wire or stone least two meters before you start your fences. own harvesting work.