Protecting New Brunswick’s Forests Through Landowner Stewardship
PROTECTING NEW BRUNSWICK’S FORESTS THROUGH LANDOWNER STEWARDSHIP
WRITTEN BY JAMIE SIMPSON, LANDOWNER STEWARD
I have a long-standing passion for nature conservation, and was thrilled to begin my professional career as the Conservation Outreach Coordinator with the Nature Trust of New Brunswick. I purchased my land at Chickahominy in 2001 and fell in love with its forests, fields and cliffs. I was also excited to purchase land next to an existing Nature Trust preserve and then to enter into a voluntary stewardship agreement with the Nature Trust over my land.
Photo of Jamie Simpson, Landowner Steward
My stewardship is not strictly preservation of the land; I have cut some firewood and logs, and I cut some trees to encourage certain tree species over others. With this gentle ‘forestry’ work, I aim to nudge the forest towards old-forest conditions, wherein long-lived mature forest species such as Red Spruce, Yellow Birch, White Ash, White Pine and Sugar Maple once again have a strong presence on the land.
I also make sure there is an abundance of standing and fallen deadwood -- which is home to much life in the forest. Mostly, though, my stewardship of these 90-odd acres is simply to watch how the forest grows and changes over time: stands of Balsam Fir, for example, gradually transitioning to more diverse and longer- lived species. I lived in an old farm house on the property for a few years; although I live in Nova Scotia for now, I often return to my property to visit the trees there, to look at some Red Spruce that I thinned more than a decade ago, and perhaps glimpse a pileated woodpecker or spot some black bear tracks. And of course, to hike my trail up to Chickahominy Mountain to enjoy the views of Sam Orr’s Pond and the Passamaquoddy Bay.
It's so pleasing to see my land nestled beside the Nature Trust's land, to know that together these lands are a home to a special bit of forest and its wildlife.
To help increase the impact of conservation action in your area and to learn more about the Landowner Stewardship Program, contact Cheyenne Currie below or give her a call at (506) 457-2398.