Ontario is investing $865,000 in the Ontario Woodlot Association to enhance private forest management.
The announcement was made by Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark and Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products Kevin Holland at the Limerick Forest Chalet Interpretive Centre on Thursday morning.
The Kemptville-based OWA will use part of the funding, $790,000, to create three new jobs and acquire equipment for a wood stewardship program, which they say will increase forest sector productivity by connecting businesses to biomass in privately owned forests.
The remaining funding will go to supporting OWA workshops, conferences, publications and collaboration to promote sustainable forest management on private lands.
Clark says the investment will help ensure Ontario’s privately managed forests remain healthy and productive while supporting good-paying jobs and creating new opportunities for the forestry sector, including in eastern Ontario.
The OWA will also develop an inventory of private forests using remote-sensing technology, providing highly accurate information to reduce business burdens, support forest management and attract investments.
