About Us
woodlot association
The Northumberland County Woodlot and Pulp Producers Association Inc., referred to as “Northumberland Woodlot Owners Association” (NWOA) has been in operation since 1972, and has been providing forest management programs for all private woodlot owners in the County. NWOA was established to promote, encourage, and oversee effective and sustainable forest management practices. Our goal is to promote good forest stewardship on all private woodlots within the County. Northumberland County consists of approximately 3,500 woodlot owners, and over 345,000 acres of forested area. The Association is operated and directed by a Board of Directors composed of 13 individual woodlot owners who have a vested interest in the future of the area served by the Association representing the woodlot owners.
We administer silviculture and alternative harvesting treatments in order to provide a continual renewable resource: trees. In short, this means that when a woodlot owner comes to the Association for advice and guidance on properly managing his/her land, we provide them with the necessary tools to ensure they get the most out of their woodlot. Their goals might be to plant or harvest trees, to provide habitat for wildlife, to have a place for recreational activities such as hunting and fishing, or to merely enjoy the natural beauty of their land.
We administer silviculture and alternative harvesting treatments in order to provide a continual renewable resource: trees. In short, this means that when a woodlot owner comes to the Association for advice and guidance on properly managing his/her land, we provide them with the necessary tools to ensure they get the most out of their woodlot. Their goals might be to plant or harvest trees, to provide habitat for wildlife, to have a place for recreational activities such as hunting and fishing, or to merely enjoy the natural beauty of their land.
marketing board
The Northumberland County Forest Products Marketing Board was formed in 1974 under government regulations, on a request from NWOA to establish a Marketing Plan covering primary forest products originating from private woodlots in the County of Northumberland, with the exception of Parish of Alnwick and Rogersville. A plebiscite of woodlot owners was conducted under the supervision of the New Brunswick Forest Products Commission.
In order to be successful, the plebiscite had to confirm: 1) that 50% of the private woodlot acreage was represented in the vote and 2) that 75% of those voting were in favour of a marketing plan. The result of the vote was that 70.1% of the eligible acreage was represented and 99.1% votes were cast in favour of the marketing plan.
The Marketing Board was given the power to negotiate contracts for forest products, to encourage production and marketing of high quality forest products and the adoption of good woodlot management practices, and to co-operate with other local and provincial Boards in New Brunswick. The Marketing Board is governed by its Board of Directors, who meets periodically and reviews the operation, the operating policies are set by the Board of Directors and the staff implement said policies in the day to day operation of the business. The operation and activities of the Marketing Board are overseen by the New Brunswick Forest Products Commission.
The operation of the Board is financed through the “Administration Check-Off Levy” and certain forest management activities are financed through the “Silviculture Check-Off Levy.” The Marketing Board has the ability to collect these levies on all private wood produced in the regulated area. Since its inception in 1974, Northumberland Forest Products Marketing Board has contributed over $300 million in wood sales supporting the local industry and economy.
In summary, Northumberland Forest Products Marketing Board came about as a result of the following:
A - Many sellers / few Buyers
B - Crown Timber as dominate source
A + B = Market distortion
Market distortion = unfair prices, discriminatory buying
In order to be successful, the plebiscite had to confirm: 1) that 50% of the private woodlot acreage was represented in the vote and 2) that 75% of those voting were in favour of a marketing plan. The result of the vote was that 70.1% of the eligible acreage was represented and 99.1% votes were cast in favour of the marketing plan.
The Marketing Board was given the power to negotiate contracts for forest products, to encourage production and marketing of high quality forest products and the adoption of good woodlot management practices, and to co-operate with other local and provincial Boards in New Brunswick. The Marketing Board is governed by its Board of Directors, who meets periodically and reviews the operation, the operating policies are set by the Board of Directors and the staff implement said policies in the day to day operation of the business. The operation and activities of the Marketing Board are overseen by the New Brunswick Forest Products Commission.
The operation of the Board is financed through the “Administration Check-Off Levy” and certain forest management activities are financed through the “Silviculture Check-Off Levy.” The Marketing Board has the ability to collect these levies on all private wood produced in the regulated area. Since its inception in 1974, Northumberland Forest Products Marketing Board has contributed over $300 million in wood sales supporting the local industry and economy.
In summary, Northumberland Forest Products Marketing Board came about as a result of the following:
A - Many sellers / few Buyers
B - Crown Timber as dominate source
A + B = Market distortion
Market distortion = unfair prices, discriminatory buying
northumberland's private woodlots forest condition
The woodlots in this region host over 15 different merchantable tree species, with softwood comprising the majority (over 60%), and spruce/fir and poplar respectively being the most dominate species (Figure 1). The age class structure has the highest amounts of area in the young (0 to 30 years old) and mature (50 to 80 years old) stages of development (Figure 2). The present younger stands are a result of a long history of harvesting woodlots on regular basis. The low amounts of overmature stands also represents that there has been a high demand for timber in this region. One other noteworthy comment in regards to age class structure would be a series of forest fires which spread in the mid 1980’s burning approximately 10% of private woodlot timber area throughout the region.
Figure 1 and 2. Species composition and age class structure within Northumberland’s forest area.
Based on an “Analysis of Future Forest Condition and Wood Supply” done in 2004 by Dr Thom Erdle from the University of New Brunswick, combined with the 2012 DNR update sanctioned through the Private Lands Task Force, this region can obtain a sustainable wood supply level of approximately 250,000 m3 per year. This target level will maintain a broad array of outcomes which will remain constant over time in the facets of ecological, economical, social, and cultural values and is a prudent approach. In the late 1970’s, Northumberland began applying silviculture (over 90% spacing and less than 10% planting) on private woodlots. Today, as a result, close to 20% of the entire land base has had silviculture activities, and it has increased our sustainable harvest levels by over 10%.
Based on an “Analysis of Future Forest Condition and Wood Supply” done in 2004 by Dr Thom Erdle from the University of New Brunswick, combined with the 2012 DNR update sanctioned through the Private Lands Task Force, this region can obtain a sustainable wood supply level of approximately 250,000 m3 per year. This target level will maintain a broad array of outcomes which will remain constant over time in the facets of ecological, economical, social, and cultural values and is a prudent approach. In the late 1970’s, Northumberland began applying silviculture (over 90% spacing and less than 10% planting) on private woodlots. Today, as a result, close to 20% of the entire land base has had silviculture activities, and it has increased our sustainable harvest levels by over 10%.
districts
| District Number | Director | Included Communities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Duplessie | Baie Ste. Anne, Eel River, Escuminac |
| 2 | Harry Williston | Black River, Bay du Vin, Hardwicke |
| 3 | Plen Dickson | Napan, St. Margarets, Loggieville, Chatham, Auburnville, Forest Corner, Glenwood, Point Aux Carr, Redmondville, Weldfield |
| 4 | Jean-Guy Comeau & John Hackett | Nelson-Miramichi, Barnaby, Chelmsford, Chatham Head, Douglasfield, Bushville, Craigville, Kirkwood, McKinleyville, Murray Settlement, Nowlanville, Semiwaggen, Sutton Road |
| 5 | Gilbert Campbell | Blackville, Upper Blackville, Renous, Grey & White Rapids, Howards, Barnettville, Bartholomew, Brophy Road, Cains, Doyles Brook, Dungarvon, Lockstead, Pineville, Plaster Rock Hwy., Quarryville |
| 6 | Dale Brennan | Doaktown, Blissfield, Storeytown, Bettsburg, Porter Cove, Smith's Crossing, Weaver Siding |
| 7 | Doug Munn | Ludlow, Boiestown, Holtville, Betts Mill Brook, Carroll's Crossing, Hayesville, Hazelton |
| 8 | Adam Ross | McNamee, Priceville, New Bandon, Big Hole Brook, Crooked Brook |
| 9 | John Goodfellow | South Esk, Warwick, Williamstown, Red Bank, Little Southwest, Cassilis, Garden Road, Halcomb, Lyttleton, Matthew's Settlement, Parker Road, Sillikers |
| 10 | Pernell Hare | Boom Road, Whitneyville, Sunny Corner, Strathadam, Curventon, Curtis Road, Exmoor, Mullin's Stream |
| 11 | Eugene Richardson | Beaverbrook, Bellefond, Telly Road, Patterson, Busby |
| 12 | Norman Richardson | Douglastown, Millbank, Bartibog Bridge, Moorfield, Ferry Road, Lower Newcastle, Bartibog, Russellville, Nordin, Bathurst Hwy., Cavender Road, Gordon's Wharf, McKinnon Road, Oldfield Road, Portage River, Rennie Road |
| 13 | Alyre Aube | Newcastle, Trout Brook, Wayerton, Maple Glen, Sevogle, Chaplin Island Road, Derby, Millerton, Bryenton, Hilltop, King George Hwy., Shaddick Lake, Upper Derby |
