Private Protected Areas Program
The Federation has partnered with the Nature Trust of New Brunswick (NTNB) to establish a Private Protected Areas program (PPAP) to recognize woodlot owners in NB whose primary goal is protecting or increasing the biodiversity of their land.
This program is still in the planning stage as we work on developing a framework that will allow for;
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the registry of areas woodlot owners are willing to protect for a defined period (minimum 5 years),
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support of the province's goals to protect biodiversity, and
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identification of areas of high conservation significance and woodlot owners interested in conservation.
NTNB is a well-known and trusted charitable land conservation organization, however, conservation organizations alone cannot preserve all of NB’s natural ecosystems or sustain all of the unique habitats and wildlife species in our province. We all share the responsibility to care for this land, and we can all be a part of the protection effort in our own ways.
Our program delivery partners
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the foresters and organizations who are making this project possible.
The Nature Trust already has their Conservation Partners Program (CPP), which is a free, voluntary, no-commitment-required program that supports private landholders with guidance on:
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sharing your land with endangered species;
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native plants, shrubs, and trees that can be of a benefit to you;
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identifying areas of your woodlot that could be set aside as a reserve for wildlife;
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how to protect wetlands and make your shoreline more wildlife-friendly.
The CPP is a less formal agreement that recognizes landholders who are voluntarily stewarding their land with conservation in mind, and can still involve harvesting as long as the owner is committed to implementing certain 'best management practices', such as protecting certain features.
The Private Protected Areas Program will be for private woodlot owners who want to take their commitment to protecting biodiversity a step further.
The PPAP and CPP will be complementary programs.
We have 5 woodlot owners who have agreed to be part of this pilot project while we work through creating the framework. If you are interested in potentially joinging this program in the future, you can fill in the contact form below and be put on a waiting list.
Some details about how the PPAP could look:
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An interested woodlot owner may register all or part of their woodlot in the program.
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A baseline assessment (woodlot report or management plan) will be done on the property or portion of the woodlot enrolled. The assessment will identify areas of high conservation value.
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A written agreement (voluntary and non-binding) will be signed between the land owner and the Federation, indicating the owners commitment to protecting the designated piece of land for 5 years.
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Ownership of the woodlot remains with the woodlot owner.
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Each woodlot in the program will be tabulated, mapped and added to a Private Protected Areas database, with the owner’s permission.
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A recognition sign will be developed and provided (funding dependant).
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Prohibited Activities: Commercial harvesting; cottage development; quarries, pits and mining.
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Permitted Activities: Personal firewood harvesting, light forest restoration, trails.
Do one of these options apply to you?
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I want to commit to protecting all or part of my property for biodiversity, for the next 5 years.
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You could be a good fit for the PPAP! Stay tuned for future updates, or fill out the form below to be put on the waiting list.
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I am still interested in actively harvesting, but I want to learn about what I can do to protect biodiversity on my woodlot.
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You could be a good fit for the Nature Trust CPP! Fill out the form below and we will pass it on to the Nature Trust.
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I am interested in making a longer-term commitment to conservation of my property.
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You should talk to the Nature Trust about available land conservation options! Fill out the form below and we will pass it on to the Nature Trust.
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