Two months into it and the Eastern Ontario Model Forest group’s new general manager is settling into the job, reviewing major files and reaching out to long-standing partners in sustainable forestry. It helps that the duties aren’t completely foreign to him. Mark Richardson was with the EOMF for seven years before being seconded to Environment Canada for two years to work in its invasive species policy unit.
Richardson doesn’t plan to veer dramatically from the course set by predecessor Brian Barkley and the board of directors, but to refine the process and move it forward. Barkley was bid a fond farewell during the EOMF’s annual gathering held at Temple’s Sugar Bush in Lanark County. EOMF founding general manager, Barkley was thanked for his years of dedication to the cause. He promised to remain close by and to provide his expertise whenever requested.
The meeting was also an occasion to hand out major awards: Maple expert Dave Chapeskie earned the prestigious Ross Silversides Forestry Award, and Hans Ottens, a member of the EOMF forest science committee, got the Heartwood Award for exceptional volunteer contribution.
Richardson observed that a priority is to rev up some of the EOMF’s outreach projects as well he listed ongoing forest certification, pest management, forest rehabilitation and expansion, and education and information dissemination as major EOMF priorities. A policy and priority review will be undertaken this fall, the GM said.