The Forest Stewardship Recognition Program (FSRP) award, which recognizes outstanding stewardship in Canada's forests, was presented to the Upper Canada Woods Cooperative. Formed in 2002, the UCWC is the only cooperative of its kind in Ontario. It provides forest management services, marketing services and educational information to its 60 members in Quinte Region. The result has been improved forest stewardship and a healthier local forest economy. Co-op members are now managing more than 10,000 acres of private woodlands sustainably.

The Countryside Canada Stewardship Recognition Program award was presented to Roy Greer, a Manitoba farmer and conservationist. Mr. Greer has been the driving force behind an ecological goods and services research project, which is currently underway in the rural municipality of Blanshard, northwest of Brandon. The Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) project pays farmers and landowners to maintain and enhance wetlands, riparian areas, ecologically sensitive lands and natural areas.

"Both the Forest Stewardship award and the Countryside Canada award have helped to raise the profile of stewardship across Canada," says David Brackett, President of Wildlife Habitat Canada."These awards have increased public awareness about the need to promote good stewardship practices and to protect Canada's biodiversity."

The founding partners of the Forest Stewardship Recognition Program are Wildlife Habitat Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Canadian Forest Service and the Forest Products Association of Canada. The main sponsors of the Countryside Canada stewardship award are Wildlife Habitat Canada, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Additional information about the forest stewardship award and the Countryside Canada stewardship award is available at www.whc.org or contact:

Mr. Lynn McIntyre,
Director of Stewardship Programs
Wildlife Habitat Canada
800-669-7919 ext. 234