A collaboration among 11 charitable, non-profit, and co-operative organizations, the Family Forest Network (FFN) is conducting research and promoting ecological forestry practices on small, privately owned woodlands in Nova Scotia. Our five-year project aims to:

• Create a large-scale pilot of approximately 160 harvest and 40 silviculture treatments province-wide that quantify and promote the benefits of ecological forestry practices.

• Extend the reach of ecological forestry on family woodlands through integrated solutions and strategic partnerships.

• Develop a steward-led network to address the key challenges of implementing ecological forestry practices on small private woodlands.

The pilot will study not only the short‐term economics, but also the long‐term impacts on forest value, carbon storage, soil fertility, biodiversity, and other non‐timber values. We will gain a greater understanding of the economic costs, management challenges, and forest health benefits associated with ecological forestry practices. The data and knowledge acquired will be shared with woodland owners, researchers, and provincial government departments to help inform the ongoing development of management practices and forest policy. Furthermore, it will provide fresh opportunities for learning, and we will work closely with academic and Mi’kmaw partners to base future forest management on sound scientific research and Indigenous knowledge.

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