"Private Woodlands - Important Benefits and Threats" is the theme for this years Winter Woodlot Conference on February 19. The conference is at the W B George Centre, Kemptville Campus of the University of Guelph.

The conference is an annual event and offers woodlot owners, forest industry personnel, and forest resource managers an opportunity to meet and discuss opportunities and issues related to private woodlands. The day is organized by OMAF, MNR, Eastern Model Forest, South Nation Conservation Authority and Domtar Inc.

The morning programs starts at 9:45 am. The first speaker is Wade Knight of the Ontario Woodlot Association. His topic is Selling Standing Timber. Tom Richardson, Private Consultant from Perth will discuss Wood Measurement. Scott Davis Project Forester Eastern Ontario Model Forest will discuss Marketing Timber in Eastern Ontario. The morning will conclude with a Question and Answer session with all speakers.

From 12:30 pm to 2 pm participants will have time to visit the displays and have lunch.

The afternoon session will feature concurrent sessions. Session A will have a focus of Wildlife. Kirk Sobey, Rabies Biologist Trent University will discuss Rabies and Raccoons. Scott Smithers, Biologist MNR in Kemptville will lead a discussion on Fishers. The final topic in this session will be Bears with Jason Ritchie Bear Technician MNR Kemptville.

The focus of Session B will be Forest Health. Dan Rowlinson, Provincial Forest Health Technician with MNR Sault St Marie and Barry Smith Forest Health Technician Natural Resources Canada in Sault St Marie will give a Forest Health Update. Dr Richard Wilson Forestry Program Pathologist will conclude the session with a talk on Diseases of Tree.

From 9 am to 4 pm Heideman Forest Products from Eganville will be providing a demonstration of mechanized thinning in a red pine plantation. For more information contact Dave Chapeskie OMAF Kemptville 613-258-8302 or Dave MacNaughton Eastern Ontario Model Forest 613-258-8365.