New Brunswickers presented with environmental awards

This  past  weekend  two  environmental  awards  were presented to New Brunswick citizens  and environmental groups in honour of exemplary service to their community.  The prizes, awarded by the New Brunswick Environmental Network (NBEN), recognize significant efforts by citizens and citizen groups toward the protection and restoration of New Brunswick’s environment.     

Community  Forests  International,  an organization based in Sackville with  a mandate to promote community-based ecological forestry both in New  Brunswick  and  internationally,  was  honoured with the the Gaia Award.  According to Mary Ann Coleman, Executive Director of the NBEN, “Community Forests   International received  the  award  for  their determined effort to maintain stewardship of Whaelghinbran Farm and to develop an on-site  training  centre  to  inspire  youth  and future generations  to  work towards achieving the health and diversity found within  the  Acadian  Forest Eco-region prior to European settlement.”
Recently, Community Forests International purchased Whaelghinbran Farm a unique  650-acre farm and Acadian forest woodlot in the Sussex area on  which they will be farming organically and practicing ecological forestry. The  multi-stakeholder community-based ecological forestry practiced at Whaelghinbran will be an  example of alternative approaches to woodland management in the region.              

The  Phoenix  Award, dedicated to those who have been “through the fire,”  was  presented  to  Mark  D’Arcy,  of  the  Friends of the UNB Woodlot. Coleman stated, “Mark received this award in recognition of
his  bold  leadership, creative strategies, and tireless devotion to raising public awareness about and mounting resistance to shale gas exploration.”     

The  awards  were  presented during the Annual General Assembly of the New  Brunswick  Environmental  Network, which was held in Sackville on October 13,  2012. During  the assembly, member groups of the NBEN participanted  in  various  workshops, discussions, and field trips in the area. As  well,  participants  enjoyed the Soup Fest fundraiser hosted  by  local  Sackville  community groups in which Sackville-area
potters  donated  bowls  that  Soup  Fest  participants  took  home as keepsakes. Soup  Fest participants  also  enjoyed  the music of two Sackville musicians, Michael Duguay and Steve Haley.         

The New Brunswick Environmental Network is a non-profit communications network  of over 90  citizen  environmental groups  from across the province. The goal of the Network is to encourage communication among groups and between groups, government and other sectors.