Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question for Irving Woodlands? Send it to info@irvingwoodlands.com

• Why are the logging roads marked every kilometer?

  Logging roads are marked every kilometer for forest area identification as well as related safety precautions.

• What is freehold land? Is it still crown land?

  Freehold land is property registered in the name of an individual owner with their respective province.

• I've heard that moose hunters can apply to hunt on JDI private land. Is this true? If so where could I apply?

  You may find our online application and detailed information on our website at the following link: Moose Hunting

• How many trees are replaced after harvesting the forests of New Brunswick.

  On the lands owned or managed by J.D. Irving, Limited, the sustainability of the resource is of upmost importance. Through natural regeneration methods or by planting trees, we ensure that all harvested areas are renewed and that trees will be growing for the future forest.

  To ensure sustainability, we look out 80 years into the future and carefully plan how the forest is to be protected, managed and renewed.  An important part of this long term planning is to determine the strategy for when and where we harvest and how we will renew the forest.

  In the field, our foresters evaluate each of the areas scheduled for harvest to determine the most appropriate plan to ensure that a new forest is regenerated after harvest.  This can be done by protecting the natural regeneration that already exists, carrying out partial harvesting to promote new natural regeneration or by planting trees.

  J.D. Irving, Limited has a long standing tradition of planting trees. Since 1957, JDI has planted over 1 billion trees.  In 2021, we planted over 15 million trees on lands we own or manage. This long term commitment will create a healthy future forest for generations to come.

• Can I buy a harvester or a different machine with Irving and start a business? I just need help to get started.

  We are actively recruiting for harvesting and trucking contractors. Please contact either e-mail below and a forestry representative will be able to provide you with more information. 

  forestjobs@jdirving.com

• Who do I contact about selling wood off our land?

  We have a team of professional foresters dedicated to woodlot services. You can call one of the team members direct. You can also visit JDIwoodproducers.com and go to Woodlot Services to see what we offer. 

  New Brunswick:

  • Jamie Walls – 506 365 5897 – walls.jamie@jdirving.com
  • Rick McShane – 506 433 0623 – mcshane.rick@jdirving.com 
  • Matt Chase – 506 435 2414 – chase.matthew@jdirving.com
  • Rob Anderson – 506 433 0214 – anderson.rob@jdirving.com

   

  Nova Scotia: 

  • Lowell Sherry – 902 890 9419 - sherry.lowell@jdirving.com 
  • Steven McLelan - 902 664 7585 - mclelan.steven@jdirving.com
  • Doug Armsworthy - 902 324 8702 - armsworthy.doug@jdirving.com
  • Carl Hovey - 782 370 1829 - hovey.carl@jdirving.com 

  https://vimeo.com/113089629

  http://jdiwoodproducers.com/JDI-Wood-Producers.aspx

• I'm looking for information about contracts available for pre-commercial thinning in NB.

  JDI has pre-commercial thinning operations underway on lands we manage throughout NB.   Pre-commercial thinning is carried out by JDI's contractors who are responsible to hire their own workforce.

  If you would like further information, please contact Jason Killam at (506) 423-8291 or killam.jason@jdirving.com

   

• How long would it take to reforest an acre of clear cut land and be able to sell the mature wood?

  The time it takes a stand to reach maturity is mostly a function of how intensively the stand is managed and how good the soil is.

  For example a clear cut allowed to naturally regenerate and simply left to grow may take upwards of 70 years to reach maturity. 

  A clear cut that is planted with high quality seedlings, released from competition at age 2 or 3 and at age 10-12 (i.e mechanically cleaned with a brush saw to allow more space and light for growth) ‎has the potential to produce trees 6-12 inches in diameter, and approximately 18-30 feet tall in 22-25 years and be ready to clear cut again at age 35-40.

   

• What kind or trees do you plant after you cut them trees down? Do you plant a variety or just one type? Do you plant only soft wood or only hard wood? Do you only plant trees that grow fast or do you plant any kinds of trees? do you plant the exact amount of trees that you cut down or do you plant more or less?

  Thanks for your interest in J.D Irving. We are happy to provide some information on the questions you are wondering about.

  What kind of trees do you plant after a harvest, and are they diverse? 

  We have 6 primary softwood species that are used to re-plant our clear cuts (white spruce, Norway spruce, red spruce, black spruce, white pine, and a small amount of jack pine)

  Do you plant only softwood trees?

  We only plant soft wood species. Hardwood regenerates naturally and we rely on several types of NON clear-cut harvesting that promote natural regeneration of hardwood species. For example in areas that are dominated by hardwood species, we cut narrow strips and only remove a small percent of the mature trees. This allows for natural hardwood to grow underneath the remaining trees. There is also a percentage of hardwood that naturally regenerates within our planted areas over the life cycle of the stand. Today, in New Brunswick there is the same amount of hardwood as 50 years ago.

  What kind of trees do you plant? 

  We have a tree improvement program at JDI to ensure we are planting very healthy trees with the best possible potential. We have achieved this mostly through collecting seeds from healthy, natural trees across the region and using those seeds to grow our seedlings.

  Do you plant the exact amount of trees that you cut down? More? Less?

  Every year, we are growing more wood than we harvest. Sustainable forestry means we harvest 2% or less of the land each year.