If you are new to Westwind and don't know who we are or what we do take a look around and please don't be shy about telling us what you think - about our work or about our website. At Westwind, we are committed to ensuring that all forest users and values are considered through frequent public consultation. Please contact us to: express your opinion, to be placed on our mailing list or to find out about our public consultation events and stewardship conferences.

Work has already begun on preparing the 2009-2019 Forest Management Plan. Go to SFL and FMP to understand how you can get involved.

For those of you who are new to the field of forestry you'll find a glossary of Terms to help you out as well as our own version of Forestry 101. In addition, we are also quite proud of our recent certification through the international body FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) check out their website) which makes us the largest FSC Certified public forest in Canada.

Our Mission

Westwind Forest Stewardship Inc. orchestrates ecologically sustainable forest management on the diverse and intensively used French-Severn Forest.

Under the authority of a Sustainable Forest License (SFL), it will serve forest businesses and other users of the forest while maintaining the highest standards for business practice and public accountability.

Company Profile

Westwind is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to manage the publicly owned French-Severn Forest in a way that is ecologically and socially sustainable. It is directed by a local board that includes community and forest industry representatives.

Under its Sustainable Forest License (SFL), Westwind assumes responsibility for:

• planning timber harvest
• tree planting
• tree marking
• gathering, recording and assessing forest information
• annual reporting to the public
• preparing forest management plans (FMP)
• training and educating forest workers
• inspecting all forest operations to ensure they comply with strict government rules and regulations

Why a community based board?

The Board of Directors, with representation from different sectors of the community, considers the interests of all forest users. This is especially important in the Muskoka and Parry Sound area with its mix of recreation, tourism, forest industry and wildlife values.


We value:

• respect for nature
• highly qualified, motivated, innovative employees
• exemplary personal conduct of staff and directors that is reflected in relationships with others at all times
• honesty, integrity, transparency and fairness in all decision making
• respect for the law and the rights of others including the inherent rights of First Nations
• credible, fiscally responsible, publicly accountable and effective forest management
• a healthy, successful forest-based economy
• solid, enduring relationships with MNR, our clients, partners and others

Look for the Ontario Wood Symbol when you're shopping
Click here for more info:
www.ontariowood.ca