About the Quinte Chapter

The Quinte Chapter of the Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA) is a grassroots organization formed in 1999 and has grown from a handful of dedicated people to over 100 members.

The Quinte Chapter OWA, welcomes anyone with an interest in forests. The membership is made up of landowners and interested people from, but not restricted to, the south half of Hastings County, and Prince Edward County, with an additional number of woodlot owners from along the edges of bordering counties.

Most of the area falls in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Forest Region, with some Deciduous Forest Region characteristics appearing along the north shore of Lake Ontario and in Prince Edward County. Agriculture with its associated farm woodlots dominates the landscape on the limestone-based soils in the southern portion of the Quinte Chapter’s catchment area, with more extensive forest cover occurring on the Canadian Shield, a little further north in the chapter area. The diverse landscape and soil types are reflected in the associated forest cover, providing members opportunities to observe and learn about a variety of forest types within a relatively short distance. Along with diverse landscape mosaics, past practices have heavily influenced the existing forest cover, allowing members to learn from mistakes and successes.

Member interests include sustainable forestry, wildlife habitat, conservation, silviculture, foraging, nature appreciation, recreation, forest product industry and environmental stewardship. Providing educational opportunities is as important today as it was at our inaugural meeting.

Our chapter hosts events throughout the year. These events are designed to impart knowledge, share skills and promote an appreciation for a variety of woodland activities. These opportunities to learn and share information reflect the interests and priorities of our members. Quinte’s Annual General Meeting includes guest speakers, a delicious meal and a guided walk.

Quinte, together with sister Limestone Chapter are lead organizers for the premier regional Quinte Woodland Conference (previously known as Trenton Woodlot Conference). The Quinte Woodland Conference is a decades-old gathering of foresters, woodlot owners, farmers, conservationists, environmentalists, federal and provincial organizations, naturalists, entrepreneurs and educators.

Our volunteer board of directors also support our members through various social networks including Facebook and seasonal newsletters. This has been especially important while we navigate the safety issues of the pandemic.