Irving Woodlands receives Atlantic Business Magazine ECOlogical Award for conservation leadership

Irving Woodlands has been awarded the 2026 Land-based ECOlogical Award from Atlantic Business Magazine for its Conservation Areas Program.

The Land-based ECOlogical award celebrates organizations that demonstrate leadership in protecting natural, land-based ecosystems. The award is part of Atlantic Business Magazine's inaugural ECOlogical Awards, an initiative which recognizes individuals and organizations making significant contributions to environmental sustainability in Atlantic Canada.

The Irving Woodlands Conservation Areas Program is the largest voluntary conservation initiative led by a private landowner in Canada. The program protects thousands of unique and ecologically significant sites across managed lands, helping preserve biodiversity, wildlife habitat, cultural
heritage and other important natural features.

The program, which began with 29 sites back in the 1990s, now includes more than 2,450 conservation areas and continues to grow each year. Foresters and operations staff are trained to identify and submit sites with valuable biodiversity features. Each site is then catalogued, geo fenced and excluded from harvesting and other forest operations.

Some areas of the forest require special stewardship, from safeguarding rare plant species or critical wildlife habitats to protecting historically significant areas that are part of a landscape story. The Conservation Areas Program ensures these places remain protected for generations to come.

Read the full program feature and learn more about the Atlantic Business Magazine ECOlogical

Awards at: Land-based ECOlogical award winner, Irving Woodlands | Atlantic Business Magazine