"Sustainability is really core to some of my family values, as well as my personal values. I want to feel as though when I finish my career that I'm leaving a legacy." - Josh Sherrill, MBA, MS, Forestry, Genetics and Forest Productivity Manager, Irving Woodlands

Originally from North Carolina and a graduate of both the North Carolina State University and Colorado State University, Josh calls Fredericton, New Brunswick home. We reached out to Josh for some comments about what the forest means to him.

Josh wants his children and future generations to be able to enjoy products that come from the forest just like he does, but also that they are able to enjoy recreation in the woods, and the benefits of air and water quality.  Josh says "A life without the forest feels stale and unnatural. It sounds gloomy and bland. The woods make me feel warm and in tune with nature". We couldn't agree more. 

Sustainability means a life with thriving and viable forests for generations to come. We're proud of how hard we work every day to grow more wood and create a better future, because we can't imagine a life without wood. A life without wood would mean a life without many household products, from the ones we already know about like furniture, flooring, and doors, to the more subtle ones, like popsicles, ink, toothpaste, and even animal bedding!

National Forest Week is a celebration of life with wood and all of the things the forests provide - a variety of forest products including houses, air and water filtration and spaces for recreation. The forest has been at the heart of everything we do since 1882, and we’re happy to celebrate more than 100 years of National Forest week with you. 

Our forests are continually giving, and so we continually give back to the forests, through sustainable forest management, tree planting, and site conservation. 

Our award-winning and voluntary conservation program includes over 1,700 sites, and that number is always growing! Nearly 25 per cent of the lands we own or manage are set aside for conservation purposes, including important lakes and wetlands, endangered reptiles and invertebrates, rare fish and unique forest stands. We work with local universities as well as community and environmental groups to continuously learn and adapt our management practices. We also invest in research to identify, conserve, and study the unique places in our conservation areas. We value the woods for what it provides for us: a strong economy and a strong community.

Visit https://www.jdirvingconservation.com to learn more about our conservation efforts, and our social media pages to stay up to date.