Support healthy Island forests for a healthy future

As part of National Forest Week, Islanders are encouraged to take time to recognize the importance of Island forests and trees to their own health and the Island’s future.

“National Forest Week is a time for all Islanders to appreciate the great benefits that trees provide us – clean air, wildlife habitat, renewable forest products, reducing energy demand and connecting with nature. Fall is a great time to plant some trees or just appreciate their beauty. Every tree we plant leaves a better Island for future generations.”

- Environment, Water and Climate Change Minister Natalie Jameson

Prince Edward Island has one of the most diverse provincial tree nurseries in Canada. The J. Frank Gaudet Tree Nursery grows more than two dozen species of native trees and shrubs for reforestation and watershed enhancement efforts across PEI. In the past year, the Department of Environment, Water and Climate Change has partnered with local watershed groups,  municipalities, schools, kindergartens, day cares, churches and community groups to see trees planted for a variety of purposes.

To monitor the Island’s forests, the 2020 Corporate Land Use Inventory is currently underway to map every inch of the Island and all its land uses.  This work will help government assess the current state of Prince Edward Island’s forests and plan for the future.

Healthy forests require the involvement of all Islanders, especially those who own forested land.  The department has programs that provide technical advice and financial assistance to landowners such as the Forest Enhancement Program.

The Province also recognizes the important role forests play in mitigating climate change.  The Carbon Capture Tree Planting Program is designed for landowners willing to plant cleared land, so it will become a future forest. This program is financially support by the Province of Prince Edward Island and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Most of Prince Edward Island is private land, but there are about 30,000 hectares of public land that are open for people to explore, which include forests, ponds, bogs, marshes and other areas where people can reconnect with nature.  Learn more about these lands at Public Lands  here and find them on the Public Land Atlas.
 
Media contact:
Leanne Ritchie
Department of Environment, Water and Climate Change
(902) 314-0134
lpritchie@gov.pe.ca