PEI  REPORT:
New Forest Policy Released
by Ken Mayhew

In October, the province of PEI released its new forest policy, entitled Moving to Restore a Balance in Island Forests, to the public and forest community. This document replaces the 1987 forest policy and will guide government’s role in the management and conservation of public and private land forests. It is based on extensive public and forest sector consultations and takes into account the many values Islanders place on their forest lands. This policy recognizes that forests are more than undeveloped lands or a source of timber, and that healthy forest ecosystems are essential to the Island’s economy, society, and environment.

Unlike most of Canada, the majority (88%) of PEI’s forest land is privately owned. Owners are responsible for making their own management and harvest decisions. While most private land operations tend to be small in size, collectively they can have a major impact on the health and productivity of Island forests. As well, the Island’s ownership laws prevent corporations from owning more than 1200 ha of forest, so the Island’s forest harvesting and processing sectors tend to be small and relatively minor players in the provincial economy. 

With these factors in mind, the new forest policy clearly recognizes private landowners’ right to make their own land use decisions. The province will continue to support woodlot owners who want to manage their forest resources, however, the policy includes actions to ensure that public funds lead to public benefits. In the near future, approved forest management plans will be required before land owners can access public funding. As well, financial support will shift away from the current ratio of 90:10 in favour of softwood plantations to a 50:50 balance between plantations and alternative, enhancement-style treatments. These actions will be phased in, starting next year, to allow those who use the programs time to adapt.

This shift in funding emphasis, combined with a commitment to increase education and training opportunities for woodlot owners, will help Island landowners manage forests for a wider range of products and services. One area that holds great promise is the expansion of value-added forest products such as flooring, furniture, cabinets and giftware as well as non-timber products such as foods, decoratives, and medicinals

The new forest policy emphasizes the role of public forest lands in education, research, and demonstrating good forestry and wildlife management practices. Action items in the policy include creating a public land atlas, developing an ecosystem-based forest management manual for public land, and building government/community partnerships. These actions will help ensure that public lands set the standard for stewardship and conservation, PEI’s new forest policy also takes into consideration the potential impacts of climate change. In response to this issue and other actions in the policy, the J. Frank Gaudet Tree Nursery will increase production of late successional Acadian forest tree species for enrichment and enhancement plantings.

Moving to Restore a Balance in Island Forests is available online at www.gov.pe.ca/go/forestpolicy, or by calling Island Information Service at 902-368-4000 or 1-800-236-5196.