THANK YOU

With your support, we were able to protect 219 acres of upland hardwood forest north of Souris, PEI. This property, named the MapleCross – Eastern Kings Hardwoods Natural Area will be protected forever under the PEI Natural Areas Protection Act. We could not have done it without the generosity of Islanders and supporters across the world.

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The property shown in red on the map represents a rare opportunity to protect ecologically significant lands in eastern Prince Edward Island.
It sits just one parcel away from the Townshend Woodlot Natural Area, protected by INT and the Province of PEI. This remarkable forest complex contains some of the oldest recorded Wabanaki Acadian forest on the Island and is a remarkable example of PEI’s natural heritage.

The property is also strategically positioned among several other protected areas stewarded by INT to the north, east, and south. Each of these landscapes safeguards portions of the Cross River, a priority waterway identified in INT’s Land Acquisition Strategy for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) habitat.

Securing this parcel would strengthen wildlife corridors, expand protection for mature forest, and help sustain the health of the Cross River watershed for generations to come.

To explore the location and see how it connects to the larger forest region, view it on Google Maps.

The region of Eastern Kings features extensive, multi-generational upland hardwood forest ecosystems characterized by undulating forest floors with rich ground cover, much of which has remained relatively untouched over the last century. In addition to the forests of this region, there is also an abundance of watercourses and wetlands that host many at-risk and provincially rare species.

The bogs and riparian zones in this region provide habitat for numerous migratory songbirds, including confirmed records of Canada warbler (Cardellina canadensis) and the olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi), both of which are federally listed species at risk. Other songbirds observed include pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), Philadelphia vireo (Vireo philadelphicus), and pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator).

The upland hardwood forests of this region support a variety of provincially rare vegetation, including several of INT’s only mature white elm (Ulmus americana), in addition to white ash (Fraxinus americana), black ash (Fraxinus nigra), and American beech (Fagus grandifolia), with pockets of Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) and scattered dwarf ginseng (Panax trifolius).

Mature yellow birch
INT staff hugging a large sugar maple
Dwarf ginseng (center) and Christmas fern (center-right)
Large white elm
Sugar maple forest on INT's existing Eastern Kings Hardwoods Natural Area
Canada warbler observed on INT's Townshend Woodlot Natural Area

FAQ

What does my donation support?

Your donation supports direct land securement fees (purchase price, non-refundable HST on the purchase, legal fees, and appraisal fees) as well as a contribution to our land stewardship endowment fund for the property. Donations received above the $100,000 fundraising goal will be allocated to nearby acquisitions in the region in later 2026 – more information to follow.

Have you received other funding for this?

Island Nature Trust has already secured $340,000 of funding for this purchase from MapleCross, the Government of PEI, and the Government of Canada. We are still seeking the remaining $100,000 needed to fully secure this land for permanent protection.

Why is this property at risk?

With a lack of land use planning on PEI, we are seeing competing interests in acquiring forested landscapes. Conversion of important ecosystems and endangered species habitat for use in housing development, farming, and industry are becoming an increasing threat in this specific part of the province.

What happens to the property after Island Nature Trust acquires it?

Island Nature Trust will protect the land under the PEI Natural Areas Protection Act. This designation is very strict and does not allow conversion from forest or destruction of native ecosystems. The designation is accompanied by a perpetual restrictive covenant on the deed. For more information, visit our page on the act.

The property will be monitored annually, either by INT staff or volunteers. This is done to check for illegal activities, interesting species, and any changes to the environment. If you are interested in learning more, visit our volunteer page.

Support our ongoing work