From left: Helena Villard, Manager of Queen Street liquor store, Darlene Compton, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Control Commission and Bianca McGregor, Executive Director of Island Nature Trust. Pictured at the Queen Street liquor store in Charlottetown.
After a one-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ‘Lets Protect Our Island’ collaboration between Island Nature Trust and the PEI Liquor Control Commission is now entering its fifth year. The campaign running from April 1st to May 18th with participating suppliers of beer, wine and spirits donating up to $1 from their sales of participating products at PEILCC retail outlets to Island Nature Trust. Signage promoting this initiative – including the featured products – can be found in all 18 PEI Liquor retail outlets across the province.
An interview with Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island: Antoinette Perry
By Ben Russell – Communications Manager
The Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island Antoinette Perry is a respected educator from Tignish and a proud Acadian. Before her retirement from teaching in 2009, she enjoyed a distinguished 32-year career at Tignish Consolidated Elementary School where she taught Music and French. She serves as an organist and church choir director at St. Simon and St. Jude Parish and as a co-coordinator of the Parish’s Summer Organ Recital Series.
Becoming an honorary patron to Island Nature Trust made perfect sense to the Honourable Antoinette Perry. She recalls that from a young age ‘environmental consciousness’ was instilled in her while growing up in a small Tignish community. There she was exposed to a sentiment that resonates with her to this day – to respect each other and the environment we live in.
Surrounded by an extensively farmed watershed, the ecologically diverse riparian forest provides a stable buffer for two headwater tributaries delivering spring water to Vernon River and Orwell Bay.
In November, Island Nature Trust began the search for an Executive Director who would be asked to focus more intently on organizational growth and development. Our incumbent Executive Director, Megan Harris has now moved into a strategic role focused on acquisition and stewardship as the Trust’s new Director of Conservation. Read this interview with Megan referencing the new role in our December newsletter. After conducting a thorough candidate search, Island Nature Trust is happy to announce that Bianca McGregor will be its new Executive Director.
This beautiful yet fragile coastal headland will now be protected forever.
The peninsula, named Penny’s Point Natural Area, is located within the Rollo Bay Wildlife Management Area and is on the south point at the mouth of Rollo Bay. It was transferred to Island Nature Trust for perpetual stewardship in December, through a most generous and thoughtful donation. Land donors Tom Welch, Anne Lambert and Nancy Willis were resolved to see this coastline remain in a natural state forever.
15 hectares (37 acre) property serves as a natural coastal buffer for species-at-risk such as the Piping Plover.
A coastal headland including ecologically important and fragile beach-dune habitat will now be protected forever. The peninsula, named Penny’s Point Natural Area, is located within the Rollo Bay Wildlife Management Area and is on the south point at the mouth of Rollo Bay. It was transferred to Island Nature Trust for perpetual stewardship in December, through a most generous and thoughtful donation. Land donors Tom Welch, Anne Lambert and Nancy Willis were resolved to see this coastline remain in a natural state forever.
The property is a highly significant sliver of the PEI coastline, which is under continued threat from erosion and wildlife displacement due to human encroachment. Penny’s Point is part of the northeastern shoreline that hosts some of the best examples of sand dune and beach systems in the Atlantic Maritime ecozone. Prince Edward Island has experienced high historic rates of habitat loss to agriculture and other development. Although natural forest cover is about 50%, remaining habitat patches are generally small, fragmented and degraded. The acquisition of this property will allow Island Nature Trust to conserve vulnerable beach-dune and coastal bluff ecosystems while restoring the land back to native coastal krummholz forest, dominated by the Island’s red oak and other native hardwoods. The sandstone bluffs exceed 10m in height and may provide suitable habitat for burrow occupants such as threatened bank swallow, in addition to belted kingfisher. The beach-dune area within and immediately adjacent the property’s southeast corner is identified as critical habitat for endangered piping plover.
“PEI’s multi-hued coastline is a dynamic and wild natural boundary between land and sea. Our ability to retain pockets of shore in a natural state translates directly to a healthier, more robust ecosystem that will provide for wildlife and people alike long into the future.” – Megan Harris, Executive Director Island Nature Trust
Penny’s Point has been named after land donor Tom Welch’s mother Jane Coyne, who was fondly known as ‘Penny’. His family’s love of PEI wildlife flourished over the decades as they vacationed to the Island every summer starting in the 1950’s.
As a youngster Tom and his siblings enjoyed creeping through coastal forest that existed before being cleared for farmland, to watch from high ground the seals sunbathing on the Rollo Bay sand bars at low tide.
“Penny would have been thrilled to know that the headland is now protected forever. We spent 60 years travelling to Fortune and she loved the area so much. She was concerned about the looming threat of development since our family observed first-hand the surrounding area being steadily built on over the decades.” – Tom Welch
Becoming a staunch supporter of conservation, Tom along with his wife Anne Lambert founded the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC) in 2007 after recognizing that Canada lacked a charitable organization through which Canadians could conserve tropical nature and the winter habitats of Canada’s migratory birds.
This project has been made possible by the land donors, stewardship donations from generous Islanders and funding from the ECHO Foundation and by the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund.
Additional Quotes
“By working with partners like Island Nature Trust and landowners like Tom Welch, Anne Lambert, and Nancy Willis, we are protecting Canada’s iconic natural landscapes in Prince Edward Island, such as the vulnerable beach-dune and coastal-bluff ecosystems. It’s projects across the country, like this one, that support the recovery of important species at risk, help fight climate change, and contribute toward our goal of protecting a quarter of land in Canada by 2025.” – The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“Protecting iconic Island landscapes like the beach dunes and coastal bluffs found in Penny’s Point is good news, both for our community and for the species who call it home. Very grateful to the generous land donors and the Island Nature Trust for making today’s announcement possible, and for conserving Penny’s Point for generations to come.” – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Member of Parliament for Cardigan
Quick Facts
• The core area of the property is the coastal cliff and dune. It is 37 acres (15 hectares) in size with 3,800 feet (1,158 meters) of shore frontage, 1000 feet of which is beach. • The Atlantic Maritime ecozone is characterized by mixed-wood Acadian (Wapan’ekati) forests, sand dunes, and coastal islands. These systems, combined with ocean waters that, during the summer, are the warmest ocean waters in Canada, make them ideal recreational sites. • The site is one of only two owned by INT that hosts habitat essential for Piping Plover nesting– a species-at-risk on PEI. • The Rollo Bay Wildlife Management Area is the 6th largest conservation area in PEI and is 526 hectares/1,300 acres in size. • The Province of Prince Edward Island has set a target of 7% of the landmass or 86,000 acres of natural areas to be protected by 2020. • Fortune Bridge was and continues to be an important ancestral burial ground for Acadians. • For the Mi’kmaq Peoples of Prince Edward Island, Fortune Bridge has cultural importance including the harvesting of fish, birds, medicinal plants, and shellfish (Specifically: the fish harvesting of eels, trout, smelts; bird harvesting of ducks, geese; decorative and medicinal plant harvesting; and shellfish harvesting of oysters along the Fortune River). On the land, Traditional Mi’kmaq use of the area includes feather gathering, campsites, and berry gathering.
About
Island Nature Trust is a membership-based, non-government, Canadian charity dedicated to land conservation in Prince Edward Island since 1979. We envision a network of protected natural areas across PEI sustained by the love and generosity of Islanders today for the enjoyment of Islanders and wildlife tomorrow.
The Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) is a unique public-private partnership to support new protected and conserved areas by securing private lands and private interests in lands. The program is managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). Federal funds invested in the program are matched with contributions raised by NCC and its partners, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the country’s land trust community. Private regional and community land trusts, of which Island Nature Trust is one, access a portion of funds from this program to protect ecologically significant land across Canada.
Nancy Willis – Land donor 902-367-0390 or 902-969-0084
Three generations of the Welch family: Pictured in 1991: Jane ‘Penny’ (middle), daughter Sarah (right) and grandaughter Brennen.
Pictured at the property in 1958: (L-R) Siblings Jim, Tom, Sarah and Margot Welch with babysitter Robin Thomson (behind)
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Côte iconique sauvé du développement à Fortune Bridge
Propriété de 15 hectares (37 acres) est un tampon naturel pour les espèces en péril comme le Pluvier siffleur
Une promontoire littoral, qui inclut d’habitat importante et fragile de plage-dune, sera maintenant protégée pour toujours. La péninsule, nommée Penny’s Point Natural Area, est située dans Rollo Bay Wildlife Management Area, qui est trouvée au point sud, à l’entrée de Rollo Bay. C’était transférée à Island Nature Trust pour l’intendance perpétuelle en décembre, grâce d’un don généreux.
Le propriété est une partie très significatif de la côte de Î-P-É, qui est dessous une menace continuelle de l’érosion et du déplacement de la faune, en raison d’empiètement humain. Penny’s Point est partie de la côte nord-est, qui représente certains des meilleurs exemples des dunes de sables et systèmes de plage dans l’écozone des Maritimes Atlantiques. L’Île-du-Prince-Édouard à expérimenté historiquement des taux de la perte d’habitat en raison d’agriculture et d’autre développement. Bien que le couvert forestier est naturellement 50%, l’habitat qui reste est normalement petit, fragmenté, et dégradé. L’acquisition de ce propriété permet à Island Nature Trust de conserver les écosystèmes vulnérables de plage-dune et promontoire côtière, en même temps qu’ils restaurent la terre à son original du forêt ‘krummholz’, dominé par le chêne rouge et d’autres arbres décidues. Des falaise grès sont plus que 10m en hauteur et peuvent fournir l’habitat convenable pour les espèces qui creusent leurs nids, comme le menacé, l’Hirondelle de rivage, listé sur la Loi sur les espèces en péril du Canada, en plus que le Martin-pêcheur d’Amérique. La zone plage-dune en dedans et immédiatement à côté du coin sud-est du propriété est identifiée comme l’habitat critique pour le Pluvier siffleur qui est une espèce en voie de disparition sur la liste de la Loi sur les espèces en péril du Canada.
« La côte littoral multicolore de l’Î-P-É est dynamique et sert comme une frontière sauvage et naturel entre la terre et la mer. Notre aptitude de retenir des poches de côte dans un état naturel contribue directement à un écosystème plus sain qui peut fournir pour la faune et des personnes loin dans l’avenir. »
Penny’s Point est nommé après la mère à Tom Welch, qui a fait don de la terre. Elle était reconnu affectueusement comme ‘Penny’. L’amour de sa famille pour la faune à Î-P-É a fleuri depuis des décennies quand ils sont venus chaque été pour les vacances, commençant dans les cinquantaines.
Comme un jeune, Tom et ses frères et sœurs s’amusaient de ramper dans la forêt côtière qui existait avant que la terre a été défrichée pour l’agriculture. De haut, ils ont regardé des phoques qui bronzaient sur les barres de sables à marée basse à Rollo Bay.
« Penny aurait été ravie de savoir que le promontoire littoral est maintenant protéger pour toujours. On a passé des années voyager à Fortune et elle aimait tellement l’endroit. Elle était concernée pour la menace de développement depuis que nous avons observés directement l’endroit autours être développer pour les décennies. » – Tom Welch
Devenir un fervent partisan de la conservation, Tom et sa marie, Anne Lambert, ont fondé Le Fond International de la Conservation du Canada (FICC) en 2007 après avoir remarqué que le Canada manquait une organisation caritative grâce auquel les Canadien(ne)s pouvaient conserver la nature tropicale et des habitats d’hiver pour les oiseaux migratoires en Canada.
Ce projet est possible grâce aux donateurs de terre, dons d’intendance généreux des habitants de l’Île, et de l’aide financière de la fondation ECHO, aussi bien que le Gouvernement du Canada à travers de la Programme de conservation du patrimoine naturel, qui est une partie des Fonds de la nature du Canada.
Citations supplémentaires
« En collaborant avec des partenaires comme Island Nature Trust et des propriétaires fonciers comme Tom Welch, Anne Lambert et Nancy Willis, nous protégeons les paysages naturels emblématiques canadiens de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, notamment les écosystèmes fragiles constitués de dunes littorales et d’escarpements côtiers. La réalisation de tels projets au pays contribue au rétablissement d’importantes espèces en péril, à la lutte contre les changements climatiques et à la concrétisation de notre objectif qui consiste à protéger un quart des terres au Canada d’ici 2025. » – L’honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, ministre de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique
« La protection des paysages emblématiques de l’Île, comme les dunes sur les plages et les escarpements côtiers de la pointe Penny, est une bonne nouvelle tant pour notre communauté que pour les espèces qui y vivent. Nous sommes très reconnaissants envers les généreux donateurs de terres et Island Nature Trust, qui ont rendu l’annonce d’aujourd’hui possible et qui font en sorte que la pointe Penny soit conservée pour les générations à venir. » – L’honorable Lawrence MacAulay, député de Cardigan
Les Faits Rapides
L’endroit principale de la propriété est la falaise côtière et dune. Il comprend 37 acres (15 hectares) avec 3,800 pieds (1,158 mètres) de façade littorale, dont 1000 pieds est la plage.
L’Écozone d’Atlantique Maritime est caractérisée par les forêts bois mixtes Acadiens (Wapan’ekati), les dunes de sable, et les îles côtières. Ces systèmes, combinées avec les eaux océaniques qui, durant l’été, sont les plus chaudes au Canada, sont des sites de récréations idéales.
Le site est un de deux appartenant à INT qui montre l’habitat essentiel pour les nids de Pluvier siffleur, une espèce en péril à Î-P-É.
Le Rollo Bay Wildlife Management Area est le 6ième plus gros endroit de conservation en Î-P-É, avec 526 hectares/1,300 acres de superficie.
La province de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard a fixé un objectif de protéger 7% des milieux naturels, ou 86,000 acres, par l’année 2020.
Fortune Bridge était, et continue d’être, une cimetière ancestral importante pour les Acadiens.
Pour les Mi’kmaq de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, Fortune Bridge a une importance culturelle, incluant la récolte des poissons (anguilles, truites, éperlans), oiseaux (canards et oies), plantes médicinales et décoratives, et crustacés (huîtres). En plus, l’utilisation traditionnelle de la terre comprend rassemblement des plumes et les baies, et les sites de camping.
Au sujet de
Island Nature Trust est une organisation caritative Canadienne non-gouvernementale basée sur des membres. C’est dévouée de conserver la terre à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard depuis 1979. Nous envisageons un réseau d’endroits naturels protégés à travers l’Î-P-É, soutenu par l’amour et générosité des habitants de l’Île aujourd’hui pour l’amusement des personnes et la faune dans le futur.
La Programme de conservation du patrimoine naturel Canadienne est un partenariat unique public-privé qui soutien les nouveaux milieux protégés et conservés par sécuriser des propriétés privées et des intérêts privés dans les propriétés. La programme est géré par la Conservation de la nature Canada (CNC). Les fonds fédérales investis dans la programme correspondent avec les contributions amassés par CNC et ses partenariats, Canards Illimités Canada et la communauté Canadienne des organismes de conservation. Les organismes de conservations privées et régionales, dont Island Nature Trust est une, accèdent une portion des fonds de la programme pour protéger les propriétés écologiquement significatif à travers le Canada.
Abegweit or Epekwitk / Prince Edward Island has been afflicted by climate change for centuries by mismanagement of land and resources, as have many other Islands in the world.
With rising sea level, inadequate provincial adaptive measures, and 90% of the land on Epekwitk being privately owned, the ill-effects on the land are hard to ignore. It is up to the Province, the Abegweit Mi’kmaq First Nations, and small conservation groups like Island Nature Trust and watershed groups on Epekwitk, to not only conserve, but to sustain the biodiversity on this unique land.
Island Nature Trust launches search for new Executive Director
Lewes forest, in King’s County, is one of Prince Edward Island’s many natural treasures and it will now be protected forever thanks to the MapleCross fund and Island Nature Trust donors.
Ella Stewart is one of many Islanders who feels a deep connection with nature and has made a thoughtful decision to keep it in its natural state. She and her family, especially her late husband John, cared for the Lewes forest for decades, managing it well from the end of the second World War until John’s passing a few years ago. As the forest held so many wonderful memories, they wanted to see the natural space conserved. Worried that the land would be converted to blueberry fields, Ella was relieved when Island Nature Trust offered to buy the land and protect it forever.
MapleCross Upland Hardwood Natural Area
Thanks to a majority contribution from the MapleCross Fund and additional generous donations from 25 Islanders, Island Nature Trust was able to secure the Lewes property. This beautiful 109-acre property contains old growth upland hardwood Maritime Acadian – Wapane’kati forest, now rare in Prince Edward Island and the Maritimes as a whole. Mature eastern hemlock, white pine, sugar maple, red maple, American beech and yellow birch are present in an uneven aged mixed wood mosaic, providing tremendous value as a seed source for surrounding younger forests. Two headwaters streams begin within the property and support a diverse array of wildlife, including at least one pair of the threatened songbird, olive-sided flycatcher.
This forest also abuts the homestead property of former Premier and conservationist, J. Angus MacLean. The marriage of these two well-stewarded forest areas secures inter-connectivity and greater movement for wildlife in a larger forested block. Due to the dedication of a community of conservationists, the MapleCross Upland Hardwood Natural Area is now protected forever.
Executive Director Sought
As announced at its Annual General Meeting in September, Island Nature Trust is currently searching for a new Executive Director to focus more intently on organizational growth and development.
The Executive Director is the Trust’s senior staff position and team leader, with overall responsibility for all aspects of the organization‘s operations including high level fundraising to support land acquisition and stewardship, programs, staff, and finances, as well as direct accountability for member, donor and strategic partner relationships.
Quick Facts
The Island Nature Trust was created in 1979.
The Trust is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who provide the strategic direction and priorities for the organization.
The Trust is committed to environmentally and socially responsible management of natural areas on PEI.
The Trust is a key provider of technical, science-based knowledge on land stewardship and wildlife on PEI for landowners, governments, and partner environmental groups.
We had a great attendance both in person and online for this year’s Island Nature Trust Annual General Meeting at Beaconsfield House. This was the first year we streamed the event live via our YouTube channel with 48 people tuning in to the proceedings.
It’s now available to watch online for those who missed the event by clicking below.
Here’s a brief review of the highlights…
INT was delighted to award the 2020 Hon. J. Angus MacLean Natural Areas Award to nominee Ms. Jeanne Maki. Ms. Maki has spent her adult life working to safeguard one of PEI’s most important and threatened ecosystems: our forests. As a testament to her dedication, she recently designated close to one hundred acres of woodlands in the Pinette-Belfast area as protected natural area under the private stewardship option of the PEI Natural Areas Protection Act.
INTRODUCING OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
MARIE-ANN BOWDEN
During her career at the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, Marie-Ann actively pursued research and teaching in the areas of environmental law, property and water law. Since retiring Professor Emeritus from the College, she has returned to PEI and has joined the Board of the Upton Farmlands Trust and helped secure a new Water Act with her colleagues at the Coalition for the Protection of PEI Waters.
TYLER COADY
Tyler is a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran who has obtained a B.A. Psychology (Honours) at UPEI and an M.A. Military Psychology at Adler University, Chicago. He has several published research articles and has a strong background in behavioural sciences. Combined with work in peer support and crisis negotiations, Tyler helps other veterans reconnect with nature.
ROGER E. COFFIN
Roger spent 20 years in the private sector as a manager and entrepreneur, followed by a career in the public sector that included business support and aerospace recruitment. Roger has been involved with outdoor organizations mainly in the areas of hunting and fishing. Roger is a life member of Margaree Salmon Association, Miramichi Salmon Association and now Island Nature Trust.
GORDON MACKAY
Gordon, who has practiced law since 1980, comes to the Island Nature Trust with extensive personal and professional volunteer experience. He has served as a Commissioner on the Judicial Review Commission (PEI), the Treasurer of the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island, and President of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He has also chaired the Red Cross Multi-Sport Relay and the Prince Edward Island United Way Campaign, as well as the Inspire fundraising campaign of the University of Prince Edward Island.
HELP US SAVE LEWES
INT is still appealing for secure funds for a stunning mature hardwood forest in Lewes, Kings County. Due to the economic repercussions of COVID, we have lost a previous corporate commitment for funds towards this purchase and are now shy of just $10,000.
Support has been outstanding with seventeen individuals donating close to $5000 towards its acquisition. Thank you to all those who have donated. Every little helps! $15,000.
Four new Directors named to the Board and search for new Executive Director begins
Island Nature Trust is a non-profit, membership driven, private registered charity dedicated to the permanent protection of natural areas on Prince Edward Island.
On Thursday, the organization held its Annual General Meeting in Charlottetown. It was an occasion to thank members and those who donated land and financial support to the Trust, as well as to present the way forward for the Island-led non-profit that has acquired and protected environmentally vulnerable land since 1979. For Island Nature Trust, the way forward includes greater community engagement, an improved rate of land acquisition and a new approach to stewardship.
The board, staff and general members of Island Nature Trust spoke to an escalation in the pace of change on PEI, both from development and climate perspectives. This creates a growing sense of urgency to protect an integrated, robust network of natural areas to serve future generations of Islanders.
To better face the challenges ahead, the current Executive Director, Megan Harris, will move into a strategic role focused on acquisition and stewardship. The Trust will now begin the search for a new Executive Director, a position that will now emphasize organizational growth and development.
The organization’s strategic renewal was also accompanied by the nomination of four new Directors to the board of Island Nature Trust.
Marie-Ann Bowden – During her career at the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, Marie-Ann actively pursued research and teaching in the areas of environmental law, property and water law. Since retiring Professor Emeritus from the College, she has returned to PEI and has joined the Board of the Upton Farmlands Trust and helped secure a new Water Act with her colleagues at the Coalition for the Protection of PEI Waters.
Tyler Coady – Tyler is a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran who has obtained a B.A. Psychology (Honours) at UPEI and an M.A. Military Psychology at Adler University, Chicago. He has several published research articles and has a strong background in behavioural sciences. Combined with work in peer support and crisis negotiations, Tyler helps other veterans reconnect with nature.
Roger E. Coffin – Roger spent 20 years in the private sector as a manager and entrepreneur, followed by a career in the public sector that included business support and aerospace recruitment. Roger has been involved with outdoor organizations mainly in the areas of hunting and fishing. Roger is a life member of Margaree Salmon Association, Miramichi Salmon Association and now Island Nature Trust.
Gordon MacKay – Gordon, who has practiced law since 1980, comes to the Island Nature Trust with extensive personal and professional volunteer experience. He has served as a Commissioner on the Judicial Review Commission (PEI), the Treasurer of the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island, and President of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He has also chaired the Red Cross Multi-Sport Relay and the Prince Edward Island United Way Campaign, as well as the Inspire fundraising campaign of the University of Prince Edward Island.
“This is an important time for Island Nature Trust and our newly named Board members will compliment the current board’s skill set to implement the new strategic plan as we work toward an even brighter future for the natural areas in our province.”, said June Jenkins Sanderson, President of Island Nature Trust.
In addition to the naming of new Board members, the Trust also awarded the 2020 Hon. J. Angus MacLean Natural Areas Award to nominee Ms. Jeanne Maki. Ms. Maki has spent her adult life working to safeguard one of PEI’s most important and threatened ecosystems: our forests. As a testament to her dedication, she recently designated close to 100 acres of woodlands in the Pinette-Belfast area as protected natural area under the private stewardship option of the PEI Natural Areas Protection Act.
Quick Facts
The Island Nature Trust was created in 1979.
The Trust is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who provide the strategic direction and priorities for the organization.
The Trust is committed to environmentally and socially responsible management of natural areas on PEI.
The Trust is a key provider of technical, science-based knowledge on land stewardship and wildlife on PEI for landowners, governments and partner environmental groups.
