Author: Ben Russell

Island Nature Trust (INT) proudly announces an expansion to its 182-acre protected Crown Point – Wjikijek Natural Area in Alexandra with the generous contribution of the 117-acre Judson Salt Marsh Natural Area. This remarkable gift from the Judson family is a testament to their commitment to safeguarding an area of Prince Edward Island that’s been loved and cared for by their family for generations.  

Corridors of Connectivity: The Importance of Expanding Protected Areas 

Island Nature Trust’s mission depends on the acquisition of interconnected natural areas, protecting in perpetuity the landscapes that define Prince Edward Island. These sanctuaries offer shelter and habitat to a myriad of species while ensuring the sustenance of our natural resources, benefiting the Island’s entire community. The initial acquisition of Crown Point – Wjikijek Natural Area Crown Point headland in March 2020 was made possible through collective support from Environment Canada, the MapleCross Fund, and approximately 100 individual donations from Islanders, illustrating the power of collective action. Its protection was of paramount importance due to the development pressures of being near Charlottetown and Stratford. The rapid urban expansion in these areas highlights the urgency of securing and preserving natural habitats like Crown Point. 

The Judson Family: A Pivotal Contribution 

The Judson family’s decision to donate their land adds a new chapter to the Crown Point conservation story. Island Nature Trust approached the Judson family, recognizing that expanding the protection of this headland aligns with its mission to create a mosaic of interconnected natural areas, ensuring the ecological health of the Island’s landscapes and the well-being of its diverse species. 

Island Nature Trust Executive Director, Bianca McGregor, stated, “The Judson’s legacy of keeping this land in their family and managing it over generations with intent to maintain it as a natural area exemplifies the spirit of Island Nature Trust’s mission. We’re honoured that the family has decided to allow us to continue this very important work. Joining this donated land with the previously purchased adjacent land, will ensure the continued natural integrity of the ecosystems and species that call Crown Point home.” 

William Judson, representing the Judson family, shared his sentiments, saying, “My entire family has actively worked to protect the land and keep it in its natural state. When we were approached by INT, we decided the timing was right for us to donate the land to ensure its continued protection.” 

A Lifelong Connection 

William Judson continued, “My father and mother, Donald and Virginia Judson, purchased this land as part of the family farm in the late 1960s. We spent many years, while growing up, experiencing what the marsh had to offer – picking cranberries, hunting ducks in the fall, and playing in the marsh. We would follow the fox and racoon runs, catch minnows in buckets, and dissect owl pellets. We knew where every water hole was located, and we watched the changes in the marsh year after year.” 

Left: Judson Salt Marsh Natural Area shown in Green. Other INT natural areas shown in orange. Salt marsh is pink, freshwater marsh is light blue, bog is brown, and sand dunes are yellow-tan.

A Landmark in Alexandra 

Crown Point, located southeast of Stratford, PEI, is a relatively undeveloped coastal headland. It serves as a natural barrier protecting the rural communities of Alexandra and Pownal from the forces of storm surges, winds, and high spring tides. The salt marsh on the property is part of a wider band of coastal salt marsh that stretches along Hillsborough Bay from Stratford to Orwell. 

A Cultural and Ecological Gem 

Crown Point is not only an ecological treasure but also holds significant cultural history for both the Mi’kmaq and the Acadians. The area is believed to contain Mi’kmaq and Acadian burial grounds, along with evidence of Mi’kmaq camps and French battlegrounds. 

Diverse Ecosystems 

The coastal forest on the Judson Salt Marsh Natural Area boasts mixed wood stands, including white spruce, trembling aspen, white birch, red maple, eastern larch, and American beech. A 3-acre island within Jardine’s Bay hosts a similar forest structure, with older hardwoods and established pit and mound topography. The presence of alder swamp along the salt marsh provides habitat for the federally at-risk Canada warbler. 

L-R: Donors Tara, Oliver, Bridget, Isaac, William and Elliot Judson at the Judson Salt Marsh Natural Area in Alexandra

A Gift to Future Generations 

The Judson family’s decision to donate this ecologically significant land highlights their deep connection to the Island’s history and natural heritage. Their donation will ensure the continued protection of Crown Point’s unique ecosystems. 

William Judson reiterated, “This land has been part of my family’s life for generations, even before my parents purchased it in the 1960s. The Judson family has lived in the area for over 200 years. Stories have been passed down from generation to generation about the marsh and the families that made use of it.” 

Land donations like the one from the Judson family secure the natural heritage of Prince Edward Island for generations to come. While financial contributions are critical for Island Nature Trust to continue its work, donating land is a powerful symbol of commitment to conservation. It is a message that echoes through time, safeguarding the Island’s ecological diversity. 

The Judson family’s act of protecting their land ensures the continuity of the natural tapestry at Crown Point, and their contribution is an inspiration for all of us to continue protecting the precious environments that make Prince Edward Island unique. 

Ecological Gifts Program

A portion of this project was donated to the Island Nature Trust under the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. This program provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land. 

To learn more about the Ecological Gifts Program, please visit http://www.ec.gc.ca/pde-egp/. 

Moreover, donating land to INT can also have financial benefits. We provide a charitable tax receipt for the donated fair market value and can help landowners apply to the Federal Ecological Gifts program for capital gains tax relief, making it easier to donate land to Island Nature Trust in support of its vital work.

Learn more about the tax benefits to donating land here https://islandnaturetrust.ca/tax-benefits-to-donating-land-for-conservation/

About 

Island Nature Trust is a membership-based, non-government, Canadian charity dedicated to land conservation in Prince Edward Island since 1979. 

In a race against time, our mission is to preserve and steward forever a network of natural areas and wildlife habitats across PEI and bring together those who care about preserving PEI’s natural legacy for future generations. 

We are a key provider of technical, science-based knowledge on land stewardship and wildlife in PEI for landowners, governments, and partner environmental groups. 

We provide mentorship and employment opportunities to people committed to land stewardship, conservation research and wildlife monitoring who will continue building on the long tradition of Island Nature Trust as the premiere land trust on the Island. 

Visit our website: www.islandnaturetrust.ca 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/islandnaturetrust 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/islandnaturetrust/ 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/island-nature-trust 

Media Contact 
Island Nature Trust 
Ben Russell – Communications Manager 
902-892-7513 
ben@islandnaturetrust.ca 

Island Nature Trust (INT) is excited to announce that it has achieved a major conservation milestone by protecting over 10,000 acres of land in Prince Edward Island. This achievement marks a significant point in the organization’s ongoing efforts to protect and conserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Island.

Since its inception in 1979 by a small group of volunteers who saw the pressing need for conservation in the province, INT has worked tirelessly to conserve and steward ecologically significant land across Prince Edward Island. Over the past four decades, the organization has secured a network of 98 natural areas, covering more than 10,000 acres of land and protected a wide variety of habitats working towards the goal of protecting 10% of the Island. These natural areas including wetlands, forests, grasslands, and shorelines, are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including many endangered and threatened species that rely on these ecosystems for their survival. The protected areas also support a range of important ecological functions that benefit our Island communities and play a crucial role in purifying air and water, storing carbon, and preventing soil erosion.

“The acquisition and protection of over 10,000 acres of land is a significant achievement for INT, and we are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished,” said Bianca McGregor, Executive Director of Island Nature Trust. “However, it does not end here. 10,000 acres is similar to the size of Charlottetown city limits, and we are aiming to increase this number substantially by the end of the decade.”

Bianca adds ” PEI’s population is growing and our rural landscapes are under increased pressure from residential development, resource use, and climate change. It is important to note that most of this achievement was accomplished in the last few years, highlighting our accelerated efforts and a race-against-time to protect what little ecologically diverse land remains in PEI.”

“This success was accomplished in no small part to the dedication and hard work of our donors, staff, partners, and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly to protect the natural beauty of Prince Edward Island. However, to meet our long-term goals of placing 10% of the province under protection, we need Islanders to continue their support by donating suitable land for protection or cash to INT.”

In the past year, INT has protected 29 Natural Areas, totalling over 2,405 acres of ecologically significant land. In a province where 87% of the land is privately owned and population growth, development, and climate change continue to exert pressure, this recent success highlights INT’s unwavering strategic commitment to permanently protect and secure large contiguous natural areas throughout PEI.

An example of this strategic objective is the recent donation of 15 acres by Bruce and Patricia Craig in Old Bedford Rd, lifting INT over the 10,000-acre mark. The generous contribution expands connectivity for wildlife by serving as an addition to the existing 100-acre Blooming Point Woodland Natural Area, which was acquired by INT in 1999. This connectivity strengthens the conservation efforts and promotes the conservation of the surrounding ecosystems.

The donated property’s ecological importance further reinforces the significance of INT’s approach. The presence of a freshwater marsh, forested wetland, and riparian zone along the Trout River, combined with a diverse array of micro-ecosystems, underscores the property’s ecological richness. This varied habitat supports a wide range of flora and fauna, providing valuable resources for numerous species and promoting biodiversity. The property also contains ideal habitats for species such as the endangered Canada Warbler and the Olive-sided Flycatcher.

By actively focusing on creating connected and expansive natural areas, INT ensures the long-term viability of ecosystems and the conservation of vital ecological processes. These tracts of protected land allow for the conservation of intact ecosystems and the sustainable management of natural resources. INT’s dedication to bringing such areas into protection contributes to maintaining healthy populations of wildlife, conserving critical habitats, and safeguarding the province’s natural heritage.

Reaching the milestone of 10,000 acres demonstrates INT’s effectiveness in engaging donors, landowners, and the community at large to contribute to the conservation cause. Each donation, like the one made by Patricia and Bruce Craig, plays a crucial role in realizing INT’s mission and contributes to the collective effort of protecting Prince Edward Island’s natural heritage for future generations of nature and people to come.

The protection of these properties would not have been possible without significant contributions from our individual donors, the Provincial government of PEI, MapleCross Fund, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Read more about the Craig’s pivotal donation here.

Images

Available at this link: https://islandnaturetrust.box.com/s/a573iu9xtbaglhu8fq8smf17se8mopaj

About

Island Nature Trust is a membership-based, non-government, Canadian charity dedicated to land conservation in Prince Edward Island since 1979.

In a race against time, our mission is to protect and steward forever a network of natural areas and wildlife habitats across PEI and bring together those who care about protecting PEI’s natural legacy for future generations.

We are a key provider of technical, science-based knowledge on land stewardship and wildlife in PEI for landowners, governments, and partner environmental groups.

We provide mentorship and employment opportunities to people committed to land stewardship, conservation research and wildlife monitoring who will continue building on the long tradition of Island Nature Trust as the premiere land trust on the Island.

Visit our website: www.islandnaturetrust.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/islandnaturetrust

Instagram: www.instagram.com/islandnaturetrust/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/island-nature-trust

Media Contact

Island Nature Trust
Ben Russell – Communications & Marketing Manager
902-892-7513
ben@islandnaturetrust.ca