Author: Ben Russell

Prominent signage for the species-at-risk was removed and abused for beach games at Barachois Beach – home to one of only five successful hatching sites on the Island

On Saturday July 17, provincial conservation officers and federal wildlife officers received calls from several concerned citizens reporting possible species-at-risk violations witnessed on Barachois Beach. Upon arrival, officers observed a group of people camping inside an area closed to protect the endangered Piping Plover and nesting Common Terns. A tent was erected upon a dune with a bonfire going. In addition, signs demarking the nesting area were removed and setup as goalposts for a ball game.

Barachois Beach is a pivotal site for Piping Plover on PEI. Over the last 15 years, it has supported 15% of all nest attempts on provincial beaches. While the beach is over 148 acres in size, the areas closed for nesting birds this year is less than 10 acres. With just a fraction of the beach restricted, INT relies on members of the community to pay attention to signage, take heed of restrictions and avoid actions that could compromise the survival of this endangered species.

“To say that we were disappointed and saddened by the choices that these individuals made is a vast understatement. We work to conserve species at risk on PEI and to ensure that we have a diversity of wildlife and wild spaces to enjoy. We are aided in this work by hundreds of volunteers and supporters. We know through over 40 years of experience, that protecting the animals and plants that we share this province with is vitally important to islanders and visitors alike.” 

– Shannon Mader, Species at Risk Manager, Island Nature Trust

Over the years, appeals to the public in helping the recovery of the Piping Plover population have been met with a positive collective effort from individuals, communities, conservation groups, industry and governments. Every year, signs are erected around Piping Plover nests. Trust volunteers and ‘Guardians’ join staff to update signage across PEI beaches that are known to host nesting Piping Plover.

Normally, INT staff and volunteers engage in outreach and education and are met with receptive citizens, eager to learn more about the wildlife of PEI. It is not common to receive reports of individuals flagrantly disregarding signage and setting up activity areas within restricted nesting areas. This type of violation has the potential to undo decades of conservation work towards the recovery of the species and the encompassing beach dune ecosystem – a natural protective barrier to the ongoing effects of erosion and climate change.

“I find this difficult to accept. It is an ongoing problem that those carrying out infringements always claim to have not seen the signs at the beach entrance even though they are prominent and impossible to miss. Most people on the beach are great but the minority are disheartening. Last year we had no successful hatching so this year’s chicks should be a cause for celebration but instead we have this.”

– Mike Salter, volunteer for Island Nature Trust

At the time of this incident, this beach was home to two Piping Plover families – one with five-day old chicks and another with one day old chicks. The Piping Plover was listed under the federal Species at Risk Act in 2003. Designated as endangered, the species is at great risk of disappearing from our Island beaches. Now more than ever, the Piping Plover requires ongoing collaboration from our Island community to ensure their survival.

The incident on Saturday is under investigation by Provincial Conservation Officers.

“Provincial Conservation Officers at Department of Justice and Public Safety are concerned for the ongoing noncompliance at Barachois Beach. Penalties under the Species at Risk Act are severe and can carry fines up to $50,000 for a person and $1,000,000 for a corporation.”

– Wade MacKinnon, Manager of Investigation and Enforcement, Justice and Public Safety

To report illegal activity on Island beaches please call 902-368-4884.              
Violations can be reported via the INT website https://islandnaturetrust.ca/violations/

Video

Piping Plover at Barachois Beach https://youtu.be/XWCmYg-wVOA

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 future where P.E.I. has a network of protected, robust natural areas championed by knowledgeable, engaged Islanders.

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.

Learn More

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

Contacts

Ben Russell
Communications Manager
902-892-7513 or 902-566-9150
ben@islandnaturetrust.ca

136 hectare (337 acre) property in Forest Hill contributes to a sizeable unfragmented block of rich lowland forest in PEI and is home to C02 absorbing fen peatland – a natural combatant against global warming

Forest Hill is an ecological treasure trove, providing benefits to both Islanders and wildlife. Defined by the presence of lowland forest, fen peatland and riparian habitats in the St. Peters River watershed, the Hansen – MacIsaac Natural Area is a relatively untouched area of eastern Prince Edward Island. It is the single largest land parcel secured by the Trust in its forty-one-year history. Recognized for its high ecological value by the Minister of Environment & Climate Change Canada, the parcel, located several kilometers to the Southeast of St Peter’s Bay, will now be protected forever thanks to an Ecological Gift donation from Carl Hansen and Dan MacIsaac.

The peatlands that constitute nearly a half of the 337-acre property serve the Island community through continued carbon sequestration, groundwater and coldwater springs protection. Although they only occupy 3% of the global land area, peatlands contain about 25% of global soil carbon — twice as much as the world’s forests. Acting as a natural carbon sink, they absorb 150 to 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere each year worldwide. In a province that has experienced a loss of ­­­­almost 1,200 acres of peatland due to mining, protecting this vital ecosystem service area in perpetuity will mitigate the effects of climate change and directly benefit Islanders for generations to come.

Forest Hill is notable for its intact and contiguous lowland forest blocks, which are rare for PEI. Recognized as a Priority Place for biodiversity and species-at-risk in PEI, the forested wetland is home to migratory songbirds, such as the Ruby-crowned kinglet and palm warbler. Three species of frog (wood frog, northern leopard frog and spring peeper), beaver lodges, muskrat dens, coyote scat, and ruffed grouse have all been observed at the site.

In addition, Forest Hill has added ecological value because of its connectivity to other protected lands. Near to Greenwich, PEI National Park, it is also bounded to the south by the Forest Hill Natural Area and to the north by the River Wetlands Wildlife Management Area, both owned by the Province. To the north lies a property within the St. Peters River watershed that INT is in the process of securing as another Ecological Gift. Forest Hill’s proximity to protected natural spaces provides an important linkage in allowing dynamic ecosystems and ecological services to flourish.

To the south, the provincial Forest Hill Natural Area supports walking and horse-riding trails that help Islanders connect to their environmental heritage in an immersive way. INT will honour the donors’ wishes to see a loop trail addition to this network using the existing woods road that enters and exits onto MacSwain Rd. The woods road follows the highest elevations on the property where Islanders can experience the natural beauty of the forest without impacting on the natural spaces.

Quotes

“Contiguous forests are important in minimizing some of the long-term risks to ecological integrity from threats like windthrow in high intensity storms, extended drought and invasive plant infestations. There are also many forest songbirds that require large blocks of intact habitat for nesting and foraging. It is so critically important for people and wildlife that we retain and protect these last remaining large natural landscapes.”
– Megan Hartris, Director of Conservation for Island Nature Trust

“Our experience with Island Nature Trust and the process of donating through the Ecological Gift program was seamless. From the start, Trust staff put us in the right direction and carried out all the work for the application. There was very little effort expected on our part. Also, we appreciate that Island Nature Trust agreed to provide access to horse riders and extend the existing trail to allow for Islanders to appreciate nature on the land.”
– Carl Hansen, Land Donor

“We love the Island, it’s a paradise. To know that Forest Hill’s natural legacy will continue forever under the protection of Island Nature Trust means a lot to us.”

– Dan MacIsaac, Land Donor

“The Abegweit Conservation Society is pleased to hear of the land donation and the establishment of the Hanson MacIsaac Natural Area in Forest Hill. All of the St Peters Bay watershed drainage has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples that include the present Mi’kmaq for over 10,000 years. Archaeology has well established the presence of the Mi’kmaq all along the bay area including Greenwich. Since the wetlands of Forest Hill contain the culturally significant, and threatened wisqoq (black ash), it is highly likely that many had ventured into the wetland forests of this location to harvest wisqoq for making baskets, axe handles and other implements for their daily use. A variety of medicinal plants also used by the Mi’qmaq can easily be found within all the habitats contained in this new Natural Area. It is reassuring to know that the habitats for plants and wildlife will be protected and accessible for generations to come.”

– Rebecca Hersom-Petersen, Natural Resource Projects Manager at Abegweit Conservation Society

Images

Download from this link

Quick Facts

• Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of addressing global climate change
• The drainage of peatlands for agriculture and forestry has resulted in the emission of extensive greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, most notably carbon dioxide and methane
• It is estimated that drained peatlands account for around 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and forestry, worldwide
• More than a third of the world’s peatlands are in Canada, and they cover about 14 per cent of Canada’s land mass
• Three main factors giving peatlands the ability to sequester and store carbon are the high biological productivity, high water table and slow decomposition rates
• Ecosystem services are the many and varied benefits to humans provided by the natural environment and from healthy ecosystems. Such ecosystems include, for example, agroecosystems, forest ecosystems, grassland ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems. Healthy, functioning ecosystems offer services like natural pollination of crops, clean air, extreme weather mitigation, and human mental and physical well-being
• Forest Hill is the 24th Ecological Gift donation received by Island Nature Trust. The Trust facilitates every step of the application process for donors. Process time averages six months
• Ecological Gift – Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program provides a way for Canadians with ecologically sensitive land to protect nature and leave a legacy for future generations. It offers significant tax benefits to landowners who donate land or a partial interest in land to a qualified recipient, by providing exemption from capital gains tax
• The Mi’kmaq name for St. Peters Bay is Puku’samkek – At the place where there are plenty of clams in the sand.

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.

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

Contacts

Ben Russell – Communications Manager
902-892-7513 or 902-566-9150
ben@islandnaturetrust.ca

After a one-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Island Nature Trust and the PEI Liquor Control Commission are continuing its successful ‘Let’s Protect Our Island’ campaign.

The collaboration now entering its fifth year runs from April 1^st to May 18^th 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.

Island Nature Trust is committed to investing in the future of Islanders by working to protect natural landscapes in PEI. Since 2016, funds from the initiative have helped Island Nature Trust protect over 1,600 acres of forest, wetlands and coast in PEI. Islanders directly benefit from the ecological services that Island Nature Trust’s natural areas provide with clean water, clean air and an environment resilient to climate change. As Island Nature Trust’s property portfolio increases so does its costs for responsible land management, public trails stewardship, effective communication with Island communities and education and collaboration with user groups.

The Covid-19 pandemic has restricted public access to the outdoors while the lack of interaction with natural spaces in this time has impacted the public’s physical and mental health. Two donations of properties in 2020 in Indian River and New Glasgow brings the total Island Nature Trust natural areas with existing trail systems to seven. This year’s LCC funding drive will allow Island Nature Trust to maintain and steward our trails in addition to hosting education and engagement opportunities. As Islanders face another summer of restricted travel, this focus for the year’s collaboration with the PEILCC will provide benefit to the people of PEI as well as the land.

Quotes

“I am glad that this initiative can continue,” said Darlene Compton, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Control Commission. “The funds raised in this campaign with the Island Nature Trust will assist in their work protecting Island land now and for generations to come.”

“The pandemic has restricted Islanders’ access to the rest of the world but reintroduced us to the beauty in the landscape just outside our doors. Collectively, we have recognized the tremendous benefits that interacting with natural spaces have on our physical and mental health. Now there is an opportunity to invest in those lands that have kept us grounded in one of the hardest years many of us have experienced.

The contribution of this 5-year funding campaign with LCC to land conservation in PEI has helped us significantly accelerate our protection program. We are full of plans to make this summer a great time for Islanders to reconnect with the Island’s beautiful natural landscapes.” Megan Harris, Director of Conservation

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 future where P.E.I. has a network of protected, robust natural areas championed by knowledgeable, engaged Islanders.

Island Nature Trust envisions 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.

Island Nature Trust:

• Acquires land with representative natural ecosystems, through donation and purchase
• Delivers numerous nature education programs to children and adults
• Manages its properties to retain and restore their ecological values
• Assists private landowners to manage and protect their own properties
• Monitors and protect species-at-risk on the Island

Island Nature Trust owns or lease ­­­­5284 acres, almost all of which is designated under the PEI Natural Areas Protection Act (NAPA) and open to the public for natural space enjoyment.

Learn More:   LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/island-nature-trust/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/islandnaturetrust Instagram: www.instagram.com/islandnaturetrust/

Contacts: Ben Russell Communications Manager 902-892-7513 or 902-566-9150 comms@islandnaturetrust.ca

Island Nature Trust célèbre le printemps en renouvelant un partenariat de financement avec les magasins d’alcools

Après une pause d’un an en raison de la pandémie de COVID-19, Island Nature Trust et la Régie des alcools de l’Î.-P.-É. continuent leur populaire campagne « Let’s Protect Our Island » (« Protégeons notre île »).

La collaboration en sera à sa cinquième édition du 1^er avril au 18 mai. Les fournisseurs de bière, de vin et de spiritueux participant donneront jusqu’à 1 $ de la vente des produits désignés dans les magasins de la Régie à Island Nature Trust. Des affiches faisant la promotion de cette initiative, y compris les produits en faisant partie – seront placées dans les 18 magasins d’alcools de la province.

Island Nature Trust est engagé à investir dans l’avenir des Insulaires en travaillant à la protection des milieux naturels de la province. Depuis 2016, les fonds de l’initiative ont aidé Island Nature Trust à protéger plus de 1600 acres de forêt, de terres humides et de côtes à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard. Les Insulaires peuvent bénéficier directement des services écologiques des aires naturelles d’Island Nature Trust, comme de l’eau et de l’air propres et un environnement résistant aux changements climatiques. À mesure que le nombre de propriétés foncières d’Island Nature Trust augmente, il est en de même pour les coûts relatifs à la gestion responsable des terres, à l’administration des sentiers publics, à la communication efficace avec les communautés insulaires, à la sensibilisation et à la collaboration avec des groupes d’usagers.

La pandémie de COVID-19 a restreint l’accès du public aux aires extérieures, et le manque d’interaction avec la nature pendant ce temps a eu des effets sur sa santé mentale et physique. Le don de deux propriétés en 2020 à Indian River et New Glasgow apporte à sept le nombre total d’aires naturelles avec réseaux de sentiers d’Island Trust Nature. Cette année, la levée de fonds de la Régie des alcools permettra à Island Nature Trust d’entretenir et de superviser les sentiers en plus de tenir des activités de sensibilisation et de mobilisation. Comme les Insulaires ne pourront pas encore voyager là où ils le veulent cet été, le but de la collaboration avec la Régie des alcools de cette année profitera aux terres et aux Insulaires.

Citations

« Je suis heureuse que cette initiative puisse continuer », a mentionné la ministre des Finances et ministre responsable de la Régie des alcools, Darlene Compton. « Les fonds recueillis dans la cadre de la campagne avec Island Nature Trust l’aidera à protéger les terres de l’Île pour aujourd’hui et demain. »

« La pandémie a restreint l’accès des Insulaires au reste du monde, mais nous a permis de redécouvrir la beauté des paysages qui nous entourent. De manière collective, nous avons reconnu les bienfaits incroyables de passer du temps en nature pour notre santé mentale et physique. Maintenant, il y a une opportunité d’investir dans les aires naturelles qui nous ont aidés à garder courage pendant l’une des années les plus difficiles que nombre d’entre nous ont connues.

La contribution découlant de cette campagne de financement de cinq ans avec la Régie des alcools pour la conservation des terres à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard nous a aidés de façon considérablement à accélérer notre programme de protection. Nous avons plusieurs plans pour faire de l’été un temps idéal pour les Insulaires de redécouvrir les merveilleux paysages naturels de la province », a ajouté Megan Harris, directrice de la Conservation.

À propos

Island Nature Trust est un organisme de bienfaisance canadien non gouvernemental à adhésion voué à la conservation des terres à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard depuis 1979. Island Nature Trust a pour vision un avenir où l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard a un réseau d’aires naturelles en santé protégées par des Insulaires engagés et avertis.

Island Nature Trust a aussi pour vision un réseau d’aires naturelles protégées partout à l’Île entretenues par l’amour et la générosité des Insulaires d’aujourd’hui pour les Insulaires et la faune et la flore de demain.

Island Nature Trust :

• fait l’acquisition de terres ayant des écosystèmes naturels représentatifs, par l’entremise de dons et d’achats;
• offre un éventail de programmes éducatifs sur la nature aux enfants et aux adultes;
• gère ses propriétés pour protéger et restaurer leur valeur écologique;
• aider les propriétaires fonciers privés à gérer et à protéger leur propriété;
• surveille l’état des espèces en péril de la province et les protége.

Island Nature Trust possède ou loue 5284 acres, donc la presque entièreté sont désignés dans le cadre de la Natural Areas Protection Act (loi sur la protection des aires naturelles) de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard et ouverts au public pour qu’il puisse en profiter.

En savoir plus   Sie Web : www.islandnaturetrust.ca LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/company/island-nature-trust/ Facebook : www.facebook.com/islandnaturetrust Instagram : www.instagram.com/islandnaturetrust/

Contact Ben Russell Gestionnaire des communications 902-892-7513 ou 902-566-9150 ben@islandnaturetrust.ca