In celebration of the Bookmark’s 50th anniversary, the Charlottetown based book seller has made five $10,000 donations to community organizations. $7,500 of its donation to the Trust was used to sponsor a Red Maple Seed Tree in the North Lake Creek Natural Area in North Lake, Kings County. The remaining $2,500 donated to the Trust’s Match A Patch campaign, which uses publicly raised funds – matched by the MapleCross Fund and the Province of PEI – to acquire a network of ecologically diverse natural areas across PEI. 

The Trust’s Seed Tree Sponsorship initiative is in response to the need for nature-based solutions to climate change. In the wake of the most recent major weather event, Post-Tropical storm Fiona, Islanders were met with too many downed trees to count. In those first few weeks following the storm, staff at the Trust quickly got to work assessing the damage and the likelihood for the Trust’s natural areas to be able to repair themselves naturally. Early reports confirmed that a healthy number of the Trust’s more substantial seed trees survived.  

These seed trees, lovingly referred to as Seed Trees, will be instrumental in the natural regeneration of INT forested properties and will continue as seed providers for the Trust as well as partner nurseries throughout the province dedicated to ensuring a steady supply of native species for planting. 

“We’re touched and appreciative that the Bookmark, a small local business here in Charlottetown, has heard our call for Seed Tree sponsorship and made the inaugural donation in December 2022. We know it’s been a challenging couple of years for bricks and mortar retailers, so this significant contribution is not lost on us”, says Bianca McGregor, Executive Director of Island Nature Trust.  

Sponsorship opportunities focus on eight different species of native trees found in the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest. Sponsorships are for three years for annual pledges of $2,500, $5,000 or $7,500. Benefits vary depending on sponsorship level. More details can be found on the Trust’s website at islandnaturetrust.ca/seedtree.  

Money raised for Seed Tree Sponsorship will go to support the ongoing stewardship efforts of the trees themselves, the natural areas that they live in, seed collection, as well as the acquisition of other impacted forested properties that will benefit from seed tree saplings as part of their recovery.   

Addressing the impacts of Post-Tropical storm Fiona, and future weather events, in Prince Edward Island’s forested landscape will take considerable time and planning. By focussing resources on seed trees, the Trust will be able to ensure a strong local seed source to help forests in the province become more resilient to climate change.  

Other early adopters of Seed Tree Sponsorship include Carr, Stevenson MacKay of Charlottetown who sponsored a Sugar Maple in the Malcolm McArthur 1899 Natural Area located in Elmwood, Queens County. Other anonymous donors sponsored Red and Sugar Maple in natural areas in Prince County.  

Images & Video  

Photographs and Video can be viewed and downloaded from this link:  https://islandnaturetrust.box.com/s/0kjgvnhpxvm163l46ekgjitrg8smg65u

Quick Facts  

• Island Nature Trust owns and stewards over 8,600 acres of land in 88 separate natural areas across all three counties.  
• Island Nature Trust has identified seed trees in 26 of its natural areas. 
• Selected seed trees are acknowledged as phenotypically (as in strong DNA) superior, prolific in seeding and flowering, sturdy, healthy, free of damage and of good growth form.  
• Tree species identified for sponsorship: 
  • Eastern Hemlock – longest-lived native tree species in PEI 
  • Red Oak – Important food source (acorns) for wildlife
  • Red Maple – Abundant, fast growing and predicted to do well re: climate change
  • White Pine – Long lived and grows tall 
  • Eastern White Cedar – Slow growing and found in wet/swampy areas 
  • Yellow Birch – Among the tallest of native birch 
  • White Ash – Does well in floods and seeds are a food source for birds 
  • Sugar Maple – Known for maple syrup, does well in the shade 

• Island Nature Trust’s Match A Patch campaign was launched in July 2022 with a goal to raise $150,000 towards its mission to strategically secure a corridor of natural areas across PEI. Public donations are tripled thanks to matching partners – MapleCross Fund and the Province of PEI. The Trust has $37,500 left to raise by March 31^st, 2022. 
  https://islandnaturetrust.ca/match/ 

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.  

Contacts  

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