The Island's 33,000 hectares of provincially-owned forest land got a little bigger today with the addition of a new public forest in Kensington. Located in one of the most intensively-farmed areas of the province, these six hectares of woodland will receive long-term protection while being available for public use.
"Forests in this area are under tremendous pressure from expansion of urban areas and conversion to agriculture. By purchasing and conserving these unique areas, we are recognizing that forests have value beyond the wood they produce or the soil they cover," said Agriculture and Forestry Minister Mitch Murphy. "Island society has an obligation to protect and conserve forests for many different reasons. This new public forest will be accessible to all Islanders and serve as a model for community involvement in how forests are used and managed."
The property was purchased from a local family.
"The concept of expanding public forests to include the Kensington area arose during our Island-wide community consultations in 2002," said Ian MacQuarrie of the Public Forest Council. "The people who attended the Kensington meeting expressed alarm at the loss of local forests and asked why there were no public forest lands in this area. Based on their concerns, the Council recommended that Government purchase and protect some unique forest properties in the Kensington area."
The Public Forest Council will work with the local community to manage this new site, which includes examples of Acadian Forest species such as red oak, as well as older hardwood stands. "It is our hope that students from nearby schools will be able to visit and explore these properties to learn more about forest ecosystems and how people can manage and enjoy Island forests," said Mr. Murphy.
The Mayor of Kensington, Gerald McCarville, also toured the forest area. In particular, he noted the forest's proximity to the Confederation Trail and the potential to expand the local trail system to include forests. "By partnering with the Public Forest Council to promote the values of forests, we hope to give more people a reason to hike and cycle in this area," said Mr. McCarville. "I believe that forests add value to communities by providing green spaces and contributing to the environmental health of the area. Therefore, I hope that our citizens will recognize the value of these forests and bring forward their ideas and hopes for the many benefits they can bring to all of us."
The minister said that public forests are benefitting communities across the Island. He encouraged other communities to work through the Public Forest Council and bring their ideas for public forest lands.