Today, Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry George Webster announced new standards for Island forests managed with public funds. Beginning this year, all services and assistance for private landowners will be offered through the Forest Enhancement Program, and must meet standards set out in the new Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Manual. Ecosystem-based forest management looks at the forest as a whole, rather than the more traditional focus of looking only at the trees. It supports the range of goods and services forests provide, including timber and non-timber products, wildlife and habitat, clean air and water, carbon storage and more.
“During the forest policy consultations, Government heard loud and clear that Islanders want programs that support a range of forest management options and values,” said Minister Webster. “PEI’s Forest Policy reflects this, as does the new Forest Enhancement Program and associated standards announced today.”
Over the past few years, the province has offered two primary programs to Island woodlot owners. The Forest Renewal Program (FRP) focused on replanting clear-cuts and managing plantations and accounted for 90% of available funds. The remaining 10% of funds were allocated to the Forest Enhancement Program (FEP), for advice and services such as patch-cutting, strip-cutting and enrichment planting. The new program supports a broader range of work and is intended to create a better balance between plantations and alternative types of forest management.
The new program brings in a number of changes including:
• A requirement for pre-harvest management plans before a landowner may access public funds. A management plan matches the capabilities of the forest with the landowner’s objectives and resources. The new program cost-shares the development of the plan.
• Minimum standards for cover patches and cavity trees for wildlife, as well as for legacy trees and the amount of coarse woody material to be left on site. Standing and fallen trees are critical to forest health and productivity.
• A requirement that clear-cuts larger than two hectares include a minimum 15 metre wide vegetation corridor between blocks. On these sites, cover patches and corridors must comprise at least 15% of the harvest area.
• A restriction on creating plantations or using herbicides in certain types of forest, such as upland hardwoods.
• The addition of a number of Special Enhancement Techniques designed to enhance wildlife habitat, forest aesthetics, non-timber products and recreational values.
Minister Webster emphasized that landowners are still responsible for deciding what is best for them and their forests. The new program does not restrict what an owner can do with his or her land, but it does place standards on what activities can receive public money. “We feel that the management plans will help landowners understand their options before they harvest,” said Minister Webster. “While we recognize that landowners are the final decision-makers for their lands, ultimately, if they want to use public funds for this work, they must meet certain standards and follow the recommendations of their plan.”
The Minister encouraged land owners to take advantage of the new programs by visiting the Department’s website or speaking with a staff member at any forest district office. He also noted that Island forests provide an important range of environmental, economic and cultural benefits. Through the new program and standards, Government intends to help landowners acquire good advice, build capacity within the private sector, and ensure that public funds result in public benefits.
The new FEP offers varying degrees of financial assistance, with funding cost-shared among the Province, forest industry and landowners. More information is available at www.gov.pe.ca/go/fep or by calling 368-4700.