Gently molded by glaciation millennia ago, Brookvale's hilly landscape offers Islanders many year-round activities. In winter, cross-country skiers enjoy Brookvale's snowy slopes while warmer weather entices hikers to wander its forested trails.
But Brookvale's natural charms, however appealing, has not been a mere accident. Its landscape has benefitted from human hands.
Provincial governments have long recognized the value of Brookvale's woodland and fields which provide areas for recreation, wildlife and aesthetic enjoyment. In fact, the province's Department of Agriculture and Forestry continues to implement projects designed to enhance and preserve Brookvale's forest habitat for future generations of Islanders.
Brookvale's importance to Prince Edward Island as a thriving ecosystem and as a forest recreation area continues to be recognized. On June 23, the department's Forestry Division will hold the first of a province-wide series of open houses at the Brookvale Nordic Ski Facility.
The open houses are designed to seek public views about forming 22 Provincial Forest areas across the Island. One proposed Provincial Forest would be located in the Brookvale and surrounding area. Open houses will be held also June 24 at Fortune Community Centre; June 25 at O'Leary Legion; June 26 at Montague Lions Club; July 2 at Fort Augustus Recreation Centre and July 3 at Wellington Legion. All meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
The province, under the proposed Provincial Forests strategy, has selected areas near existing concentrations of provincially managed forest where it may -- if resources permit -- obtain suitable property. Properties, however, would only be obtained from the voluntary sales of private land owners. Of 22 Provincial Forests proposed, 11 would be located in western P.E.I, three in the province's central region and eight in the Island's eastern end.
Among 18,000 hectares (46,700 acres) of Island woodland currently managed by the department's Forestry Division are two properties that straddle Brookvale's Nordic ski trails.
Adhering to its forest-management-plan mandate to create multi-use woodlands, the Forestry Division has partnered with Island schools and the public to enhance the education, recreation and habitat potential of Brookvale's Nordic trails. Projects undertaken include patch planting of collapsing softwood stands, experimental planting of red oak and other hardwood species and underplanting of white pine and yellow birch. Lessons learned in successfully enhancing Brookvale's forest habitat will be used to help private woodlot owners improve the Island's forest for years to come.
The province-public partnership in Brookvale and other areas have created spin-off employment opportunities in tourism, tree planting, harvesting and sawmilling. As its success grows, the prospect of further economic development seems assured.
For more information, contact Dan McAskill at (902) 368-4802.