Islanders are encouraged to explore PEI’s special “wild” places as they celebrate National Wildlife Week this week.
Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem said this year’s theme, Explore and Embrace a Special Wild Place, provides an excellent opportunity for young Islanders to gain a greater appreciation for wildlife and wildlife habitat.
“It not only invites them to discover the special places where they can enjoy nature, but also to learn about the wildlife that share those spaces, and the importance of protecting these wildlife resources,” said Minister Ballem.
“Wild spaces could be as close as the backyard bird feeder or in a city park, or they could be in our Provincial Forests, Wildlife Management Areas or the National Park. There are hundreds of beautiful natural areas to discover in Prince Edward Island.”
The Province has 18,900 hectares of public forest land and nine designated Wildlife Management Areas totalling 13,500 hectares. All of these properties are open to the public and many have walking, hiking and ski trails or offer other recreational opportunities such as bird watching or angling.
The Canadian Wildlife Federation sponsors National Wildlife Week in cooperation with federal, provincial, and territorial wildlife agencies. Each year, the federation prepares an educational package with lesson plans and resource materials focusing on the National Wildlife Week theme.
The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry provides these National Wildlife Week kits to approximately 900 Island teachers for use in the classroom. As well, the department, in cooperation with the PEI Wildlife Federation, is once again sponsoring a poster contest for elementary school students on the National Wildlife Week theme. Cash prizes will be awarded at the school level and Island Nature Trust is providing the grand prizes - participation in the Adopt-an-Eagle program for the winners’ school class. About 600 students participated in last year’s contest with the grand prizes awarded to Gemma Dawn MacDonald, a student at Tracadie Cross Consolidated School, and Hailey Bell, a student at Southern Kings Consolidated School.
In declaring National Wildlife Week, Minister Ballem recognized the PEI Wildlife Federation and Island Nature Trust for their efforts in protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat in Prince Edward Island and extended special thanks to Island teachers who play an invaluable role in spreading the conservation message to young Islanders.
For more information on National Wildlife Week or Provincial Forests and Wildlife Management Areas, contact the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry at (902) 368-4683. Information on National Wildlife Week is also available on the Canadian Wildlife Federation web site at www.cwf-fcf.org