Representatives from the Island's forest community met today at the Macphail Woodlot in Orwell with Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mitch Murphy, and Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay to officially launch the Model Forest Outreach Project in Prince Edward Island.
The project will be coordinated by the Island Sustainable Forest Partnership Cooperative Ltd. (ISFPC).
The outreach program will run from 2002 - 2007 and provide $100,000 per year for projects which advance the use of sustainable forest stewardship practices. It also seeks to promote dialogue among a wide range of forest interest groups. Since 1992, the Canadian Model Forest Network (CMFN) has helped many in Canada's forest community to share knowledge and ideas, reach consensus on different forestry issues, and combine skills and resources to develop innovative approaches to sustainable forest management.
David Boyce of the Southeast Environmental Association spoke on behalf of the Island Sustainable Forest Partnership Cooperative Ltd., the group which coordinates the Model Forest Outreach Project. "While we are not a full-fledged member of the CMFN, over the last year, we have attracted 20 different forest interest groups to become members of the ISFPC," stated Mr. Boyce. "This includes woodlot owner groups, environmental groups, educational institutions, the provincial government, industry and others who have an interest and stake in the Island's public and private forests."
Over the past few months, ISFPC members have been working on a number of sustainable forestry projects co-funded by the Model Forest Outreach Project. Mr. Boyce said the 15 approved projects were wide ranging in scope and included studies of snag trees for wildlife, riparian zone management program, and research into the creation of a Forest Learning Centre for Prince Edward Island. "Each of these projects will have positive long-term implications for Island forests," said Mr. Boyce.
Mr. Murphy expressed his enthusiasm for the Model Forest presence. "While we have much to gain from the experience of other model forest groups, we also have much to share with the rest of the country," he said. "For instance, management of public forest lands such as the Provincial Forest and the Macphail Woodlot demonstrates Islanders' ongoing commitment, partnership, and leadership in forest stewardship."
The Minister said the department is co-funding a Model Forest coordinator position and actively participating in several special ISFPC projects. "In the coming year, the ISFPC will help us to develop a new forest vision for Prince Edward Island by holding discussions and consultations with Island forest stakeholders," he said. "Hopefully, the Model Forest's experience in consensus building and mediation will help us to develop this vision and allow each player in our forest community to find new and innovative ways of encouraging and sustaining forest stewardship."