Prince Edward Island’s public lands have been called one of the province’s best-kept secrets, but a new signage program is part of ongoing efforts to change that. Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry George Webster unveiled the new public land signs at the Mount Stewart Wildlife Management Area today.
“Prince Edward Island has some beautiful public lands where people can walk, fish, hunt, or simply enjoy nature. These properties belong to Islanders. We want more people to discover them and learn more about them,” said Minister Webster. “The new signs will identify our public lands and how they are managed, and hopefully they will encourage more people to use them.”
The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry manages more than 30,000 hectares of public lands that fall under four categories – natural areas, ponds and wetlands, provincial forests and wildlife management areas. There are four signs to represent these four types of properties. Each sign has a dark green outer circle which represents the wild spaces of Prince Edward Island. Inside the circle, there is a colourful diamond-shaped image that reflects some of the management priorities for each type of property. For instance, the natural area sign uses a lady slipper to represent these unique ecological areas because of Islanders’ love of this beautiful, but fragile, forest orchid. The provincial forest sign uses the silhouette of a leaf and acorn of the red oak, the provincial tree, surrounding a conifer. These symbols represent the value of wood, wood products and forests to our everyday lives.
While the four signs identify the management priority for each type of property, Minister Webster said it’s important to note that most properties are managed for many different uses and values.
“Provincial forest lands provide high value wood to Island businesses and these businesses use that wood to create economic development and employment in many rural communities. But these same lands are also managed for recreation, education, research and wildlife habitat,” the Minister said. “Similarly, ponds and wetlands are managed for waterfowl habitat or fish production, but they also provide opportunities for hunting and fishing, boating, birdwatching, or gathering wild, edible plants.”
The signage program for public lands is one of the action items in the new Prince Edward Island Forest Policy. The signs are based on the design and success of the provincial forest signage program that was launched in 2000.
The new signs will be erected on unsigned lands over the coming months, while existing signs will be replaced as required. The next edition of the Public Land Atlas will include the images, and information on the Island’s public lands will be included in future editions of the Prince Edward Island Visitors Guide.
To find our more about public lands in your area, visit the Public Land Atlas online at www.gov.pe.ca/gis or contact Ken Mayhew, Information Officer with the Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division, at (902) 368-6450.