Agriculture and Forestry Minister Mitch Murphy tabled the "State of the Forest Report" today in the Legislative Assembly. The report is required by legislation to be completed once every ten years. It can be used to compare information from previous forest inventories with new trends and areas of concern.
The report said the Island's total forest area has decreased by 6 percent since 1990. The Island's new forest area is 263,500 hectares, a reduction of 16,500 ha (40,800 acres) over the past ten years. This new forest area also includes some 17,500 hectares classified as harvested (clearcut). It also said the commercial softwood harvest is reaching the end of its limit, and the industry will face severe shortages for lumber and studwood in as little as five years.
"The decrease in forest area from 1990 to 2000 was significant and most of it occurred when land owners converted forests for agricultural and other development uses," said Mr. Murphy. "As well, expanded markets and high stumpage prices for softwood lumber, mechanization and modernization of the forest harvest and processing sectors, and record softwood harvest rates contributed to the significant changes we saw in our forest over the last decade."
Although forest management treatments can improve the prospect of returning to the current harvest level over the long term, it will be at least 25 to 30 years until these efforts increase the sustainable softwood harvest.
The report also found that Island forests continue to shift from softwood covertypes toward a higher percentage of hardwood and hardwood/softwood mix.
Mr. Murphy said that over the last ten years, many Islanders have expressed concerns about the impact of conversions and harvesting on the landscape and environment. "Harvesting can influence not only the area being cut but also adjacent lands through the removal of windbreaks and modification of the landscape," he said. "The reduction on forest area could affect groundwater capturing and storage ability, while the softwood decline could impact softwood dependent wildlife species."
The great majority of these changes occurred on private lands. Harvest activities on public forest lands, notably the Provincial Forest system, are conducted in a sustainable manner which reflects the many different results and values people place on forest lands. Mr. Murphy said these public forest lands will continue to provide leadership in areas of stewardship and sustainability.
The minister said the department will be conducting consultations with the forest sector, conservation groups, and the public over the coming weeks to explain the report's findings. He is encouraging Islanders to work together to develop a new forest vision for Prince Edward Island which would guide policies and programs for public and private forests. He is also urging forest owners to examine the potential of their woodlands by taking advantage of forest management programs.
The 1990-2000 State of the Forest Report is available free of charge by calling 902 368 6450 or on-line at www.gov.pe.ca/af/agweb/index.php3