P.E.I. • Protected Areas • Lands and Regulations • Issues & Advocacy

This data was accurate as of April 2008.

Page Index
Land description
Brief history
Process of development/consultation type
PAS implementation and candidate PA selection process
Results
Post-completion and on-going issues
First nations land claim settlements
Government Departments, Agencies and Legislation, for further information
Non-governmental organizations

Land description:
The current area protected in Prince Edward Island is 3.4% or approximately 19,720 hectares (2007).

The land area of Prince Edward Island is 566,000 hectares, with no significant fresh water area.  Only 10% of land in Prince Edward Island is Crown or public with the remaining 90% being private.  There is one National Park covering a total of 2,150 hectares.   The province also has a network of provincial recreational and heritage sites, wildlife management areas and nature reserves.  Both national parks and provincial sites prohibit mining with industrial uses of the wildlife management areas and nature reserves being permitted.  The Province has 7 designated habitat types.

Brief History: (prior to initiation of land use plan and development)
In 1991 the Prince Edward Island Minister of the Environment announced the Significant Environmental Areas Plan (Plan) with the intent to protect 94 sites in seven habitat types. The plan calls for protecting 7% of the Island in the long term with some portion of at least 70 of the 94 sites protected by 2000.

In 1992, the Canadian Parks Ministers Council signed A Statement of Commitment to Complete Canada’s Networks of Protected Areas, by the year 2000.

In 1994, the Whitehorse Mining Initiative was signed to provide a strategic vision for a healthy mining industry in the context of maintaining healthy and diverse ecosystems in Canada.  Among other things it called for establishing an ecologically based system of protected areas.  Representatives of five sectors agreed to participate. They were the mining industry, senior governments, labour unions, Aboriginal peoples, and the environmental community.  A report from the Land Access Issue group was released in 1994.

Process of Development/Consultation Type:
The lead agency for protected areas is the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment.  The government designates public lands and has made deals with private landowners for more areas to be protected.

PAS Implementation and Candidate Protected Area selection process:
The government selects areas for protection along with the Island Nature Trust which is used to acquire private land.  Public input is involved in the Trust.

The Island Nature Trust has acquired and protected lands, and Ducks Unlimited has also provided funding for a very successful wetlands stewardship program leading to the protection of some important privately held wetland areas.

Very little public land remains for consideration under the habitat types. 

Results:
Since 1993, the province has designated 27,600ha of land under the Natural Areas Protection Act., with 17% of these lands being privately owned.

As of March 2000, 39,300ha of Wildlife Management Area have been added to the system of representative protected areas of PEI.  During this period there was some loss of protected Provincial park and the overall net gain is 5,900ha representing 1% of the province and brings the total protection to 3.2% or approximately 19,000 hectares.

As of 2000, the Island Nature Trust owns and leases approximately 951ha of protected area in 21 sites.

Post-completion issues:
Acquiring private lands and reaching the 7% protection quota designated under the Plan.

First Nations Land Claim Settlements :
There are two Mi’kmaq First Nations communities on Prince Edward Island.  The Native Council of Prince Edward Island continues the tradition of self-government on the island.  Negotiations regarding further title and treaty rights to land, resources and self-government are on-going.

Government Departments, Agencies and Legislation, for further information:
Provincial Parks www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/

Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry    www.gov.pe.ca/enveng/

Environmental Protection Act 1988
Mineral Resources Act 2004
Natural Areas Protection Act 1988
Wildlife Conservation Act 2004

Non-governmental organizations

Island Nature Trust

www.islandnaturetrust.ca/

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