InfoPEI

Wildlife Management Areas

The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division is responsible for managing approximately 29,000 acres (11,736 hectares) of provincially-owned land for the public of Prince Edward Island. This is made up of 78 per cent forest cover or 22,480 acres (9,097 hectares) with the remaining area consisting of both fresh and saltwater wetlands, agricultural lands and access roads.

To date, the Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division has designated nine Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) consisting of 13,420 acres (5,431 hectares). These lands are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act and are to be maintained for the protection, management and conservation of wildlife and its habitat. Some of these lands also carry designation as a Natural Area under the Natural Areas Protection Act, restricting certain management activities to protect the areas natural feature for which it was protected. A tenth WMA is proposed for Portage in west Prince County. Current Wildlife Management Areas include Dingwells Mills (1,225 acres), Dromore (1,136 acres), Grovepine - Big Brook (3,202 acres), Martinvale/Corraville (2,779 acres), Mount Stewart (477 acres), Forest Hill (1,827 acres), Southampton (1,419 acres), Mount Hope (384 acres), and St. Chrysostome (971 acres).

Public Consultation

The designation of a Wildlife Management Areas must undergo public consultation to determine support in the community. The management of the area also includes a public process of developing a management plan supported by the community and its goals for the area. The following management principles help guide this process:

Sustainable uses of species and ecosystems will be promoted taking into account the best uses indicated by soils, drainage, typography and plant cover;
Management action will be based on information obtained from monitoring of wildlife species and habitat;
Management will integrate the goals of wildlife conservation and the generation of economic activity, including resource harvest and ecotourism; and
Management will strive to maintain, enhance and restore biodiversity.

In co-operation with the supporting community, the public is invited to review and comment on the proposed management plan for the Wildlife Management Area. With public support for the management plan and its goals, work can begin implementing the plan. The supporting community group will often carry out wildlife and ecotourism projects with support from the PEI Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division. Providing access to the public; identifying Wildlife Management Areas by signage and promoting public use for recreational pursuits as angling, hunting, trapping, hiking and bird-watching are of primary importance to the division.

Management

Management to enhance wildlife populations may include riparian zone treatments to promote salmonid species. Upland treatments may include small harvest sites, strip cuts, patch cuts, wild apple tree pruning and replanting food species trees and shrubs to promote upland game and non-game species.

In 2001, the Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division worked co-operatively with the Boughton River Watershed Enhancement Association to develop and implement a management plan for Forest Hill Wildlife Management Area. The plan includes signage, boundary line establishment, amphibian and reptile monitoring, road maintenance and woodcock enhancement. Several kilometres of walking trails and horse riding trails were established for public enjoyment. Plans are being formulated for the 2002 field season.

In 2002, the department is working with the village of Mount Stewart to develop a management plan for the Mount Stewart Wildlife Management Areas. The village is interested in promoting ecotourism and hopes to use the area as a drawing card for visitors. Discussion will begin with the residents of St. Chrysostome and Holland College, who utilize the St. Chrysostome Wildlife Management Areas as a research and training area for students of the Renewable Resources Management Technology Program.

Co-operation through community involvement is the key to success in managing public lands. The Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division believes in the sustainable use of Wildlife Management Areas to support communities and to maintain healthy, diverse wildlife populations.