Environment, Energy and ForestryPrivate Land Forests Island forests are among the most productive in Canada. The majority (88%) of Prince Edward Island forest land is owned and controlled by some 16,000 private woodlot owners; therefore, the Department offers a number of programs and initiatives designed to help private land owners manage their forest lands for a wide range of values. 
Offered through the three forest district offices, land owners can access technical advice and information designed to help them understand and implement their forest management and harvest options, as well incentives to carry out certain silvicultural treatments. Some components of the private land assistance program are delivered through the private sector while others are delivered directly by the program staff. Forest management incentives are cost shared between the land owner and the province Land owners can do their own work or hire a contractor/consultant to do it for them. However, in order for a treatment to qualify under the Forest Enhancement Program it must be recommended in an approved Forest Management Plan registered with the department and must meet the minimum standards required under the program. The Forest Enhancement Program is a forest management plan based program designed to provide land owners with the information and services they require to meet their forest management goals and objectives. This program is cost shared between the province and land owners and some components are delivered by private sector consultants and contractors. The Virtual Woodyard is devoted to the linking of products and services for the wood products industry and the enhancement of marketing for all P.E.I. wood products, from standing timber to finished products. The wood industry on Prince Edward Island has relied mainly on “word of mouth” to connect buyers and sellers of wood products. In today’s wired world, there are more advanced methods that can efficiently match buyers and sellers through on-line applications. The Virtual Wood Yard is becoming the medium of choice and the cornerstone for the advancement of the wood products industry on P.E.I. 
The Woodland Notes Series is set of easy to use information bulletins designed to provide land owners with the basic information they require to deal with contractors, understand their silviculture and harvest options, and explore non-timber forest products opportunities. Development of this series is ongoing, with new volumes posted as they are published. | ||||||
