06 May The PEI Watershed Alliance Calls on Government to Honour Forestry Report
We Cannot Afford to Waste This Opportunity
Our government’s response to the Forestry Commission’s final report is deeply disappointing. After such an extraordinary effort by the Commission—thirteen members working across disciplines, months of consultation, and a clear roadmap for forest renewal—it is disheartening to hear our government dismissing the full adoption of its recommendations with little explanation.
To hear the words—“not all recommendations will be implemented”—feels like a return to business as usual. But the people of Prince Edward Island know that “business as usual” is not working. We’ve watched our forests become fragmented and degraded, and we’ve seen firsthand the impacts of climate change in storms like Fiona. The time for halfway measures is over.
We agree that the report must be foundational. It’s not just another study to shelve. It is a call to action—practical, grounded, and deeply reflective of the values Islanders hold.
Some of the report’s most urgent recommendations can and should be acted on now:
- A new Forest Stewardship Act that reflects modern ecological values, public accountability, and Indigenous rights;
- A revitalized Forest Enhancement Program that shifts support toward hardwood restoration, natural regeneration, and climate resilience;
- Clear goals to maintain and expand forest cover, especially in the face of development pressures and agricultural land conversion;
- Better stewardship of public forests, with transparent planning, public input, and stronger protection measures;
- And serious investments in seedling production, particularly hardwoods that will rebuild the Wabanaki-Acadian forest and help us meet net-zero goals.
These are not radical ideas. They are the product of evidence, dialogue, and compromise. Islanders—from woodlot owners to conservationists—are ready to act. The Forestry Commission gave the province a path forward. It’s time the government had the courage to follow it.
If our government cannot lead this effort with the urgency and transparency it deserves, then we must. As citizens, we have a responsibility to hold our leaders accountable—and to demand a forest policy that reflects the future we want to build.
We cannot wait another decade. The trees won’t.
PEI Watershed Alliance