Private land stewardship can show that better techniques exist to sustain land resources, at the same time benefiting wetlands and other wildlife habitat. We can encourage a land ethic among Island landowners by demonstrating and facilitating acceptable land practices, and spreading the message of good land management.

This project is based on approved Projects # 2003-3 and 2004-1 submitted to the North American Wetland Conservation Council to be delivered in the 2004/2005 fiscal year. The P.E.I. Wetland Stewardship Program is an ongoing Eastern Habitat Joint Venture Program which has successfully conserved and protected over 6,000 hectares of upland and wetland since 1991. This has been accomplished through the excellent cooperation of wetland conservation organizations and agricultural groups working to conserve wetlands and achieve sustainable agriculture.

The following program areas description states specifically our objectives and how they will be achieved.

1. Agricultural Stewardship
The agricultural program will continue on a number of fronts supported by existing funding through the provincial Sustainable Resource Conservation Program, initiated in 2002 as a continuation of the Agricultural Environmental Resource Conservation Program, that saw from 1999 to 2001 approximately 11 million dollars directed towards agricultural/environmental problems in Prince Edward Island. The Soil Conservation Program will continue the construction of diversion terraces and grassed waterways and by providing incentives for strip cropping. A Permanent Cover Program to target farmland with extreme erosion problems initiated in 2003 will be continued in 2004, with the cooperation of the PEI Soil and Crop Association, the two farmer Conservation Clubs, and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Activities will include establishment of farm hedgerows, and land fenced under the Livestock Fencing and Riparian Management Program will have permanent cover planted. The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture will continue to encourage and assist in the operation of the two pilot farmer Conservation Clubs, that will provide technical assistance and encourage better stewardship by landowners by helping club members to improve their farming practices, including soil conservation, nutrient management, and integrated pest management. These practices will be protected by agreements signed between the landowner and the Minister of Fisheries Aquaculture and Environment and the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

2. Agricultural Wetlands
The Small Marsh Program will continue with the enhancement of 25 small wetlands and construction of wetlands, where feasible, to aid in reducing excessive amounts of nutrients being exported from the farm to natural wetlands and watercourses. Three abandoned borrow pits and five existing beaver dams will also be enhanced under this program. Over 90 sites were assessed in 2003 and prioritized. These projects will be protected by agreements signed between the landowner and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

3. Purple Loosestrife Control
Monitoring and control of purple loosestrife will continue by monitoring established populations of predatory beetles (Galerucella spp.) and introducing individuals from these populations to new stands of loosestrife. An inventory of locations where the plant occurs will continue to be updated and where practical, alternate means of control, including removal of plants, will be employed.

For more information on this project, please contact Alan McLennan, P.E.I. Eastern Habitat Joint Venture Program Manager, P.E.I. Department of Environment and Energy, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.