5 new parcels of land on P.E.I. now protected

The P.E.I. government announced five new parcels of land Monday morning that will be protected under provincial legislation.

• Summerside island with historic past purchased for nature reserve

The land is all privately owned by three nature conservation groups Island Nature Trust, P.E.I. Wildlife Federation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

"It's a big thing for us," said Island Nature Trust executive director Megan Harris.

"The first parcel of land that we purchased on the Island was back in 1986 and we've slowly been working away and trying to acquire parcels as they come up ever since."

Courtin Island, Island Nature Trust

This is an important area for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Great blue herons, bald eagles and osprey neston the Island.

Sherbrook property, Island Nature Trust

On the south shore of Malpeque Bay, the land contains relatively undisturbed salt marsh and a back-dune system. It is an important migratory area for waterfowl and shorebirds.

North Lake Creek property, P.E.I. Wildlife Federation

Situated in the far northeast corner of the province, this is a forested property along a river.

Prince County Acadian marshes, Nature Conservancy of Canada

This land contains relatively undisturbed salt marsh.

Holman's Island, Nature Conservancy of Canada

An area of both historic and environmental significance, acquired earlier this year by the Nature Canada. It was almost entirely cleared between the 1800 and 1900, but is now reforested with a second-growth forest of mixed tree species up to 19 metres tall.

These properties are now listed under the province's Natural Areas Protection Act.

The new properties total about 145 hectares. In all about 20,000 hectares are protected under NAPA, a little over 3.5 per cent of the province.

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