manorama news paper: Tourism PEI: Natural Parks & Recreation

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tourism PEI: Natural Parks & Recreation - Anne of Green Gables

If you love nature and exploring, you will absolutely adore Prince Edward Island?s coastal landscape and ecological forests. Not only is PEI rich in history, but it also boasts some of the most lush greenery and beautiful beaches in all of Canada.

In?the early 1970s and 1980s,?PEI?s Natural Wildlife?Conservation program took responsibility for the conservation of the Island?s resources . This included preserving its wildlife, freshwater fish, wet lands and publicly owned lands upon which Islanders love to hunt and discover.?To those of you nature explorers who are considering?visiting PEI, the following list of ?nature-friendly? Island activities?will be?of particular interest to you. (Of course, this is in addition to visiting Anne?s Green Gables!)

Natural Areas Protection Act (NAPA)

This act allows for legal protection of ecologically significant sites. Such areas may include land dunes, marshes, rivers, ponds, bogs, offshore islands, cliffs or even historic sites. In some cases, properties on these lands are owned privately however landowners there have agreed to recognize the biological importance and agreed to their protection. It likely comes as no surprise that L.M. Montgomery?s beloved Green Gables is currently within the Island Protection area.

Hunting and Recreational Fishing

In a land filled with so many freshwater lakes and?ponds, it is not?surprising that a common pastime for Islanders is fishing. Sea run brook trout are especially prized for sport and make an absolutely delicious meal afterwards. Remnant runs of Atlantic salmon remain in about 27 rivers, but rainbow trout are more commonly sought after with them being present in over 21 systems and numerous rivers. Catfish are also abundant in these waters.

What more information about fishing and places to fish??Click here.

Plants and Animals and Birdwatching

PEI?s many rivers, forests, wetlands, and other natural resourcse support a wide variety of wild creatures. This includes fresh water fish, backyard wildlife, native plants, and species at risk .?There are about 333 species of irdss inhabiting the rolling landscape, attracting birdwatchers from all around the globe to come visit. Popular species on the island include the Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Piping Plover and much, much more.

Other familiar wildlife inhabiting the island include the red fox, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, woodcock, and Hungarian patridge. Many, many other little creatures live within the forests and wetlands that are waiting for you to explore.

Wetlands of the Island

Some of you may not be familiar with what this term means. Wetlands are shallow, wet areas that support aquatic life like bulrushes, cattails, and trees. At present, they cover 5% of PEI?s surface area and about 20% are considered to be amongst the most productive ecosystems on earth. The remaining 80% are freshwater wetlands, that entail bogs, ponds, wooded swamps, bogs, and meadows. If you think of many of the scenes in Anne of Green Gables, you likely will remember characters walking by beautiful meadows and ponds.

What is the importance of wetlands?

provide recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, bird watching and canoeing
provide food habitat for commercial fish species they provide habitat for fish and wildlife species and?contribute to the productivity of rivers and estuaries
form a vital link in the water cycle by acting as groundwater recharge, discharge, and storage
act as water purification systems by trapping and breaking down contaminants such as chemicals, organic waste, and sediment
act as carbon sinks, helping reduce greenhouse gases
stabilize rivers and coastal shorelines

Fun Activities To Do

Keeping the above natural resources in mind, fun things to do around Prince Edward Island abound. Whether you love to hike, cycle, swim, birdwatch, explore or simply take in the sunshine this Island will keep you busy. Not only is there red sand beaches on which for you to relax, but nature paths are fordged all throughout the land allowing you to easily explore and see new things.