National Forest Week in PEI
PEI has proclaimed September 21 to 27, 2025 as National Forest Week.
Prince Edward Island is home to the Acadian Forest, a mixed woodland that supports a rich diversity of over 30 tree species.
“Forests are a big part of our way of life in PEI, providing ecological, cultural, health, social and economic benefits to residents. We are working to protect more forests by designating additional land under the Natural Areas Protection Act and carrying out other conservation measures.”
— Environment, Energy and Climate Action Minister Gilles Arsenault
A total of 6,917 acres have been secured through various land securement programs since 2019. These properties include landscapes such as mature forests, interior forests, unploughed woodlands, wetlands, and coastal areas.
Some facts about PEI forests:
- Currently, 5.78 per cent of PEI’s total land area is protected and conserved.
- Most PEI forests are owned and managed by 16,000 private woodlot owners
- PEI’s Forest Enhancement Program helps provide private landowners with professional support and funding to better manage their woodlots sustainably.
- PEI has approximately 80 trained wildland firefighters to respond to wildfires across the Island and off-Island.
- The provincial wildfire program has sent wildland firefighters to each and every province and territory in Canada to help fight wildfires.
- Taking FireSmart actions like raking leaves, cleaning gutters, and removing combustibles from around the home can significantly decrease the risk of wildfire damage.
- Through the 2 Billion Trees program, tree planting has been accelerated across the Island, supported by an expanded provincial tree nursery.
PEI joins other provinces, organizations, and individuals in recognizing National Forest Week, organized by the Canadian Institute of Forestry, with this year’s theme, “Roots of Resilience: From Seed to Canopy.”
Media contact:
Katie Cudmore
Department of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action
katiecudmore@gov.pe.ca