ADIP holds annual collecting meetings in various locations; the 1997 Annual Field Meeting will be held here on the Island on the July 12-13 weekend. The Morell River watershed will be the main focus of the meeting, and the Morell River Coop has graciously made its facilities at Mooney’s Pond (Route #22, Peakes, Kings—County) available to participants. We are planning to meet July 12 (Saturday) morning at 9 a.m. at Mooney’s Pond for a briefing on the region and collecting plans. All are welcome - the only criteria for participation is interest.

For more information on this meeting or on ADIP, contact Robert Harding at 902-838-2699, via E- mail at rharding@peinet.pe.ca, or via post at Montague RR # 3, Summerville, PE COA 1R0.

HOW WE GOT THE FOREST WE HAVE TODAY: by William M. Glen Background:

The forests of the province are being subject to heavy harvesting pressure. The statistics show that the current harvest level is the highest this century. Is the current situation unique or has something like it happened before? Has our history determined the present?

Dan McAskilI, in his article in the Island Magazine (1987, fall-winter), noted that the forests of the province had been subject to heavy use for ship-building, housing, exports and more importantly for fuel. The P.E.I. Royal Gazette of 14th April 1821 recorded that the timber industry was nearly over, the sources are nearly exhausted! This was before the real settlement and development of the Province had occurred.

Rev. Father Burke of Alberton wrote in 1902 "Only within the last year or so is the sense of our great loss as a Province from the almost total deprivation of our splendid forest forcing itself upon us irresistibly. Not only are our fields windswept, sunburnt, flooded in spring and parched in summer; not only are the purling springs dried up and the deep wells ungrateful, not only is life deprived of its healthfulness and pleasure; not only are the beauties of the green wood alternating with fruitful field and rippling rivulet passing away, but we are face to face with a wood famine which threatens us with permanency if something be not done at once to repair the ravages we have so thoughtlesst made on our forest.“ He goes on to say 'One hundred years have sufficed to change our Island province from a complete forest to one almost bare of trees. The axe, the torch, man’s stupid cupidity and the government’s entire neglect have almost swept away this valuable heritage."

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AREA OF CLEARED 8. FOREST LAND 1720-1990 acres 1500000 . 1250000 E-----'----------—‘------ ---‘~------~--‘---------~' ------ -- 1000000: 750000 500000_ ------ -- ------ -- : xx —— forest 2500003 ---- -§- -------- --§ ------- up}? ———————— —§ -------- ~—§ —————— —— area : 5 5 xx g g ; ---- cleared 'L . L-....-—~-é--.‘-.'1. s, L, . E. ,, 1?- ,1 . land 1 750 1 800 1 850 1 900 1950 year \ /

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