FROM THE EDITOR 
     
    
   
   
    
     As you have undoubtedly noticed, there is something 
     
     different about this issue of the newsletter - it’s all 
     
     about trees! For the first time ever, we have decided to 
     
     try out the concept of a theme issue. And what could be a more appropriate 
     
     topic than trees to fecus our readers’ attention on at this time. 
     
    

    
     It was just one hundred years ago, in May of 1884, that a number of 
     
     prominent Islanders organized the province’s first Arbor Day. In the early days 
     
     of settlement, trees had largely been considered ememies of progress, and much 
     
     energy had been expended on getting rid of them. These efferts had been so 
     
     successful in some parts of the province that by the middle of the nineteenth 
     
     century some communities were bleak and windswept places. By 1860 the citizens 
     
     of Charlottetown realized the need for the shade, protection and beauty provided 
     
     by trees, and enacted a bylaw to encourage the planting and protection of trees 
     
     within its boundaries. 
     
    

    
     Interest in public tree planting continued into the early part of the 
     
     twentieth century and then declined. Meanwhile the haphazard management of 
     
     woodlots across the province led to a drop in tree quality. woodlands were 
     
     simply taken fer granted, with little effert given to understanding how best 
     
     to manage these ecosystems. 
     
    

    
     It is only within the past two decades that the public has acquired a 
     
     renewed interest in our ferests. Across canada, people have become aware that 
     
     our seemingly inexhaustible ferest resources are declining in both quality and 
     
     quantity. National Forest week and Arbor Day activities are important educational 
     
     undertakings to improve our knowledge of the contribution made by canada's 
     
     trees and forests to the economy, wildlife and beauty of our country. 
     
    
   
   
    
     CANADIAN NATURE FEDERATION 
     
     REPORT 
     
    
   
   
    
     by Dan MeAskill, Director 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     The announcement of the resignations of Arnet Sheppard, editor of Nature 
     
     Canada, effective February 17, 1984 and Peggy Heppes, Managing Director, 
     
     effective after a replacement is feund, were the major topics of discussion 
     
     at the February Board Meeting. Both individuals have played a significant 
     
     role_in the success of the CNF and their talents and strengths will be missed. 
     
     Job competitions and interviews of potential candidates were started in 
     
     February to effect a smooth transition for the organization. 
     
    

    
     The replies to both the Draft Policy on National Marine Parks and the 
     
     Discussion paper on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Habitat Policy were 
     
     completed by Gregg Sheehy. They will be available for viewing at the NHS May 
     
     meeting. 
     
    

    
     Nature Canada’s April/June 1984 issue carries the infermation on the CNF’s 
     
     annual meeting and their famous field trips. The dates run from June 30 to July 
     
     12 and events will be centered out of the University of British Cblumbia. This 
     
     issue also carries the Spring Selection specials of the Bookshop which include 
     
     sales on Bausch “Lomb binoculars and the Peterson Field Guides (15% discounts). 
     
     The articles include features on ferestry, predatory starfish of British 
     
     Columbia, sturgeon in Manitoba, grebes, cottonwoods, Ontario 'atlassing", and 
     
     owl rehabilitation.