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 
     
     \ / 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     -4.