Conservation Strategy update 
     
    
   
   
    
     Last Spring P.E.l. became the first province to officially adopt a Provincial 
     
     Conservation Strategy. Since its adoption the government has moved along a 
     
     broad front to put the strategy into effect. 
     
    
   
   
    
     One of the first steps under the strategy was to help non-profit organizations 
     
     to carry out worthy conservation projects. Securing funds, training workers 
     
    

    
     and purchasing supplies were some of the areas in which the strategy assisted. 
     
     The projects were valuable as demonstration projects and in increasing community 
     
     awareness of environmental problems. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The projects supported by the strategy lastsummer fell into three general areas: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Environmental enhancement, environmental research and environmental/recreational 
     
     programs. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The environmental enhancement programs involved 2| students in seven projects 
     
    
   
   
    
     developed to enhance our Island rivers. Projects were located in Prince, Queens 
     
     and Kings counties. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Two environmental research projects employing 6 students were supported in order 
     
     to provide data necessary for improved management in the future. The projects 
     
     included a province wide survey of colonial and shore birds, as well as a 
     
     vegetation survey of environmentally important sites. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Two projects promoted increased recreational use of outdoors. One consisted of 
     
     re-establishing the Bonshaw Hills Trail and the other program identified scenic 
     
     roads in the western part of P.E.l. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Other efforts included: 
     
    
   
   
    
     - negotiation of agreements between the province and federal government 
     
     to support conServation and development 
     
    

    
     - revision of environmental legislation to provide a sound framework 
     
     for the strategy 
     
    

    
     - assessment of departmental initiatives to implement strategy 
     
     recommendations 
     
    

    
     - establishment of an Environmental Advisory COuncil to provide public 
     
     input into governmental decision making 
     
    

    
     - providing staff support to ensure that the strategy is a continuing 
     
     process 
     
    

    
     - asseSSment of environmental education with a view to its improvement 
     
    
   
   
    
     The strategy staff are looking forward to a very active up coming season in supporti 
     
     an expanded program to implement many of the strategy recommendations. 
     
    
   
   
    
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