Saving natural areas $1 at a time
Liquor stores collecting donations to protect Island land
Island Nature Trust and the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission are teaming up for a third season to fundraise for land protection in the “Let’s Protect Our Island” campaign.
From April 1 through May 8, participating suppliers of beer, wine and spirits will donate up to $1 from sales of participating products at PEILCC retail outlets to Island Nature Trust.
Signage promoting this initiative, including the featured products, can be found in all 17 P.E.I. Liquor retail outlets across the province.
Island Nature Trust works to protect healthy and undeveloped forests, wetlands, coastlines and near-shore islands.
In the past two years, this partnership with the Liquor Control Commission has contributed to the acquisition and protection of three new natural areas totalling 97 acres.
The Townshend Woodlot acquisition adds onto an existing natural area that contains some of the Island’s oldest forest. The addition to the DeRoche Pond Natural Area further protects valuable forested wetlands, which are important areas for atrisk breeding songbirds.
“This partnership supports valuable community engagement in the ongoing stewardship of protected lands,” said Heath MacDonald, minister responsible for the PEILCC.
“This year, the organization is working with landowners of old forest and forested wetland in southeastern and western P.E.I. to protect the valuable services that land provides for Islanders, clean, abundant water and a strong Island landscape able to withstand the challenges of climate change.”
“Without partnerships like this successful collaboration with PEILCC, we would not be able to work as effectively to protect the Island landscape,” said Island Nature Trust executive director, Megan Harris.
“Our capacity to acquire and steward healthy forests and wetlands is growing many acres at a time.”