Conserving coastal lands
Nature Conservancy of Canada trying to buy 25 acres of salt marsh
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is appealing to the public for financial help to acquire a large parcel land near a rare salt marsh in Abram-Village. The organization, which buys ecologically sensitive land to keep it out of development, already owns about 170 acres of land around this particular salt marsh and would add another 25 acres with this purchase.
SUMMERSIDE – The Nature Conservancy of Canada is appealing to the public for financial help to acquire a large parcel land near a rare salt marsh in Abram-Village.
The organization, which buys ecologically sensitive land to keep it out of development, already owns about 170 acres of land around this particular salt marsh and would add another 25 acres with this purchase.
Lanna Campbell, the Conservancy’s P.E.I. program director, said salt marshes are among the world’s most biologically productive and valuable ecosystems, supporting diverse animal and plant species. That is why the organization generally focuses its attention on helping to preserve them on the Island whenever possible.
“We are excited about this opportunity to expand our nature reserve in Abram-Village,” said Campbell. “Coastal forest like this isn’t often available, so we are appealing for donations to purchase and conserve it and provide better protection for the salt marsh. All donations to this project will be matched by the Government of Canada, through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program. It’s a great way to double your impact for nature on the Island.”
Locally, salt marshes are home to species like great blue heron, red-breasted merganser, American black duck, Nelson’s sparrow, willet, belted kingfisher and common goldeneye.
Early European settlers to P.E.I. used salt marshes for winter forage for their livestock and mussel mud from the waterways as fertilizer. While these resources were important for the survival of those settlers, they also damaged or destroyed many of P.E.I.’s salt marshes in the process.
The Abram Village property the Conservancy is looking to protect was mostly spared from major damage as it is not in an area that is ideal for agriculture.
Donations received by Dec. 31 will receive a receipt for a 2019 tax credit.
More information about this project and information about how to donate is available online at the organization’s website, natureconservancy.ca, under the Prince Edward Island tab.