Our future forests

The Acadian forest region is made up of a unique blend of northern hardwood and boreal forest trees found nowhere else on earth. Historically extending throughout the Maritimes, including what is now Prince Edward Island National Park, healthy Acadian forest typically includes trees at various stages of maturity – from seedlings to 200-year-old matriarchs. This rich combination once offered diverse habitats for wildlife that depend on old-growth forests – species such as pileated woodpeckers, which nest in tree cavities, and various mammals like flying squirrels. For the Mi’kmaw people, Acadian forests were also an essential part of their culture. The forests provided food, medicine, materials for shelter (wigwams), transportation (canoes, snowshoes) and various utensils (baskets, fishing spears). Today, as little as 1 to 5 percent of Acadian forest remains in its natural state, much having been cleared for agriculture. In PEI National Park, most forests have begun the slow process of returning to Acadian forest, but are in early stages of succession, primarily as white spruce monocultures. The loss has reduced biodiversity, diminished ecosystem function and had negative cultural impacts for Indigenous people.