PEIThe group that represents private woodlot owners on Prince Edward Island says continued government funding is needed to finish the job of cleaning up after post-tropical storm Fiona in 2022.P.E.I. Woodlot Owners Association calls for ongoing government supportThinh Nguyen · CBC News · Posted: Sep 26, 2025 1:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoRob Crawford of the P.E.I. Woodlot Owners Association says continued government funding is needed to incentivize contractors to clean up trees that fell three years ago during post-tropical storm Fiona. (Taylor O’Brien/CBC)Three years after post-tropical storm Fiona, some of Prince Edward Island’s private woodlot owners are still cleaning up. The group that represents them says continued government funding is needed to finish the job.”Going into year three, a lot of the product that has fallen — especially softwood — it has reduced in value, and with that, it’s less attractive for a contractor,” said Rob Crawford, who’s on the board of the P.E.I. Woodlot Owners Association.”So it’s important that we continue with the spirit of funding to address it, and hopefully provide incentives so that contractors can continue to do a salvage cleanup on private land properties.”Crawford, who also works as a contractor and consultant, said he has seen many forest sites across the province, and despite ongoing challenges, he believes the restoration efforts have come a long way since Fiona struck in 2022. “I think we’ve made reasonably good progress in trying to address some of the blow-down and then follow up with maybe good replanting practices,” he said.A section of a private woodlot in Riverdale, P.E.I., shown in this file photo taken a month after post-tropical storm Fiona hit the Island. Three years later, the P.E.I. Woodlot Owners Association says some landowners are still cleaning up. (Jessica Doria-Brown/CBC)On P.E.I., between 85 and 90 per cent of woodland is privately owned, which is significantly higher than in many other provinces, according to Crawford.He said that makes the P.E.I. Woodlot Owners Association’s role especially important. The group serves as a collective voice for landowners, providing education, information and a platform to work with contractors and government on forest management and enhancement programs.Dry summer poses new challengesCrawford said he’s grateful P.E.I. avoided the wildfires that hit Nova Scotia and New Brunswick this year, but the Island’s dry summer has created problems for young trees planted in the spring.”Traditionally, we have a fall plant. The dry conditions might place new seedlings and more vulnerable root systems at risk,” he said.”There is some discussion that perhaps that season would be best suited if it were to be postponed for this year.”Fallen trees are piled near Brookvale, P.E.I., in October 2022 after post-tropical storm Fiona. (Jessica Doria-Brown, CBC )The association has also been busy preparing for some events this fall.One of them is the Festival of Forests, taking place Saturday at Macphail Woods Nature Centre.Then, on Oct. 3-4, Islanders are invited to the very first Up West Forest Fest, a celebration of western P.E.I.’s unique forest ecosystems.The first day of that event will be held on Lennox Island, offering opportunities to experience Mi’kmaw culture, crafts and ecosystem management. The second day will move to Jacques Cartier Provincial Park and feature a coastal forest walk.And on Oct. 11, the association will host an event to honour the 2025 Woodlot Owners of the Year, Pat and Carol Binns, recognizing the stewardship and care they’ve shown on their woodlot.Islanders can learn more about these events by visiting the association’s website.With files from Island Morning
3 years after post-tropical storm Fiona, some woodlot owners on P.E.I. still face cleanup
