1. A Presentation by Fred Cheverie
Environment:
Involvement By Creating Awareness
The Souris, PEI Experience
A Presentation by Fred Cheverie

3. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

4. Management Area
Souris & Area Wildlife Federation

5. Prince Edward Island
The Island’s three largest industries are: Agriculture, Fisheries, and Tourism

6. Agriculture

7. Fisheries

8. Tourism

9. Land Usage in Eastern PEI

10. Souris & Area Wildlife Branch
Operating since 1954
9 volunteer board of directors (various levels of education)
Approximately 200 active members
Considered the “go to” environmental organization in eastern Prince Edward Island

11. Souris & Area Wildlife Branch Goals
Protection & enhancement of fish/wildlife habitat
Watershed planning, protection and restoration
Education of the general public on environmental
issues, wildlife and wildlife habitat
Promotion of outdoor recreational
sports and activities
Improved communication with our
stakeholders

12. Success Stories
Some recent major accomplishments of Souris Area & Branch include:
HADD (Harmful Alteration, Disruption, Destruction)
Watershed Planning
WEB`s (Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices)
EG&S (Ecological Goods And Services)

13. HADD (Harmful alteration, disruption, destruction)
Work completed through HADD was a success, shown in this picture by the new growth of grass in the brush matting (which was placed to cover a large mudflat)

14. Additional brush matting was done this past summer
Finished project with brush matting installed on both sides of the Souris River

15. Watershed Planning
Community Developed and Driven

16. EG&S (PEI Ecological Goods & Services Project)
The project was conducted by specific research on producer costs and the public’s willingness to pay for Ecological Goods and Services (EG&S) in small agricultural watersheds.
The project delivered a Comprehensive Land Management Package
This Comprehensive Land Management Package encouraged the adoption and implementation of practices that address watershed environmental priorities established through a watershed planning process (watershed planning, nitrate issue, etc)

17. Comprehensive Land Management Package
Terraces, grassed waterways, berms
Increased headlands
Hedgerows
Retirement of sensitive lands
Enhanced buffers
Spring ploughing, cover crops, mulching
Pesticide risk reduction
Cattle fencing

19. Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices

20. Objectives
Principle purpose is to evaluate at the watershed scale the effects nitrate leaching by utilizing spring ploughing verses fall ploughing following a potato-grain-hay rotation.
In Partnership with the following:
Agriculture And Agri - Food Canada
PEI Dept. of Agriculture
PEI Dept. Of Environment, Justice & Labour
Canadian Rivers Institute
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
University of Prince Edward Island
Souris & Area Branch of PEI Wildlife Federation

21. How do you engage community?
Education
Communication
Involvement
Leadership

22. Education Presentations to: Individual conversations:
elementary, junior and high school students (appropriate environmental material)
adults in the community (at community school, service groups)
Individual conversations:
tailboard meetings
grocery cart meetings
legion discussions
Watershed coordinator should attend seminars that provide information that is beneficial to resource based industries (agriculture, aquaculture, etc)

24. Communication
Select small projects in highly visible areas where success is easily attainable
Celebrate these successes through media such as newspaper, newsletters, Facebook, , fliers, and website
Express interest in resource based industries by individual visits showing true interest in their livelihood
Always communicate to the level of your audience

26. Involvement
Ensure that educational presentations to public schools are paired with “hands on activities.”
Watershed planning should involve all stakeholders, where everyone has opportunity for input (this takes time)
Bring major landholders on side (farmers). Start with the committed, celebrate their involvement, and others will follow

29. Leadership
Success within watersheds is directly correlated with good leadership
Leadership usually has a direct relationship to funding
Individuals involved in leadership roles must have people skills
Leadership is measured by the community through success stories and work ethic

31. Recognition follows success within watersheds
Provincially recognized in 2006
Municipally recognized 2009

32. Recognition follows success within watersheds
2012 Canada Recreational Fisheries Award

33. Questions?