The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action takes action to safeguard the environment and protect the province’s air, land and water resources. The department is also responsible for conservation, sustainable management and wise use of our forests, fish and wildlife resources.
Some of the priorities include:
- Achieving Net Zero by 2040 by reducing emissions, switching to cleaner sources of energy, and pursuing innovation and transformational change
- Implementing carbon mitigation and adaptation plans to address the effects of climate change
- Supporting the protection and responsible use of our water resources
Structure and Employees
Provincial Forest
The Provincial Forests section is responsible for the sustainable management of 18,700 ha of publicly owned forest. This is done through monitoring of the growth and health of the Provincial Forest, modeling of forest management options, delivery of forest management treatments to achieve multiple benefits from the forest through tenders or Provincial Forest section crews, building partnerships with community groups, and periodic public consultations. In addition, the Section provides leadership in forest fire management for all lands, manages provincial forests, delivers forest education and technical information programs for youth and the general public, and provides public access to maps at the district offices.
Production Development
The Production Development section works to improve the quality and growth of selected tree species through intensive selection and breeding programs at the J. Frank Gaudet Tree Nursery in West Royalty. Tree and shrub seedlings are produced for reforestation programs on private and provincial forest lands, landscaping projects and watershed enhancement. Insect and Disease analysis and research is also conducted by nursery staff.
Resource Inventory and Modelling
The Resource Inventory and Modeling program provides inventory and mapping support for the agriculture and forestry community. This involves the acquisition of aerial photography, the production of land use and land cover mapping products, and the establishment and measurement of forest management plots. Other activities included monitoring forest growth and conducting special forestry projects.
Fish and Wildlife
The Fish and Wildlife section issues hunting, trapping and fishing licences and conducts training courses for trappers, firearms users and hunters. Staff work to conserve Natural Areas, Wildlife Management Areas and ponds and wetlands, conduct wildlife surveys and studies, manage freshwater fisheries and species at risk programs and provide information on Island wildlife to the public, wildlife user groups and national agencies.
Field Services
The Field Services program provides technical advice and financial assistance to Island land owners who want to manage their forest lands for any number of goals and values through the Forest Enhancement Program.
Public lands such as Provincial Forests and Wildlife Management areas are managed through Field Services to address a variety of public benefits. These benefits include but are not limited to the conservation of wildlife habitats, production of high value forest products, creation of places for outdoor recreation and the establishment of long term forest research.
Field Services also coordinates wildfire suppression programs across PEI.
Private Forest
The Private Forest program provides financial and technical assistance to woodlot owners for management of private owned woodlots.
Administration
Waste Reduction, Recovery and Recycling
This Section provides direction and management advice for programs that support waste reduction objectives to help: reduce the amount of waste generated in communities, recycle materials not already collected through an Island-wide recycling program, increase awareness about of the importance of reducing waste, and encourage environmental stewardship of waste resources. Additional responsibilities for this section include the Beverage Containers Program and extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs to reduce solid waste and increase the recyclability of products diverted from the Island’s waste stream.
Drinking Water and Wastewater Management
The Drinking Water and Wastewater Management section provides regulatory oversight for the construction and operation of central water supply and wastewater collection and treatment in the province, including as key components, the approval of water and wastewater system construction and up-grades, certification of system operators, monitoring of system performance and related compliance activities. In addition, the section provides interpretation and advice relating to private water well quality sampling activities.
Environmental Land Management
The Environmental Land Management section oversees a wide variety of administrative responsibilities under the Environmental Protection Act and its associated regulations. The scope of these responsibilities include environmental impact assessments, watercourse and wetland alteration approvals, petroleum/pollution prevention activities, contaminated site management, environmental record reviews, and the approval of excavation pits and recycling facilities.
PEI Analytical Laboratories
PEI Analytical Laboratories is a full service laboratory that offers a variety of testing services. The major focus at PEI Analytical Laboratories is agricultural and environmental testing. This includes dairy, feed, water, compost, manure, plant tissue, seed and soil samples. PEI Analytical Laboratories is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to the international standard for general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, ISO/IEC 17025:2005.
Water and Air Monitoring
The Watershed and Subdivision Planning section provides regulatory oversight for water wells, administers the Watershed Management Fund, monitors Island water resources and assessments of the impact of resource use and contaminants. The section provides technical support to watershed groups and advice to the public on water quality and quantity issues. It also assesses and approves subdivisions in areas of the province without official plans and bylaws. The section coordinates the Alternative Land Use Services program in partnership with the Dept. of Agriculture and Land.
efficiencyPEI
Office of Net Zero
Climate Adaptation
Agencies, Boards and Commissions
- Environmental Advisory Council
- Natural Areas Advisory Committee
- PEI Energy Corporation
- Species at Risk Advisory Committee
- Wildlife Conservation Fund Advisory Committee
Hon. Gilles Arsenault
- Deputy MinisterNorbert Carpenter
- Executive AssistantMona Dunn
- Bilingual Senior Communications OfficerKatie Cudmore
- Bilingual Senior Communications Officer, Acadian and Francophone AffairsNicole Yeba