By James Bowler

Province invests in new seedlings for Prince Albert forests

Apr 1, 2013 | 6:13 AM

The provincial government signed an agreement with local forest nursery PRT to grow and store 2.3 million seedlings, which will be planted in four specific areas next spring called the Island Forests.

“The island forests are a collection of forests that surround Prince Albert, there are four of them,” said David Stevenson, the manager of forest operations and compliance.

“There is the Camwood Forest near Camwood; there is the Nisbet forest which is immediately around Prince Albert. The Fort La Corne Forest, which is to the east of Prince Albert, mainly near the river, and the Torch Forest which is near Love.”

Stevenson said this is all part of the forest service renewal program, and PRT has been involved with the government under contract for many years.

“This is a multi-year contract we’ve had with PRT,” said Stevenson. “Since 1997 we’ve had an arrangement with PRT when they took over the old government tree nursery in Prince Albert.”

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Stevenson explained the seedlings take about a year or so to grow to a size where they are able to survive on their own in these forests.

These specific trees, which came to a cost of $975,000, are set to be planted over 2014-15.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim