Nature Conservancy of Canada
Kingboro Securement Project
The Kingsboro Securement Project led to the protection and enhancement of vital wildlife habitat that will provide food and shelter for a variety of flora and fauna through the creation of a 228 acre (92 hectare) nature reserve in Eastern Kings County, PEI. This protection also allowed for the protection of potential habitat for the following species at risk including: Eastern Wood Pee-wee (a species of Special Concern), and Rusty Blackbird (also a species of Special Concern). Located in the eastern King's habitat corridor, the Kingsboro Forest property is located in one of the largest remaining forest corridors in the province. The majority of the property (88%) is upland forest. Examples of species in the forest ecosystem include: black spruce (Picea mariana), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum).
The remainder of the land cover (12%) consists of freshwater wetland and bog habitat. Bogs are not common on PEI, and protecting bog habitat of this size is significant. The property is located less than 500 m west from the East Baltic Bog provincial protected area, with a few parcels of privately-owned land in between. A watercourse called North Lake Creek connects East Baltic Bog with the bog on the Kingsboro property. East Baltic Bog is the best remaining domed bog left in a natural state in Prince Edward Island. Characterized by spongy peat moss and acidic soil, bogs are naturally uncommon in PEI.
With the East Baltic Bog to the east, the Kingsboro Forest project is a key link between established protected areas in the eastern part of PEI. Approximately 1 km south of the property is Basin Head Marine Protected and Basin Head Sand Dune protected area. The Basin Head Marine Protected Area (MPA) was designated in 2005 with the purpose of conserving a unique species of Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), and its habitat. This particular type of Irish moss exists nowhere else in the world, except within the boundaries of the Basin Head MPA. The Basin Head ecosystem is inhabited by a rich diversity of marine plants, invertebrates, fish, mammals, and birds, and covers an area of 2,277 hectares. (DFO, 2009).