CJ Cleal

C.J. Cleal has gone for some interesting walks in the woods this summer in search of black ash trees — part of an P.E.I.-wide project to preserve the species, which is culturally significant for the Mi’kmaq. As part of the project, individual black ash trees are being surveyed and mapped using GPS, and will be regularly inspected for seed production. The second phase of the project involves growing the seeds in nurseries and planting 2,000 black ash seedlings across the province. “The idea is to replenish the population of black ash because it has been depleted over the last hundred years or so,” said Cleal, who is forestry manager for the Abegweit Conservation Society. Cleal said the black ash produces seed only every seven to nine years. It also needs a mate, as there are male and female trees.