Biomass Guidelines
Source: PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), Appendix 2, pp. 55–56
Forest biomass can replace fossil fuels for heating and energy. The Department has set standards for biomass harvesting. Any project that receives a permit, approval or other regulatory endorsement, financial assistance, or incentives from the Department is expected to comply with them fully.
Questions go to your local PEI Forests, Fish and Wildlife office.
Which rules apply to your project
| Pathway | Includes | What’s required |
|---|---|---|
| 1. No public investment | Privately funded projects with no Department involvement | Only compliance with existing law — for example the Environmental Protection Act and the Wildlife Conservation Act |
| 2. Public investment | Start-up, capital or operating grants and loans · silviculture or land-management incentives through Department programs (e.g. the Forest Enhancement Program, ALUS) · green credits or certification from Government | The additional standards below |
Pathway 2 also applies when a project expects Department forest management programs to be involved — for example, planting or management after harvest.
Pathway 2A — the land stays in forest
When the harvested area will remain in forest production:
- Plan first. Every harvest site needs a pre-harvest management plan that meets these standards (see Woodlot Management Plan).
- Follow the standards. Every harvest must comply with this manual’s standards.
- Block, patch and strip harvests: remove only the tree bole. Spread branches and foliage across the harvest site — no whole-tree removal.
- Commercial thinnings and other harvests: whole-tree harvesting is allowed, but stumps stay in place.
- Mapping: map every biomass harvest site by GPS, and submit the map files to the Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division.
Pathway 2B — the land is being converted
When the harvested area will become agriculture or another non-forest use:
- The harvest is exempt from the management plan requirement and from the other standards in the manual.
- The Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division monitors the site for 10 years, or until the conversion happens.
- If the conversion doesn’t happen within that time, penalties may be levied for not meeting the manual’s standards.
Based on the PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), Appendix 2, pp. 55–56. The manual’s harvest section cites these guidelines as Appendix 1. Where this guide and the manual differ, the manual governs.