Invasive Exotics Management and Control: Making it Happen On-the-Ground

Invasive species prioritization and management at a state-wide land trust

Julie Richburg

Friday, October 17, 2008 - 3:30-4:00

Non-native invasive species are the single greatest threat to biodiversity on the more than 25,000 acres owned by The Trustees of Reservations, a Massachusetts land trust. Guidelines have been developed to prioritize our invasive plant control efforts, ensuring that finite dollars and human resources are used most effectively to target significant natural resources. Since 2005, The Trustees have been aggressively tackling invasive species across our properties supported by numerous partners including the Massachusetts Landowner Incentive Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, volunteers, private foundations and institutions. Successful control has led to the increase of rare species populations and improvement of key habitats including grasslands, barrier beaches, barrens, and calcareous cliffs. Control methods have included handpulling with volunteers, tarping, application of herbicides, release of biocontrol agents, and mowing. Having well thought out plans that are realistic and based on prioritization in combination with knowledge of control options and access to financial and/or volunteer resources has proved critical to success. Volunteers are now being trained to support early detection/rapid response efforts and to educate our neighbors on the problems associated with invasive species. These efforts will be key to protecting biodiversity on our properties, especially as climate change may allow new invasive species to establish within Massachusetts.

Keywords: CONTROL, PRIORITIZATION METHOD, RESTORATION, INVASIVE SPECIES, MANAGEMENT