The Trustees of Reservations received a state grant to help Vineyard conservationists in the fight against southern pine beetles.
The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) awarded a $75,000 grant to the Trustees so the nonprofit can “thin pitch pine and scrub oak barrens at Wasque Reservation” on Chappaquiddick Island to “reduce the risk of an invasive southern pine beetle outbreak,” according to a press release.
Southern pine beetles are insects that have become a scourge on Vineyard woodlands. The females of the species chew into pine trees and carve tunnels inside to lay eggs and release pheromones to attract males, a process that ultimately overwhelms the plant. They have encroached on various parts of the Island, and in December, forced the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation to close trails in West Chop Woods in Vineyard Haven because of dead trees killed by the beetles. The beetles have even been found in some residential areas.
While the Trustees haven’t detected the beetles on Wasque, the conservation group is removing pitch pines on about 28 acres as a proactive measure to protect the habitat. Sherriff’s Meadow also thinned the woods at Caroline Tuthill Preserve in Edgartown to enable the mature pine forest to survive a potential outbreak.
“Martha’s Vineyard has already experienced the significant loss of over 1,000 acres to this pest, which is spreading north due to climate change,” Mary Dettloff, Trustees director of public relations, said.
Dettloff added that “Wasque’s pitch pine stands are very dense” and create the ideal conditions for the beetles to spread and kill mature trees. This can make the forest more susceptible to wildfires and impact wildlife that depend on the forest.
“Selective thinning of the pitch pine will reduce tree crowding, improve airflow (which is key to preventing beetle infestations and resulting tree mortality), lowers competition for water and nutrients, strengthens remaining trees, and helps them withstand both insect and climate stressors,” Dettloff said in an email.
The award was a part of $343,985 in grants doled out from the MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program to private and municipal owners of conservation properties across the state to “improve habitat for wildlife, steward biodiversity, enhance climate resiliency, and promote outdoor recreation.” Also in Dukes County, the Buzzards Bay Coalition received $74,000 to restore sandplain grassland on Cuttyhunk Island.
“Partnership and collaboration will be essential for meeting our ambitious biodiversity goals. We rely on conservation organizations, cities and towns, private landowners, and other partners to greatly expand our impact,” Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea said in the release. “Together, we can improve habitat for wildlife while also boosting outdoor recreation opportunities.”
The release states that the grant program has funded 125 projects since 2015 that have restored over 4,900 acres of wildlife habitat. According to the state Department of Fish and Game, over 28 percent of the state is permanently protected, but “many habitats that species rely on require ongoing stewardship and care.” But many habitats, the department said, are degraded, and “vulnerable wildlife face increasing threats from extreme weather and destructive pests and pathogens fueled by climate change.”
