About The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Community Initiative (PBCI)
Page Updated 8/5/2011
To involve the regional community in preventing the further fragmentation and degradation of the southeastern Massachusetts pine barrens.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Pine Barrens at Risk
Myles Standish State Forest (MSSF) in southeastern Massachusetts contains the second largest unbroken tract of rare pitch-pine barrens remaining in the world. Spanning nearly 15,000 acres, MSSF is the second largest publicly held land in the Commonwealth. Yet, with Plymouth County being the fastest population-growing area in the state, development and degradation through careless use are threatening the sustainability of the region’s pine barrens. In order to reverse this trend, we need your help!
The intention of the Friends of MSSF to promote and protect the region’s pine barrens has received strong support from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Our goal is to develop the Pine Barrens Community Initiative (PBCI) to promote the region’s pine barrens as an endangered ecosystem that all residents can help to preserve and to protect the pine barrens from further fragmentation, invasive plants and general degradation.
History of the Pine Barrens Community Initiative
The Pine Barrens Community Initiative (PBCI) is a focused effort of the Friends of Myles Standish State Forest (FMSSF) and our partners to preserve the pine barrens region of southeastern Massachusetts. The FMSSF was organized by local volunteers in May 2007 to foster sustainable recreation and help preserve the fragile ecosystem of the Myles Standish State Forest. We soon realized that the forest does not end at the boundary line. To preserve the forest, we need to preserve the entire pine barrens region!
With the help of Robb Johnson, Southeast Massachusetts Program Director for The Nature Conservancy and Paul Gregory, DCR Assistant Management Forester, we have developed a three-fold program to:
- Collect data on indigenous plants for propagation and climate change studies, and develop source plants for propagation;
- Provide property owners, businesses, and agencies with native plants of local origin for restoration projects and native landscaping, and encourage community support of the local pine barrens ecology;
- Produce educational materials and programs on native and invasive plants, wildlife, fire safety, water quality, and the effects of climate change specific to the pine barrens.
In June 2010, the Friends of MSSF received a $5,000 grant from the A.D. Makepeace Neighborhood Fund to help expand and develop the PBCI program. We budget the project as funding allows, using the grant funds, support from DCR, donations to the Friends of Myles Standish State Forest, Inc. and in-kind contributions to carry out the initiative.
The PBCI includes: producing educational materials and programs to promote the preservation of SE MA pine barrens; creating a database of indigenous plants; developing indigenous plant sources for restoration projects and for home and business landscaping, supporting native birds and wildlife, invasive plant removal and collecting data for a climate change database.
Education
Too few people in southeastern MA understand the rare and endangered nature of the pine barrens ecosystem in which they live. Education and promotion is key to protecting the pine barrens and fostering sustainable living within the region.
- Produce educational materials/programs on fire safety, water quality, native and invasive plants, wildlife and the effects of climate change specific to pine barrens.
- Create map of regional pine barrens variations and quality.
- Develop one-page fact sheet on pine barrens ecology for distribution to forest visitors and for mailing.
- Create and print booklet on sustainable living within pine barrens ecosystem.
- Compile and distribute “Welcome to the Pine Barrens” packet to property development companies, realtors, and welcome groups.
- Continue outreach on the importance of maintaining a healthy pine barrens ecosystem through media, photo contest, guided hikes, tours, and educational forums and public events.
- Develop pine barrens resource web site, including a service for nature photo identification and questions.
Status:
- Collecting materials for educational and promotional component. Committee formed to interview artists for diagrammatic illustrations. Produced 2 community TV programs based on forums, The Wonders of the MSSF Pine Barrens (with TNC) and Global Climate Change (with Plymouth Area League of Women Voters). 2nd Annual Friends of MSSF photo contest underway. Producing e-newsletters, hosting web site (www.friendsmssf.com.
- Offering informational hiking/birding activities (http://www.meetup.com/Friends-of-Myles-Standish-SF-Hiking-Meetup-Group).
- Planning 4th annual community fishing event (September 25, 2010).
- Forest map provided by DCR Forestry.
Native Plant Propagation/Distribution, Invasive Plant Eradication, Wildlife Support
Lack of sources for indigenous plants prevents property owners from installing and maintaining native landscaping. We encourage native plantings and provide native plants to the community to reduce fragmentation, support wildlife, and protect ground water.
- Establish an “Interpretive Native Plant Garden” at MSSF Headquarters. Set up greenhouse, as primary planting, propagation, recruitment and educational center.
- Maintain East Entrance Native Plant Garden to help promote native plant landscapes.
- Encourage native planting on public and private property through the “Certified Pine Barrens Ecosystem” program (conversion of 30% of landscape receives special designation and recognition).
- Obtain seeds and cuttings of indigenous plants. Establish permanent source plantings for production.
- Create database to track propagation dates/techniques/results.
- Distribute plants at low or no cost to partners and project participants. Cooperate with local nurseries to develop plant stock for wider distribution.
- Form partnerships for regional invasive plant removal and native restoration projects.
- Begin native bird support group.
Status:
- Currently collecting and propagating indigenous plants with support from the Arnold Arboretum, Boston, MA.
- Demonstration native plant garden established at East Entrance.
- Propagation area established at Headquarters.
- PBCI Native Bird Support Group underway with support from DCR and MA Fish and Wildlife—monitoring 22 nesting boxes in MSSF, 12 in the backyards of volunteers.
- Identifying invasive plants, working with DCR forestry on possible removal project, creating booklet of 10 “Most Wanted” invasive plants.
Climate Change Mitigation and Data Collection
Climate change is already affecting the pine barrens of MSSF. We have identified three areas for climate change study participation.
- Study and protect frost pockets. MSSF contains 32 frost pockets, topographical depressions prone to unseasonable frost that support several rare species of plants and animals. Warming temperatures and destructive influences threaten the existence of frost pockets.
- Develop phenological observation program (i.e., observe and record dates when certain plants open leaves, go into flower, set fruit, produce ripe seed, and go dormant). May provide important scientific evidence of climate change.
- Organize volunteer participation in the Mass Audubon Breeding Bird Atlas 2 monitoring program in MSSF and region wide.
Status:
- Held two BBA2 meetings and training events. Bird monitoring in effect.
- Began pheno-data collection center on the web site www.salicicola.com, (contains a database of plant photos—334 species from MSSF— taken during different seasons since 2005/6; accumulated data to become a source of comparison over time. The checklist is published at salicicola.com under "Checklists". The list is updated a couple times a year.
- Hector Galbraith, PhD, Director of the Climate Change Initiative, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, has agreed to consult on the climate change aspects of the PBCI program.
Progress Evaluation and Measurement
PBCI Committee has created a program evaluation spreadsheet which will be publicly available online at www.friendsmssf.com to track program milestones. Progress reports are sent to funding agencies and posted online every six months (first one due November 10, 2010).
Is It Native? You can find out here!
If you need help identifying a plant, send us your picture.
If you can provide identification for a posted photo, please do so.
View photos sent in by friends like you and already labeled.
If you still need help identifying a plant, send us a picture. Irina Kadis, co-creator of salicicola.com, will try to identify it for you.
Would you like to help?
Please support the Friends of Myles Standish State Forest (FMSSF) and the Southeast Massachusetts Pine Barrens Community Initiative. Here's how:
1) Join FMSSF. We are an all volunteer tax exempt 501(c)(3) group. All donations benefit the forest and the Pine Barrens Community Initiative.
2) Participate in the Pine Barrens Home Yard and Garden Certification Program. Help preserve the southeastern MA pine barrens region by nurturing indigenous plants on your property. We will help you certify your home or business landscape as a beneficial pine barrens ecosystem. Contact us to find out more.
3) Volunteer to make a great forest even better. Join the FMSSF Hiking and Birding Meetup Group or sign up for the FMSSF e-newsletter for work party dates and information.
Explore a special feature of pine barrens—frost pockets
Alexey Zinovjev and Irina Kadis have uploaded a short illustrated note on their website www.salicicola.com about frost pockets with pictures taken this summer. You will first see a cover photo of a wood lily taken on the margin of one of MSSF's frost pockets. To get to the frost pocket story, click on "Exploring Frost Pockets" under "Notes".
For those who enjoy large-screen monitors, Alexey has designed a more technologically advance version of the same show. Here is a direct link to Exploring Frost Pockets.
Please remember that frost pockets are one of the world's rare and most endangered ecosystems. If you visit, visit with care.