The Challenge
Changes in weather patterns and increases in temperature, droughts, and wildfires motivated this project. As weather patterns shift, the state may become hospitable to new invasive plants, insects, and pathogen species and those already here will increase in their range and abundance, particularly in ecosystems already stressed from drought, temperature changes, and wildfires.
Project Alignment with ResilientMass Plan Priority Actions
The Invasive Species Emergency Response Plan project addresses 2023 ResilientMass Plan and 2022 MA Climate Assessment Priority Impacts: Shifting Distribution of Native and Invasive Species, and Loss of biodiversity, habitats, and native species due to climate change in the Natural Resources Sector.
The project also aligns with the following 2023 ResilientMass Plan goals:
- Science-based and Informed Decision-Making
- Implement Adaptation Actions for Communities and Ecosystems
- Climate mitigation
Climate Resilience Project Scope
DCR's Bureau of Forestry will develop a detailed response plan for newly introduced invasive species, as well as those pests of regulatory concern with high risk of introduction. The plan will outline emergency response operations to respond to emerging pests, including the eradication or mitigation actions to be taken, long-term goals, and key programs and positions involved.
Metrics and Results
In FY25, the agency secured a vendor to write the Invasive Species Emergency Response Plan. The report provides two primary products. The first is a decision making framework. It is set up as a flow chart and describes recommended actions.
The second part was to develop example Species Management Plans to help assist with monitoring and management of specific species.
Additionally, the agency was able to treat 153 individual ash trees at Mohawk Trail and Tolland State Forests from the invasive Emerald Ash Borer beetle; as well as, 809 individual eastern hemlock trees at trees at Blue Hills Reservation, Mt. Wachusett State Reservation, Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, Walden Pond State Reservation, and Tolland State Forest from the invasive Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. The Agency also carried out invasive removals and native replanting at Scusset Beach state Reservation, and at Borderland and Wompatuck State Parks.
Further Action
DCR will implement recommendations from the Plan. This project is now complete.