Local climate resiliency groups work to improve biodiversity with ... - The Salem News

Local climate resiliency groups work to improve biodiversity with native plants | News | salemnews.com

Bright purple New England Asters, pink-flowered butterfly milkweed, and vibrant sugar maple trees are all iconic native plants that a Massachusetts native would likely recognize, even if they don’t know the names. These native plants are not only important to the region’s aesthetics, but integral to the continued environmental resiliency of the state in the face of a changing climate.

Native plants are natural parts of our ecosystem that have evolved and adapted to the local environments. With these native plants remaining an essential part of the region’s biological community for generations, local fauna and pollinators come to depend on these plants for food and shelter, say local climate resilience groups.

Salem Sound Coastwatch, Salem Native Nursery, and Swampscott’s Climate Action Committee are just a few local environmental groups that are working to preserve, expand, and educate the public about native plants and the many benefits they provide our ecosystem.

On Sept. 9, 30 volunteers from Salem Sound Coastwatch, Salem Native Nursery, and the public planted 125 native plants belonging to 35 different species across Winter Island.

“The project had three goals. The first goal was to reduce erosion along the stone dust trail. The second goal was to beautify the edges of the trail for pedestrians. and the third goal was, as with our other projects, to improve pollinator habitat, and biodiversity, by providing those animals and insects with that ideal habitat space where they can thrive,” said Shawn Small, of Salem Native Nursery, a volunteer organization established in 2021 that works to educate the public on native plants, support local environmental projects, and encourage native plant use at home and in public spaces.

Barbara Warren, Director of Salem Sound Coastwatch, first approached Salem Native Nursery about installing plants at Winter Island on the stone dust path. Then, on July 27, members of Salem Native Nursery and Warren went on a site walk to assess which areas would be most beneficial to plant in based on current and expected future habitat conditions. The incoming freshmen class at Salem State University was also able to assist as part of their day of service on Sept. 1, as they helped to prepare the sites for the planting the following week.

“These plants are adapted to the New England climate and are better able to handle changing climate conditions as opposed to non-native or ornamental plants,” said Small. “They’ll also improve erosion control because they’re better adapted to the soil conditions that exist in those wetlands, so the roots will spread more rapidly underground.”

Other climate resilience groups across the North Shore are making initiatives to improve and preserve native plants a priority. In Swampscott, Samuel Snitovsky, a member of the town’s Climate Action Committee, is working to ensure that the microforest at the edge of the Olmsted Historic District, planted last year by Swampscott Conservancy, remains in place.

After a Select Board meeting on Sept. 6, in which board members addressed complaints from residents about the aesthetics of the microforest located at the intersection of Walker and Paradise roads, members of the Climate Action Committee, like Snitovsky and Suzanne Hale, became concerned that the site could be removed without being given the necessary time to grow.

“Right now, it does actively need to be weeded and maintained. But eventually, the idea is that the native plants will be strong enough to be resilient to invasive species, weeds, and other things all on their own,” said Snitovsky. “At this point it’s just very new, but is actually pretty well-off based on how it should be growing on the timeline of microforests. (...) There are ways that these places can be ‘aesthetically pleasing’, native plants also include things like native flowers.”

The day after the Select Board meeting, Snitovsky began collecting signatures for an online petition to preserve the microforest.

“When I first posted the petition, I originally thought that just people from the Climate Action Committee would sign it. But the next night we were up to something like 100 signatures, and then 200 the next day, and now we’re almost at 400. So actually seeing that people are willing to take the time out of their day to care about this is great,” he said.

Microforests, while typically occupying a relatively small green space, contain densely planted native species that are designed to emulate a native forest environment. These sites are intended to promote native biodiversity, preserving the habitat for insects, birds, and small mammals. Beyond this, microforests also contribute to Swampscott’s overall carbon sequestration, improve air quality, and provide residents the opportunity to connect with nature while in the heart of town.

“I think another big benefit is community education,” said Snitovsky. “Even with smaller sites like the one in Swampscott, people in town are going to be walking around it a lot, see the plants, and think ‘What is this?’ and when they Google it or whatever else, they’re going to find out about the benefits to animals, insects, plants, and all that. So while it’s a small piece of land, I think it can do a lot to start a conversation about the environment and get people excited about being informed.”