The Linda Loring Nature Foundation, located on Nantucket Island, has been working since 2018 on habitat restoration by removing non-native invasive species, particularly Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii). The Linda Loring Nature Foundation (LLNF) is a conservation land trust of approximately 275 acres. The existing vegetation consists of a mix of sandplain grasslands, sandplain heathlands, coastal shrublands, and extensive wetland habitats. These habitats, particularly the sandplain grasslands, have been shaped over time by a unique glacial history, maritime climate, and periodic disturbances such as fire and salt spray. The LLNF is also host to a number of rare plant species including sandplain grassland specialists such as New England blazing star (Liatris novae-angliae), sandplain blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium fuscatum), and bushy rockrose (Crocanthemum dumosum) among others.

In recent decades, the landscape has been invaded by Japanese black pine, a nonnative invasive tree native to Japan and China. This fast-growing tree was originally planted in the early 1900’s to provide a windbreak. However, Japanese black pine is susceptible to a native turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus terebrans) feeding on the inner bark of the lower four feet of the trunk and the tree can wind up as standing dead soon after reaching maturity. What were just a few trees decades ago are now large stands encroaching on sandplain grassland habitat which is host to rare and threatened plants and animals. Managing the trees is a high priority for LLNF, as these pines are fire hazards, human health hazards as dead snags, and an ecological issue – a threat to native biodiversity.
This project marks a turning point in land management at LLNF. By removing the invasive Japanese black pines, the canopy is opened up promoting growth and expansion of the grasslands and native heathlands beneath. The removal of the trees reintroduces the landscape to the wind and salt spray which helped shape the landscape originally.

Within the treatment areas, we have recorded over 140 recorded individuals of the State-listed species of special concern, Sandplain blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium fuscatum). This species requires open, sandplain grassland and heathland habitat. The Japanese black pine trees are encroaching on these populations crowding and shading them out.

In December of 2018, the Linda Loring Nature Foundation was awarded a $48,200 grant from the MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program to create and improve grassland habitats by removing non-native invasive tree species, thus initiating this project. Since then, additional funds have been secured through the Robert F. Schumann Foundation in the name of grassland bird diversity (2020, $51,000) and through the Northeast Regional Conservation Needs Program (2018-present, $50,500 to date) as part of a native pollinator habitats project.

We recently completed the latest round of tree cutting in early 2021. Winter is the best time to manage Japanese black pine on Nantucket. Similar pines, like the native pitch pine (Pinus rigida) habitat is a priority. Because of this, there is a state-mandated moratorium on pine removal (of all species) during bat breeding season between June 1 and July 31. Any pitch pines that were present within the management areas at LLNF were spared during the removal process.

To date, approximately 10 acres of Japanese black pine stands have been cut, chipped, and removed from the site. This acreage does not take into account the “effective area”. The effective areas includes the surrounding acreage that is impacted by the removal of the pine stands. We estimate that 50-75 acres of habitat are impacted by the removal of these pines. The restoration of off-shore winds and salt spray reintroduces these ecological processes that have long been absent across parts of the landscape. The episodic disturbances created by these processes will help maintain the sandplain grassland habitats by limiting ecological succession.
Following the cutting and removal of woody debris, the LLNF staff monitor the treatment areas for regrowth. We have used a combination of vegetation transects and photo monitoring to capture the changes post-restoration. Part of the restoration process is to see what plants occupy the areas that are now clear of Japanese black pines. The recent addition of the Schumann Foundation grant has allowed us to incorporate drone surveys to use digital imagery to calculate vegetation change.
To date there hasn’t been any addition of seeds or other plant material to the restoration sites. There are native grasses and forbs in the immediate surrounding areas that have naturally seeded in and there is the potential for seeds that are still in the soil that have been long-dormant (in the seedbank).

Since 2018, we have seen the restoration areas revegetated with many native species including black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium), and Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) as well as annual and perennial native wildflowers including multiple aster and goldenrod species. A few non-native species such as shrub honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.) were pulled when found (only a few individuals). We are still monitoring, so more results from this work will be released in future years.

One exciting thing to come up has been a spectacular display of pink lady slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule) at the western-most management site. While this area has had lady slippers in the past, the removal of the Japanese black pines spurred the emergence of many more blooms and vegetative individuals than previously seen.

In the coming years, the LLNF will continue to manage the Japanese black pine on the property; removing pine cones, clipping new sprouts, and cutting down larger stands. We will also continue to monitor the restoration areas for vegetation and avian species compositions.

To learn more about the management progress or to find out about land management at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, visit www.llnf.org or contact director of research and education Sarah Bois at stbois@llnf.org.

Before and after Japanese black pine management. Remaining pines in the “after” photo are native pitch pines.

Before and after Japanese black pine management along Eel Point Road. Remaining pines in the “after” photo are native pitch pines.

Pink lady slipper orchid sprouting from a pine cut area in the spring of 2020.