Over the past two years, we have engaged in selective brush cutting on MLT property in order to restore those areas to their original grasslands condition. After some initial concern or objection from a few neighbors, the reaction to that work has been overwhelmingly positive. With our fund raising appeals last year we received quite a few thank you notes expressing pleasure with the results of the brush cutting work. As a result, and because we believe that it is important work, we plan to continue both brush cutting and the removal of dead pine trees. However, we want to remind you of the reasons why we undertook that brush cutting in the first place.
Approximately six years ago we became aware of an effort by local conservation organizations to restore moorlands to their original coastal grassland habitat. The Nature Conservancy had determined that certain areas of Nantucket were of "global significance" because they contain sandplain grasslands which exist in only a few places around the world. However, those grasslands were rapidly being overtaken by other vegetation including Scrub Oak, Heather, Huckleberry, Poison Ivy, etc. Most significantly, the loss of sandplain grasslands threatened the Northern Harrier Hawk (also known as the 'Marsh Hawk'). As their natural habitat disappeared, their numbers declined precipitously until this great raptor was placed on the State's list of "threatened" species.
Those of you who can remember what Tristram's Landing looked like 40 years ago will recall that it was mostly sandplain grassland. In the years since, the area has been heavily over grown with Japanese Pine, Scrub Oak and other vegetation which significantly eliminated the grassland areas.
Approximately eleven years ago the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife introduced a program to reclaim the sandplain grasslands and restore harrier habitat, known as the "Uplands Program". It encourages reclamation of harrier habitat by cutting and burning the invading vegetation.
After studying the program, conferring with local and State officials and other conservation organizations and observing the results of the Uplands Program along the Milestone Road, MLT became convinced that it was appropriate that we make the same effort on lands which we own in Madaket. The work began in the fall of 2003 and has continued each year since then. Because of the proximity to houses, we elected not to do any burning although we were encouraged to consider doing so. Burning promotes the regeneration of native grasses. We do not intend to conduct any burning on MLT properties.
We believe that the brush cutting is an appropriate and responsible activity. We are a conservation foundation, not a social club, and as such we are stewards for approximately 65 acres of land, including the beach which extends from Long Pond to the Madaket public beach. Historically, most of our efforts have been concentrated on managing the beach and the parking area and access road to the beach, as well as removing hundreds of dead pine trees from around Tristram's Landing. However, we also believe in the importance of being good stewards of the moorlands which we own and we have been persuaded by public officials and other conservation organizations that the fight to restore harrier habitat and sandplain grasslands is worth joining.
We need your support, financially and otherwise, to do all of these things. We hope you will support us and we welcome your input with regard to any of our projects.
* ADDITIONAL LINKS
• Bartletts Tree Service • The UpLands Program • MA Div of Fish & Wildlife
• The Nature Conservency • MA List of Endangered Species
• MA Audubon Society • Google Earth