Roundtable

On January 31st, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy convened and hosted a roundtable discussion examining how the combined threats of pests and pathogens, invasive plants, and climate change might interact and what impact these interactions will have on the Emerald Necklace. Among those attending were representatives from Massachusetts Audubon, New England Wildflower Society, Arnold Arboretum, Boston Parks and Recreation, the Town of Brookline, and Department of Conservation and Recreation and included experts in the fields of agronomy, climate change, entomology, forestry, landscape architecture and more. Their recommendations include:

• New plantings should not only conform to the character of the Olmsted vision, but be tough and hardy, and suited for the higher temperatures and unpredictable rainfall that are predicted in the years to come due to climate change.

• Soil health is often overlooked and testing and amending the soil is one of the most cost-effective ways to nurture healthy plants that can resist disease, pests, and competition from invasive plants.

• Diversity of plantings ensure that even if one species is decimated by pests, disease, or the impacts of climate change, there will be enough species overall to ensure that some will still be able to adapt and survive.

Participants:

Tom Brady, Arborist and Tree Warden, Brookline Parks & Open Space

Bob Childs, Entomologist, Shade Tree Lab, UMASS Extension

Peter Del Tredici, Research Scientist, Arnold Arboretum

Margaret Dyson, Director of Historic Parks, Boston Parks Dept

Ted Elliman, Vegetation Management Coordinator, New England Wildflower Society

Lanae Handy, Project Manager, Franklin Park Coalition

Marion Pressley, Landscape Architect, Pressley Associates

Eric Seaborn, Urban Forestry Division, Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation

Chris Tripler, Forest Ecologist, Professor, Endicott College

Lou Wagner, Regional Scientist, Mass Audubon

Don Eunson, Senior Project Manager, Emerald Necklace Conservancy

Catherine Pedemonti, Project Manager, Emerald Necklace Conservancy

Jason Knerr, Project Assistant, Emerald Necklace Conservancy