New England Plant Conservation Program
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| New England Plant Conservation Program | |
|---|---|
| Name | New England Plant Conservation Program |
| Abbreviation | NEPCP |
| Formed | 1990s |
| Headquarters | Massachusetts |
| Type | Conservation program |
| Region served | Connecticut (U.S. state), Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont |
| Parent organization | New England Wild Flower Society |
New England Plant Conservation Program The New England Plant Conservation Program is a regional initiative dedicated to the conservation of rare and threatened flora across New England. It works with federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies including the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to coordinate inventories, recovery actions, and policy guidance. The program collaborates with academic institutions like Harvard University, University of Connecticut, and University of Massachusetts Amherst and nonprofit organizations such as the The Nature Conservancy, New England Wild Flower Society, and Conservation Law Foundation.
Overview
The program maintains regional lists, recovery plans, and conservation strategies for vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens across New England states: Connecticut (U.S. state), Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It provides technical support to state natural heritage programs such as the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program and the Maine Natural Areas Program, and coordinates with national entities including the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service. Its outputs inform endangered species listings under laws like the Endangered Species Act and guide land trusts such as Land Trust Alliance members and municipal conservation commissions in planning.
History
Established during conservation expansions of the 1990s, the program emerged amid collaborations between botanical gardens such as the Arnold Arboretum, academic herbaria like the Harvard University Herbaria, and federal research labs including the U.S. Geological Survey biology divisions. Early partners included the New England Botanical Club, the Native Plant Trust, and state agencies across New England. The initiative evolved through workshops hosted at institutions including Smith College, University of Rhode Island, and University of New Hampshire, and through funding mechanisms involving foundations such as the Lemelson Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Mission and Objectives
The program’s mission emphasizes species conservation, habitat protection, and knowledge dissemination to protect rare plants in New England. Objectives include compiling conservation assessments used by agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, producing recovery and management plans for taxa prioritized by the IUCN Red List assessments, and supporting field surveys led by institutions such as Yale University and Boston University. It aims to build capacity among botanical gardens like the New York Botanical Garden and the Missouri Botanical Garden for ex situ conservation and seed banking efforts compatible with standards from the Global Conservation Consortium.
Programs and Activities
Core activities include state and regional rare plant inventories, restoration trials, ex situ propagation, seed banking, and public outreach. Inventory work partners with university programs at University of Maine, University of Vermont, and University of Massachusetts Boston, while restoration projects have been piloted on preserves managed by The Nature Conservancy and local land trusts like the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions. Seed banking collaborations extend to repositories such as the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation and initiatives guided by organizations like the Botanic Gardens Conservation International. The program also develops conservation guidance used by agencies like the Federal Highway Administration for infrastructure projects affecting rare plant habitat.
Partnerships and Funding
The program operates through partnerships with state natural heritage programs, federal agencies—including the Environmental Protection Agency for habitat assessments—and academic partners such as Brown University and Wesleyan University. Funding has come from private foundations including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Packard Foundation, corporate philanthropy through entities like ExxonMobil Foundation, and governmental grants from the National Science Foundation and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Collaborations with botanical institutions such as the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill and herbaria including the Yale Peabody Museum support specimen-based research.
Conservation Impact and Notable Projects
Notable projects include recovery planning for taxa that occur in coastal and inland habitats, partnerships restoring populations on lands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Federation, and ex situ propagation work with botanical gardens like the United States Botanic Garden. The program’s inventories and recovery actions have influenced listings and protective measures adopted by state legislatures such as in Massachusetts General Court and influenced management at protected areas including Acadia National Park and Appalachian National Scenic Trail corridors. Collaborative research with universities including Cornell University and Dartmouth College has yielded peer-reviewed studies informing adaptive management and restoration ecology practices promoted by organizations like the Society for Ecological Restoration.
Governance and Administration
Administration has been provided through a steering committee composed of representatives from state natural heritage programs, botanical gardens, and academic herbaria such as Harvard University Herbaria and the Rhode Island Natural History Survey. Operational oversight often aligns with nonprofit entities like the New England Wild Flower Society and involves liaisons with federal partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for coastal plant issues. Governance structures emphasize science-based decision-making, regular convenings modeled after workshops hosted by institutions such as Middlebury College and Colby College, and reporting to funders including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.