Habitat Restoration

Tree Planting Program – This project works directly with local landowners to create customized site plans that identify key areas of concern that may exist and proactively address any specific land-use issues (through tree planting) – taking into account current land use practices and established native buffer resources. For the past few years BBEMA’s summer field crews have been very productive in enhancing riparian zones, hedgerows and upland landscapes across the watershed fore local wildlife species.

Our Tree Planting total so far:

2010 – planted 1000 native trees and shrubs (concentrating on enhancing hedgerows for migratory songbirds).

2011– planted 1250 native trees and shrubs (concentrating on enhancing forest along waterways for migratory songbirds).

2012 – planted 2525 native trees and shrubs (concentrating on increasing upland field edges and hedgerows for native wildlife).

2013 – planted 5208 native trees and shrubs (concentrating on riparian buffers and upland field edges).

2014 – planted 6515 native trees and shrubs (concentrating on riparian buffers and upland field edges).

2015 – planted 7325 native trees and shrubs (concentrating on increasing riparian buffers along the Wilmot and Dunk Rivers).

2016 – planted 5125 native trees and shrubs (concentrating on enhancing wildlife corridors and hedgerows adjacent to agricultural fields)

2017 – planted 5965 native trees and shrubs – additionally planted 2500 swamp milkweed plants (concentrating on riparian areas adjacent to streams and wetlands.

2018 – planted 4267 native trees and shrubs – additionally planted 1800 swamp milkweed plants (concentrating on riparian areas adjacent to streams and wetlands.

2019 – planted 4729 native trees and shrubs targeting fragmented edge/riparian corridors in agricultural landscapes.  Collaborated with agricultural landowners to increase field edges for native pollinator species through the planting of 2300 pollinator ground plants.

2020 – planted 3371 native trees and shrubs – additionally planted 1845 swamp milkweed plants, 225 Joe Pye Weed, 180 Clematis plants. (concentrating on riparian areas adjacent to streams and wetlands.

This summer BBEMA will once again be partnering with landowners on several habitat enhancement programs through planting of native tree, shrubs, wildflowers and milkweed.