Parks Service plans to remove invasive species and plant thousands of new trees in the North and South Gardens

1. North and South GardenNorth and South Garden
Native Plant RestorationNative Plant Restoration
Patti Rafferty, Chief Resource StewardshipPatti Rafferty, Chief Resource Stewardship
patricia_rafferty@nps.govpatricia_rafferty@nps.gov
718-354-4625718-354-4625
National Park ServiceNational Park Service
U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the Interior
Gateway National Recreation AreaGateway National Recreation Area

3. General Project OverviewGeneral Project Overview
Remove invasive plants from 14 acres.
Plant native vegetation to restore
biodiversity and habitat functions.
Develop and implement long term
monitoring
Utilize adaptive management to maintain
native plant communities.
Increase capacity to manage invasive plants
in other NPS and NYC sites
North GardenNorth Garden
South Garden
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway
Parks Conservancy

4. Problems with Invasive PlantsProblems with Invasive Plants
What Are Invasive Plants?
-Non-native
-Reproduce rapidly
-Displace native species
-Reduce habitat and food for native insects, birds and other wildlife
-Reduce biodiversity and establish undesirable monocultures
Non-native Invasive Upland Plants
-Oriental Bittersweet
-Japanese Honeysuckle
-Porcelainberry
-Bush Honeysuckle
-Multiflora Rose

5. Project BenefitsProject Benefits
Restore biodiversity
-Remove invasive species
-Establish diverse native plant communities
-Support native wildlife – particularly insects and birds
Improve visitor experience
-Eliminating undesirable monocultures
-Enhance wildlife viewing
-Education and outreach

6. Project TimelineProject Timeline
Phase I – South GardenPhase I – South Garden
•Winter 2015 Invasive Plant Removal – Basal Bark andWinter 2015 Invasive Plant Removal – Basal Bark and
Cut StumpCut Stump
•May 2016 – Mechanical and manual removal (~ 2 acres)May 2016 – Mechanical and manual removal (~ 2 acres)
•May 2016 – Volunteer Planting (~ 2 acres)May 2016 – Volunteer Planting (~ 2 acres)
•July-August, 2016 – Invasive Plant TreatmentJuly-August, 2016 – Invasive Plant Treatment
•September 2016 – Volunteer Planting (~ 4 acres)September 2016 – Volunteer Planting (~ 4 acres)
•Fall 2016- Fall 2017 – Follow-up TreatmentsFall 2016- Fall 2017 – Follow-up Treatments
•Long-term managementLong-term management
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

7. Project TimelineProject Timeline
Phase II – North GardenPhase II – North Garden
•September – October 2016 - Invasive Plant RemovalSeptember – October 2016 - Invasive Plant Removal
•May 2017 – Volunteer Planting (~ 3 acres)May 2017 – Volunteer Planting (~ 3 acres)
•July-August, 2017 – Invasive Plant TreatmentJuly-August, 2017 – Invasive Plant Treatment
•September 2017 – Volunteer Planting (~ 4 acres)September 2017 – Volunteer Planting (~ 4 acres)
•Fall 2017- Fall 2018 – Follow-up TreatmentsFall 2017- Fall 2018 – Follow-up Treatments
•Long-term managementLong-term management
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

8. After Invasive Plant RemovalAfter Invasive Plant Removal
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

9. RestoratioRestoratio
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Planning:Planning:
LandscapeLandscape
MappingMapping

10. • Identify management concerns
• Identify and evaluate invasive
treatment options
• Identify existing vegetation to
inform restoration planting
• Provide baseline condition to
evaluate effectiveness of project
over time
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Planning:Planning:
SouthSouth
GardenGarden
MappingMapping

11. RestoratioRestoratio
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Planning:Planning:
SoilsSoils
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

12. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A
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Planning:Planning:
ElevationElevation

13. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A
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Planning:Planning:
PlantingPlanting
ZonesZones

14. May 13-15,May 13-15,
20162016
VolunteerVolunteer
PlantingPlanting
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

15. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A
RestoratioRestoratio
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TimelineTimeline

16. How can you get involved?How can you get involved?
Volunteer!!!
Contact:
Keith White
Volunteer Coordinator for Gateway
718-354-5109
Keith_White@nps.gov
Daphne Yun
Public Affairs
718-354-4602
Daphne_Yun@nps.gov
Patti Rafferty
Chief, Resource Stewardship
718-354-4625
Patricia_rafferty@nps.gov