The recent devastation of the unique ecosystem known as the Montague Plains, carried out under the direction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Fish & Wildlife, ostensibly to “restore a high canopy forest” is very troubling to say the least.
The Plains have been, as far back as anyone can remember, a unique pitch pine sand barren located over an aquifer, designated by the state as “land of special interest” and the only area of its type in Massachusetts outside of Cape cod. Indeed it was this designation that in part prevented Northeast Utilities from building the nuclear power plant on the Plains back in the 1970s.
The flora and fauna that have flourished in this rare environment, the birds, snakes, rabbits, turtles, salamanders — all gone: nothing left but an ugly dead brown desert. Generations of local people have foraged for the berries and wild mushrooms that grew in abundance there — no more, all gone and unlikely to return given the “open” condition the Plains are left in. No, the squirrels, chipmunks and mice will flourish and will no doubt become a problem to be dealt with in years to come.
Some questions arise regarding this project, including:
Was any attempt made by Fish & Wildlife to catalogue the unique flora and fauna of the area before making a decision to “restore” the area?
Why was there no publicity or opportunity for public input regarding this until after the fact: unlike the proposal to place rattlesnakes on an island in the Quabbin?
No doubt the direct beneficiaries of this ill-conceived project were the loggers who garnered the state contract to clear this huge area, given the current low prices for timber.
In the words of Joni Mitchell: “You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.”
Peter and Cecilia Tusinski
Leyden