CHAPPAQUIDDICK ISLAND, Mass. – The Trustees of Reservations today announced that their management plan to reduce the risk of a southern pine beetle infestation at Wasque will commence on Feb. 28. The plan calls for a selective thinning of Wasque’s mature pitch pine forests.

“Without this work, we run a greater risk of an infestation,” said Darci Schofield, Islands Director for The Trustees. “Wasque’s pitch pine forests are currently very dense, creating ideal conditions for the southern pine beetle to spread and kill many mature trees.”

Starting on Feb. 28, Wasque will be closed to the public for at least 30 days to allow foresters to reduce tree density to healthy recommended levels. Trees will be selectively thinned on 28 acres. Smaller branches and crowns will be masticated on site, while larger logs will be stacked in designated areas at least 50 feet from boundaries and roads to decompose naturally.

Signs will be posted at the entrance and on trail entrances to let the public know the reservation is closed while the work takes place.

The work is funded by a $75,000 grant from the MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program.

About The Trustees

Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for over 130 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, The Trustees is the nation’s first preservation and conservation organization, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit, supported by members, friends and donors and our 124 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. www.thetrustees.org.