Now More Than Ever

Will you be a champion for nature?

High Ledges

With a new Congress and administration taking shape in Washington, the future of our environment may be in jeopardy. Massachusetts has long been a national leader in the fight to protect the environment. Mass Audubon, as the largest conservation nonprofit in the state, has been at the forefront of this movement, working at the federal, state, and local levels of government to fight climate change and protect the nature of Massachusetts.

Today our resolve is stronger than ever. With your help we will:

Prevent a backslide on environmental laws and progress at the federal level. Pushing for renewal of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, and advocating for continued U.S. involvement in the Paris Climate Agreement are just a few examples.

Ramp up our work at the state and local levels of government. Plenty of good work on climate change and other environmental issues is happening in cities and towns across Massachusetts. Mass Audubon will step up our efforts on Beacon Hill and in local communities for continued progress.

Work with conservation partners to promote a strong environmental agenda. In light of early signals from the new administration, we will be ever vigilant, continuing to advocate for standards that reduce carbon emissions, protect endangered species, and promote the health of children and families.

We’ve been fighting for the environment for 120 years, so we are ready for whatever comes next. But we need you.

The Bittersweet Truth

When it comes to holiday decorations, what could be better than an organic woody wreath brimming with red and yellow/orange fruits, right? Well, if you’re using Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), then your decorations could have lasting, not-so-jolly impacts. Keep reading to find out why…

Oriental Bittersweet. Photo by Tom Lautzenheiser

This invasive, non-native vine invades fields, field edges, and forests, forming dense mats that smother or strangle native trees and shrubs. Once it takes root, it’s hard to control. Many of our sanctuaries are in a constant battle with Oriental bittersweet, using mowing, hand-pulling or lopping, or herbicide to protect habitat threatened by bittersweet overgrowth.

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Do not buy bittersweet! Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

If you’re thinking “how harmful can a little clipping be?” all it takes is one bird to carry off one berry, or a seedling sprouting from your post-holiday compost pile, to set off the problem. Vines can grow up to 12 feet per year, overwhelming herbaceous plants and shrubs within a few years following establishment. Bittersweet can also resprout vigorously if cut but not killed.

Along with other invasive plants, the state banned the importation, propagation, and sale of Oriental bittersweet in Massachusetts in 2005.

So, why not head off future headaches, and choose an alternative? Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a native plant with attractive red berries that can be used as a highlight on any wreath and is generally available as sprigs from your local nursery or florist shop. Or go the faux route and reuse one year after year.