Article Summary –
Saratoga National Historical Park is set to receive part of almost $200m in federal funding aimed at building resilience to climate change in parks throughout the Northeast of the US. The park’s superintendent, Leslie Morlock, says the funding will be used for three projects: controlling invasive species, restoring grasslands, and managing over-browsing to support ecosystem regeneration. The park, which has significant historical value as a key site in the Revolutionary War, is already showing signs of severe regeneration failure and this funding comes at a critical time.
Saratoga National Historical Park Receives Federal Funding for Natural Resource Challenges
The National Park Service has disclosed an investment of close to $200 million for the construction and restoration of resilience in parks across Northeast. Notably, Saratoga National Historical Park is part of this funding program aiming at preserving parks of crucial ecological and historical importance.
Superintendent Leslie Morlock explains that Saratoga Battlefield, a major attraction due to its historical significance in the Revolutionary War, is home to diverse wildlife that benefits from the undeveloped landscape. The funding will support three distinct projects to control invasive species, restore park grasslands, and manage over-browsing to foster climate resilience and ecosystem regeneration.
“Saratoga offers an undisturbed environment for ground nesting birds and pollinator species like monarch butterflies. As a result of our unique ecology, we are frequently used as control sites in larger studies”, Morlock added.
Brian Mitchell, Science Advisor and Research Coordinator for the National Parks Northeast Regional Office, states that obtaining funds for these projects was difficult but necessary in the wake of pest and invasive species threats. He believes that addressing these stressors will greatly improve resilience to climate change for Saratoga and other parks involved.
According to Morlock, the timing for these initiatives is critical. “Our forest regeneration is at an imminent failure status, and we see a high risk of forest loss. Moreover, invasive species are killing off many ash trees, impairing the regeneration process. This funding will help tackle these issues”.
Mitchell highlights the advantages of running the projects concurrently. “By managing invasive species and deer over-browse simultaneously, we can conduct reforestation in a manner that allows new seedlings to not be as impacted by invasive species or deer. This gives us a fresh opportunity to continue forest growth” he explained.
Morlock stresses that ensuring the park’s long-term survival is essential for the local economy and ecosystem. In 2023 alone, the park attracted over 100,000 visitors.
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