What is a Cranberry Bog?
Cranberries thrive in their native habitat — a wetland, specifically bogs. Natural bogs are kettle holes lined with clay, rocks, and other organic materials formed by glaciers over 10,000 years ago.
Cranberry vines can survive indefinitely, with some vines in Cape Cod being over 150 years old.
Most farmers grow in these native wetlands, stripping the area of other native plants and depleting areas of rare ecosystems. The changing pressures on farmers to abandon their farms have left old cranberry bogs abandoned and depleted instead of restoring the wetlands that existed before.
Land restoration will revitalize the old wetlands. This innovative approach addresses environmental challenges and community needs, transforming abandoned or underperforming cranberry farms into ecological hotspots.
Why Restore Cranberry Bogs?
Growing economic pressures, climate challenges, and industry consolidation have led growers to abandon their bogs. These lands are left drained and altered, and investors want to develop them, erasing the possibility of restoration.
Wetlands play a crucial role in filtering water, sequestering carbon, and providing habitats for wildlife. They are also great places for recreation and can protect nearby communities from flooding and sea-level rise.
How Are Bogs Being Restored?
Restoration efforts involve reshaping the landscape to replicate natural wetland conditions. Dams, ditches, and sand added by farmers are removed, allowing water to flow freely. Native plants are reintroduced to support biodiversity.
Successful restorations include the Eel River project (completed in 2010), 60 acres that, after a $2 million investment, resulted in researchers discovering that the seeds from the old swamps were still alive beneath the cranberry bog.
With the removal, rare white cedar pine saplings have grown. Shortly after, Tidmarsh (a 481-acre plot) was restored from 2011 to 2016. It was the second successful transformation and is now owned by Mass Audubon, who opened the land to the public as the Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary.
Now, the Cranberry Bog Program offers farmers the option of selling their land for restoration over development, with organizations trying to include the option of paying growers to excavate their own bogs.
Grants for Restoration
Last week, state officials announced that 12 recipients will receive $6 million in grants from the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Despite the successes, restoration is costly and time-intensive, requiring careful planning and collaboration. Farmers are looking to maintain their income while securing funding can be difficult and untimely for growers who need options.
Massachusetts’ approach to cranberry bog restoration gives hope that it is a mutually beneficial option for the environment, farmers, wildlife, and recreation opportunities.
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