Napatree Point: A Decade of Stewardship

Ecology and Stewardship of a Pristine Coastal New England Ecosystem

The Napatree Point Conservation Area is an 86-acre nature preserve on the southwestern tip of Rhode Island. Designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society because of its importance as a migratory stopover, Napatree is a breeding and foraging site for a number of endangered species including Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus), Least Terns (Sternula antillarum), and American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliates). The habitats on Napatree-maritime shrubland, maritime herbaceous dune, and maritime beach strand-are the top-ranking habitats of greatest conservation need in Rhode Island.

The conservation area is heavily used by visitors. On a warm summer day, over 1,000 people enjoy the 1.1 mile-long beach. Public access is ensured by the conservation easement over Napatree held by The Watch Hill Conservancy. In 2022, there were over 44,000 visits to the site.

Since 2013, The Watch Hill Conservancy has published an annual State of Napatree report that contains monitoring data on its fauna, flora, and geology. This comprehensive overview represents a decade of monitoring, stewardship, and public education programs on Napatree.

Dr. Peter August is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Natural Resources Science at the University of Rhode Island. He taught and conducted research in landscape ecology and the application of geographic information system technologies to land conservation and stewardship for almost 40 years. He has chaired the Napatree Science Advisors since 2011.

Janice Sassi managed the Napatree Point Conservation Area from 2009 to 2021. With a staff of 8-10 seasonal educators and naturalists, she oversaw educational activities on Napatree, stewardship programs, and informing visitors of the natural history of the site. Prior to her appointment as Napatree Manager, Janice worked in the public sector.

Daniel Cole is the current manager of Napatree and has served as a park ranger, educator, and site coordinator of a number of natural areas in Florida for over a decade, most recently the 11,500-acre Nature Conservancy Disney Wilderness Preserve in Kissimmee Florida. A native New Englander, Daniel has academic degrees in biology and secondary education.