Plant Migration in a Changing Climate
October 2025 Conference
Photo Credit Ibec Creative
This fall, NEBS, along with Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, is hosting a conference, Plant Migration in a Changing Climate. The conference is October 3-4, 2025 at The Gardens in Boothbay, ME. Our featured plenary speakers are Dr. Jesse Bellemare, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Smith College; Dr. Bethany Bradley, Professor of Environmental Conservation at University of Massachusetts Amherst; and Dr. Jay Wason, Associate Professor of Forest Ecosystem Physiology at The University of Maine. General conference details are below and will be updated as we get closer to the conference. If you are not a NEBS member and are interested in receiving conference updates, please complete this brief form.
Register here!
Cost:
- Standard: $100
- NEBS or Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Member: $75
- Student: $30
- NEBS Student Member: $15
General Conference Schedule:
Friday, October 3rd
- Plenary Speaker Presentations
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Dr. Jesse Bellemare, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Smith College
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“Climate change, plant conservation, and the future flora of New England”
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Dr. Bethany Bradley, Professor of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst
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“Native versus introduced plants: Climate-driven range shifts and comparative risks to ecosystems”
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Dr. Jay Wason, Associate Professor of Forest Ecosystem Physiology at The University of Maine
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“Acclimation, adaptation, and migration: Maine’s forests and climate change”
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- Lunch:
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On site (included in registration)
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- Presentations
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Dr. Chris Nadeau, Climate Change Adaptation Scientist at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park
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“The Sustainable Summits Project: Restoring plants and adapting to climate change on coastal mountain summits”
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Dr. Jordan Tourville, Terrestrial Ecologist at Appalachian Mountain Club
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“Non-climatic drivers of change in a long-term mountain plot network in the Northeastern US”
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Dr. Barry Logan, Samuel S. Butcher Professor in the Natural Sciences and Director of Biochemistry Program at Bowdoin College
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“Observing change in dynamic landscapes: a case study in forest resilience enlisting art to illustrate the historical ecology of the Monhegan Wildlands”
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Dr. Richard Primack, Professor of Biology at Boston University
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“Tracking the changing New England flora with iNaturalist”
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- Panel Discussion
- Five panelists will participate in a panel discussion “Assisted Migration/Managed Relocation as a Conservation Tool”. Learn about this topic, ask questions, and contribute to the discussion.
- Breakout Groups
- Breakout sessions include an introduction to the following tools for conservation practitioners and living collections specialists:
- Climate Change Vulnerability Index of NatureServe presented by Dr. Marta P. Lyons, Climate Adaptation Service Scientist, National Climate Adaptation Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey
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Climate Assessment Tool of Botanic Gardens Conservation International for collections development, presented by Dr. David Kendal of Future in Nature and Emily Ellingson, Assistant Director and Curator of the Polly Hill Arboretum
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Digital Posters
- Digital posters are available to view throughout the conference and include diverse topics related to our conference theme. Examples include Andrea Tirrell’s poster, “Taking alpine education higher: Trailside plots for research and education,” Nora Heaphy’s poster, “Modeling shifting hybridization dynamics under climate change in a keystone northern forest tree,” and Emily MacDonald’s poster, “Heat and drought reduce survival of first-year seedlings of northeastern tree species near southern range margins.”
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Mocktail/Cocktail Reception
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Join us for a fun mocktail/cocktail hour on the Gardens’ Cafe Terrace with light appetizers. Connect with speakers, panelists, presenters, and one another.
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Saturday, October 4th
Field Trips and Conservation-focused Garden Tour
Select one of five exciting excursions in the region! All trips feature plant species at the leading or trailing edges of their natural ranges. Our trip leaders include Dr. Eric Doucette (State Botanist of Maine and President of Josselyn Botanical Society of Maine), Matt Charpentier (Field Botanist, Oxbow Associates and Past President, Librarian of NEBS); Dr. Robert Wernerehl (State Botanist of Massachusetts and Vice President of NEBS), Dan Jaffe Wilder (Director of Applied Ecology, Norcross Wildlife Foundation), Heather McCargo (Founder, Wild Seed Project), and Melissa Cullina (VP of Plants and Science at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and President of NEBS).
Plenary Speakers
Dr. Jesse Bellemare
Title: Climate change, plant conservation, and the future flora of New England
Abstract: Climate change is emerging as a top threat to biodiversity in the 21st century with alarming projections of increasing extinction rates and the disruption of ecological communities. Against this backdrop, botanists focusing on New England are likely to see many unsettling changes in the region’s flora in the future, some of which are already emerging, such as changes in phenology and retreating distributions of northern species. While many botanists are already well-accustomed to monitoring and protecting rare and declining plant species in the region’s native flora, one novel challenge going forward will be to develop a conceptual framework for guiding our approach to range-shifting plant species that may enter New England from regions to the south as a result of climate change. This talk will explore these complex ecological and ethical issues, and highlight several examples of range-shifting plant species establishing in New England via human introduction that may have conservation value in the future.
Dr. Bethany Bradley
Title: Native versus introduced plants: Climate-driven range shifts and comparative risks to ecosystems
Abstract: There is broad concern that the range shifts of global flora and fauna will not keep up with climate change, increasing the likelihood of population declines and extinctions. Many populations of introduced species already have advantages over native species, including widespread human-aided dispersal and release from natural enemies. But do introduced species also have an advantage with climate change? In this presentation, I will review observed and potential range shifts for native and introduced species globally, with a focus on plants. I will show that introduced species are expanding their ranges orders of magnitude faster than native species, reflecting both traits that enable rapid spread and ongoing human-mediated introduction. I will discuss the implications of these different rates of spread for both invasive species policies and restoration strategies that support the persistence of New England plants.
Dr. Jay Wason
Title: Acclimation, adaptation, and migration: Maine’s forests and climate change
Abstract: Dr. Jay Wason leads a research group at the University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources, investigating how forests respond to climate-induced stressors like heatwaves, flooding, and drought. In this talk, he will explore the current state of Maine’s forests and present new research on their responses to ongoing climate change. Drawing from his recent studies, Dr. Wason will discuss the capacity of native tree species to acclimate and adapt to shifting environmental conditions, as well as the potential for tree migration to track suitable habitats. This talk will highlight the challenges and opportunities for conserving Maine’s iconic forests in an era of rapid environmental change.
Accessibility Information:
Pathways in the Central Gardens and all buildings are ADA accessible. For details, please visit this link.
Lodging:
For a limited amount of time, a set number of rooms are reserved at The Tugboat Inn with a 10% discount for conference participants. Additionally, a block of rooms are reserved at Brown’s Wharf until August 25. There are numerous accommodations in the area if visitors would like to choose their own lodging. Please visit Boothbay Region Chamber of Commerce to understand all lodging options, from camping through resort stays and everything in between.