Between the burgeoning deer population and a growing dominance of invasive plants, local forests are fighting to survive. But a project on two acres at Princeton’s Mountain Lakes Preserve, a prototype of sorts, aims to show how to return wooded areas to health.

“This problem isn’t unique to Mountain Lakes, but we decided we had to start somewhere,” says AeLin Compton, natural resource manager for Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS), who spearheaded the project along with Greg O’Neil, Princeton arborist. “It exists everywhere. It’s a very common issue. These plants are the number one enemy in trying to restore health to the forest. The other culprit is the overabundant deer population.”

Members of FOPOS were joined recently by volunteers from ZS Associates of Princeton in the planting of 300 native trees and shrubs in the acreage at Mountain Lakes Preserve. The planting follows up on efforts last August to install a deer fence, and clear the site of invasive plants such as multiflora rose, invasive honeysuckle, and photinia, The plants were replaced with spice bush, winterberry, black cherry, and other native species that have disappeared over the decades.

“The forest was completely dominated by the invasive plant species, which weren’t providing any benefit to our wildlife and ecosystem and were affecting the overall health of the forest,” Ms. Compton says. “Before we started, we identified 90 percent of the understory, or younger trees, shrubs, and anything under the trees, as exotic and harmful. The forest was in terrible shape, severely degraded.”

Work on the site has been supported by grants from Partners for Fish and Wildlife, a program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with additional funding from the municipality of Princeton and FOPOS. The native plants will help create a balanced ecosystem and provide a vital habitat for a diversity of birds and animals. In turn, the forest will be regenerated.

Ms. Compton blames the deterioration of the forests on several factors, most notably exotic plants brought to the area to help landscape homes and gardens. “There are many different ways they get in, but that’s the most common reason,” she said.

Now that the major planting has taken place, the challenge is to monitor the site. “We do follow-up eradications to make sure the invasive plants don’t take over again,” Ms. Compton says. “The restoration is well situated next to our offices at Mountain Lakes, so we’re committed to going back and making sure these changes stick.”

Volunteers interested in helping water and monitor the plants, even during the winter season, should contact Ms. Compton at AeLinCompton@FOPOS.org.