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.