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State of the Pinelands Report

PPA's annual State of the Pinelands Report details the actions of government agencies and elected officials with regard to Pinelands protection.

2012 State of the Pinelands Report

[+ ZOOM] PPA's 6th annual report on the New Jersey Pinelands ©PPA

Important: Your Help is Needed!

This is Where You Can Make a Difference!

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Pinelands Commission Appointments
Currently Governor Christie has the opportunity to reappoint or replace three commissioners with expired terms to the Pinelands Commission. The Governor’s appointments play a critical role in ensuring the Commission does its job of protecting the Pinelands. So far, we have seen no indication of when or how the Governor will act.

Action Needed: Contact the Governor and ask that he appoint conservation-minded people to the Pinelands Commission. Ask him to re-nominate current Commissioners Robert Jackson, Candace Ashmun and Ed Lloyd. (609-292-6000, or Office of the Governor, PO Box 001, Trenton, NJ 08625)

Pinelands Plan Review
The Commission has started its fourth Plan Review of the CMP. This periodic review is required by both state and federal law. Since the Commission has been in place for more than 30 years, it is an opportunity to evaluate the Commission’s overall success in meeting the goals of the Pinelands Protection Act. That is “to preserve, protect and enhance the natural and cultural resources of the Pinelands National Reserve (PNR) and to encourage compatible economic and other human activities consistent with that purpose.”

Action Needed: Contact one Pinelands Commissioner appointed by the governor, and the commissioner that represents your county (if you live in a Pinelands municipality), and ask that they strengthen the CMP and not weaken it during Plan Review. More information is available here.

ORV Park Designation
DEP has not designated a public Off Road Vehicle (ORV) park, even though the ORV legislation passed two years ago requires DEP to designate at least one site. This is an important first step before the state can implement new rules that require licenses and tags for ORV’s. The state has purchased a site in Woodbine, but to date it has not been designated as an ORV park.

Action Needed: Contact DEP Commissioner, Bob Martin, and ask that the department quickly, designates the first ORV park so that the new rules can take effect. The Commissioners phone number is (609) 292-2885. (401 E. State Street, 7th Floor, East Wing, P.O. Box 402, Trenton, NJ 08625-0402)

Prescribed Burn Act
Fire management is a critical component of biodiversity maintenance in the Pinelands. A prescribed burn bill, drafted primarily by PPA, has recently been released from the Senate Environment Committee after several years of modifications and discussions. If enacted, the bill will allow prescribed burning for ecological stewardship purposes.

Action Needed: Ask Assemblyman Nelson Albano, Chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, to post the bill for consideration before the Committee. (21 North Main St., Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 / (609) 465-0700)

Forest Stewardship
PPA and others have worked to change an unacceptable draft of a Forest Harvest Bill into legislation that would actually allow for good forest stewardship practices on state lands. Under the new version of this proposed bill, third-party certification by the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council would be required of all forestry plans on public lands. Such certification requires surveys for rare species and careful management of sensitive ecological areas.

Action Needed:Ask Assemblyman Nelson Albano, Chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee, to post the bill for consideration before the Committee. Be sure to mention that the Forest Stewardship Council certification of all public land forestry plans must remain as a requirement in the bill. (21 North Main St., Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 / (609) 465-0700).

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Previous Reports

2011 State of the Pinelands Report

2010 State of the Pinelands Report

2009 State of the Pinelands Report

2008 State of the Pinelands Report

2007 State of the Pinelands Report