Rehabilitation of the Pinelands?

Here in southern New Jersey I am battling our town's decision to develop a large piece of pristine woodlands. It probably is a futile effort but my friends and I are trying to put a stop to this new housing that we do not need.  New Jersey has a regulatory group known as the NJ Pinelands Commission. Here is a passage from that commission:

The Pinelands National Reserve (PNR) was created by Congress under the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978. The PNR is the first National Reserve in the nation. The PNR encompasses approximately 1.1 million acres covering portions of seven counties and all or parts of 56 municipalities.

This internationally important ecological region is 1.1 million acres in size and occupies 22% of New Jersey's land area. It is the largest body of open space on the Mid-Atlantic seaboard between Richmond and Boston and is underlain by aquifers containing 17 trillion gallons of some of the purest water in the land.

In 1979, our state formed a partnership with the federal government to preserve, protect and enhance the natural and cultural resources of this special place.

Our town entered into a unique agreement with a designated developer.  The planning board met recently to give the final approval. Before all permits were finalized some clear-cutting began in our area. The initial project was labeled as an area in need of  “rehabilitation”.   We have a town that lines an important corridor between Philadelphia and Atlantic City.  As you drive along this highway you will see a few eye sores including an abandoned supermarket and a couple of adult bookstores.  These are not the focus of the rehabilitation.  The focus is the once protected beloved pinelands.  In addition to this plan they put into place a 5-year gradual tax abatement plan. The first year new home buyers will pay no property tax. This puts an unfair burden on the citizens of town that already pay the highest property taxes in southern New Jersey. Also, if anyone decides to sell their house they will have a difficult time doing so because the buyers of other houses in town will not receive any abatement.  So:   “life is unfair” as someone was heard to say.  So I went to view the clear-cutting that was done and I visited a vernal pond. Thankfully I found the pond intact.  I continue to monitor and pray that the laws will continue to protect at least this little treasure of a pond.

Clear-cutting of the Pines 

Getting Ready to Make Mulch

A vernal pond that has been my special little treasure for years.

A Mass of Jelly-Like Frog Eggs

Close-up! Soon to be tadpoles.

 Still Waters

 Part of an Old Enameled Bowl

Of course someone is concerned about our safety.

A machine that collects trees as they zip them off.

  In a matter of one minute you can have 6 trees felled.