Long Island Central Pine Barrens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Long Island Central Pine Barrens is a 100,000 acre (400 km²) pine barrens in Suffolk County, New York, 30,000 acres (120 km²) of which are protected public lands; it is Long Island's largest natural area and its last remaining wilderness. The region contains a remnant of a forest thought to have once covered a quarter million acres (1,000 km²) on Long Island.
The Central Pine Barrens overlays and recharges a portion of a federally designated sole source aquifer for Long Island's drinking water. Under the terms of the 1993 Pine Barrens Protection Act, the area comprises a 45,000 acre (180 km²) "preservation area" where new development is prohibited, and a 47,000 acre (190 km²) "compatible growth area" where development is permitted under strict guidelines.
The Long Island pine barrens has more biodiversity than anywhere else in New York State.[citation needed] There are dozens of rare and endangered plant and animal species that call the pine barrens home.
[edit] Ongoing Conservation Efforts
- The Central Pine Barrens Commission and the Migliarino-San Rossore-Massaciuccoli (MSRM) Regional Park in Tuscany, Italy are "twin parks" under a New York State program which supports such programs with the goal of sharing knowledge and experience between the citizens of both regions. It is also home to many endangered animals.[citation needed]
[edit] Related Links
- New York State's Central Pine Barrens
- Scientific Research and the Pine Barrens
- The Long Island Pine Barrens Society
- The Wildfire Preparedness Project of theNational Fire Plan
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-- Significant Habitats and Habitat Ccomplexes of the New York Bight Watershed
[edit] Additional Reading
- Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Guide to Nature on Long Island by John Turner
- Fish-Shape Paumanok: Nature and Man on Long Island by Robert Cushman Murphy
- The Firefighter Story, coauthor Mindy Block
