Some protest plan to thin New Jersey forest to protect from fire

Robert Besser
02 Dec 2022, 07:50 GMT+10

As part of a project to prevent major wildfires in a federally protected New Jersey forest, up to 2.4 million trees, heralded by some as unique environmental treasures, would be cut down
According to New Jersey environmental officials, the plan to remove trees in a section of Bass River State Forest, was adopted on 14th October by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission
Slated to begin in April, it aims to better protect against catastrophic wildfires and will only affect small trees, not the towering giants that make the Pinelands National Refuge famous

TRENTON, New Jersey: As part of a project to prevent major wildfires in a federally protected New Jersey forest, up to 2.4 million trees, heralded by some as unique environmental treasures, would be cut down.

According to New Jersey environmental officials, the plan to remove trees in a section of Bass River State Forest, adopted on 14th October by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission and slated to begin in April, aims to better protect against catastrophic wildfires and will only affect small trees, not the towering giants that make the Pinelands National Refuge famous.

However, the plan has split environmentalists, with some saying it is reasonable and necessary, while others say it is a waste of trees.

Pinelands Commissioner Mark Lohbauer also voted against the plan, calling it ill-advised on many levels.

"We are in an era of climate change. It is incumbent on us to do our utmost to preserve these trees that are sequestering carbon," he said.

By using data from the state's application, the Pinelands commissioner calculated that 2.4 million trees would be removed.

According to the state, the affected area has about 2,000 trees per acre, four times the normal density in the Pinelands, and most of the cut trees will be ground into wood chips that will remain on the forest floor, eventually returning to the soil.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to New Jersey Telegraph.

More Information

21 ℉

Fair in Mount Holly

Travel and Tourism

Section

China to allow return of Japanese tourists following retaliatory ban

TOKYO, Japan: In a statement posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, Beijing announced that it will ...

To boost tourist spending, Philippines to refund VAT starting in 2024

MANILA, Philippines: In an effort to attract more tourists, President Ferdinand Marcos has approved a value-added tax refund program for ...

Air India begins update with purchase of nearly 250 aircraft

NEW DELHI, India: Marking a year since the Tata Group took control of Air India, the former state-run carrier has ...

Surge in air travel demand continues, may lessen, says observers

NEW YORK CITY, New York: After reporting record revenues in the fourth-quarter of 2022, US airlines expect strong travel demand ...

UK airline Flybe goes out of business, cancels all flights

LONDON, England: Flybe, a British regional airline, abruptly closed operations on January 28. The airline offered flight to Belfast, Birmingham ...

BJP to hold mega budget reach out on Feb 4, 5; Union ministers to travel pan India

New Delhi [India], February 2 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch a mega budget Reach Out on February ...

International

Section