Long Island Central Pine Barrens

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The Long Island pine barrens has more biodiversity than anywhere else in New York State. There are dozens of rare and endangered plant and animal species that call the pine barrens home.

Introduction

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.

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.

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