An environmental watchdog sees environmental protections weakening overall in New Jersey but gives good grades to some initiatives in the state’s Pinelands region.
In it annual State of the Pines Report, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) sees “growing public
concern that, while much of the Pinelands’ forests, streams and wetlands are
surviving the pressures of sprawl, government agencies are not doing enough to
save the Pine Barrens over the long term..”
The report focuses on the state of
Pinelands preservation and on how specific actions of government agencies
have either helped or harmed the Pinelands during the past twelve months. It rates the actions of government agencies that include the Governor, the
Pinelands Commission, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP),
New Jersey State Legislature, local government, and other governmental
agencies.
“Since the fate of the Pinelands rests primarily with decisions by
government, the public needs a way to hold these agencies accountable for their
performance through an annual report. PPA believes there is real cause for
concern in the actions of government agencies responsible for safeguarding the
Pinelands,” the PPA says.
The group’s executive director, Carleton Montgomery asserted:
The Pinelands Commission has lost its leadership position in recent years, instead succumbing to political pressures that confine its efforts to case-by-case waivers for developments that violate the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan. The Commission now has the perfect opportunity through its fourth Plan Review to reassert its role as guardian of the Pinelands by adopting reforms that experience shows are needed to protect Pinelands resources.”
The report was not entirely negative. It found that…
Despite challenging
economic times, Governor Christie kept funding for the Pinelands Commission
relatively stable for the coming fiscal year. The annual Pinelands Short Course
sponsored by the Commission and Burlington County College continues to grow in
popularity. Since its inception the Short Course has provided a wonderful
opportunity for people to learn more about unique natural, historic, and
cultural aspects of the Pine Barrens.
It also saluted Buena Vista’s Township Committee for discontinuing efforts to build a package sewage treatment plant, recognized steps taken by the Evesham Township to
protect the Black Run Preserve through a new Open
Space Plan, and gave high marks to
GreenFaith, a national interfaith environmental organization based in New
Jersey for launching a new program to encourage houses of worship to conserve
water at its facilities, to preserve water quality on its grounds, and to
encourage its members to conserve water at home.
Read the full PPA report here
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