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 Oakland Times.

More Information

40 ℉

Fair in Oakland

United States

Section

Asian Californians Reel in Wake of Recent Mass Shootings

Asian Americans in California, already on edge over a wave of hate crimes against their communities, are taking small comfort ...

Ali Fazal's Hollywood film 'Kandahar' to release on this date

New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): Actor Ali Fazal's upcoming action Hollywood film 'Kandahar' is all set to hit the ...

Central American Gangs Raising Fears in Southern Mexico

With threatening phone calls, burned minibuses and at least three drivers shot to death, street gangs more closely associated with ...

How Will We Know if the US Economy Is in a Recession

WASHINGTON (AP) - The second consecutive quarter of economic growth that the government reported Thursday underscored that the nation isn't ...

The Week In Russia: 'A Great Sin'

I'm Steve Gutterman, the editor of RFE/RL's Russia/Ukraine/Belarus Desk.Welcome to The Week In Russia, in which I dissect the key ...

US claims Islamic State commander killed in Africa

President Joe Biden escalated Washington's military presence in Somalia last year, reversing a troop withdrawal ordered by his predecessorA senior ...

International

Section