Recently my grandson and his Boy Scouts went camping in the Pinelands. They had a wonderful experience. It reminded me once again what a treasure New Jersey has in the Pinelands.
But the battle to preserve the Pinelands has never been easy. Back in the 1800s Joseph Wharton bought most of the land that is now Wharton State Forest. He was no preservationist. He hoped to take out the water to sell to a thirsty Philadelphia. It never happened. In the late 19th century New Jersey passed a law to prevent the export of water.
Over the years we came to recognize that the Pinelands watery habitat is home to plant and animal species found almost nowhere else on the planet. As the 20th century progressed, more and more people came to the conclusion that the Pinelands must be preserved. It wasn’t easy. The forces against preservation were strong and well financed but eventually we won the battle.
I am proud that my friends and colleagues — former Govs. Brendan Byrne and Jim Florio, Christine Todd Whitman, and Frank Parker and many others — have had the courage to put a collective stake in the wet and sandy ground of the Pinelands to protect the water and the land for future generations.
In the past few years there has been widespread and illegal off-road vehicle abuse that has left many areas forever scarred and fragile wetlands hosting rare and endangered species ravaged beyond recognition.
To address this problem professionals in several government agencies have undertaken a painstaking analysis of Wharton State Forest in the heart of the Pinelands to determine how to preserve it by limiting access. This year the Department of Environmental Protection introduced the proposed Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map. The plan officially designates more than 200 miles of existing safe roads for jeeps, trucks, motorcycles and cars. It also closes some routes that vehicles use today. To put this into perspective, the plan provides sand roads for driving that total 30 miles more than the entire length of the Garden State Parkway from Cape May Point to the New York state line.
Many “roads” slated for closure to motor vehicles are not, in fact, roads. Painstaking analysis of older maps and extensive on-the-ground surveys of Wharton revealed that many of the roads either no longer exist, are wetlands, or were older hiking trails or firebreaks that drivers have, over the years, turned into roads. Many of these trails or roads also cut through habitat for rare and endangered Pine Barrens plants and animals that the state is obligated by to protect.
People argue that many of those roads have a long history of use. That is true. And much of that “use” has included illegal and pointless destruction of unique and highly valuable forest and wetlands.
Indeed, some of the loudest voices against the plan are lobbyists for those wanting to preserve the ability to drive jeeps and trucks into wetlands and mudholes to challenge their vehicles. These activities not only destroy habitat, but they also wreck roads and trails for other users and force managers of Wharton State Forest to spend extremely limited taxpayer dollars on repairs to their vehicles.
The Wharton motor vehicle plan process is an example of good government at work. After nearly eight years of online and in-person public hearings, surveys and the work of professionals in six different state agencies, the DEP has a solid plan based on the input from thousands of stakeholders as well as law enforcement, forest firefighters, forest managers, wildlife management and endangered species experts and historical preservation specialists that will ensure safe motor vehicle access to the entirety of Wharton State Forest while also protecting the Pinelands from further destruction.
Every governor since Brendan Byrne has done his or her part to preserve the unique and wonderful area. This administration must do its part and act now so that my grandchildren and yours may continue to enjoy this unique treasure.