NJ Conservation is pleased to join the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) in announcing the acquisition of the Pine Tree Center in Tabernacle, NJ from the Boy Scouts of America. The Pine Tree Center consists of 162 acres of upland and wetland forests; buildings for classes, gatherings and overnight accommodation; and campsites. Adjoining the 122,000-acre Wharton State Forest, the Center connects to a network of several hundred thousand acres of preserved lands. NJ Conservation was delighted to oversee the acquisition process to protect the Center and see it repurposed for the Pinelands Research Institute, a science-based field station in the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey launched by PPA in early 2025. The Institute’s mission is to be a mecca for scientists, educators, naturalists and the public to generate knowledge and understanding of the unique forested ecosystem that is the New Jersey Pine Barrens, its broader region, and the Pinelands growth management program. NJ Conservation's significant contribution of funding through our grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program was essential to the preservation of the property. PPA was also able to acquire the Pine Tree Center thanks in part to an extraordinary bequest it received for the specific purpose of buying land for conservation. The property is now permanently protected for conservation, recreation, and the study of nature. "We're so thrilled to have joined the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and Green Acres on this remarkable land preservation project in the Pine Barrens, which will create a new hub for exploring this one-of-a-kind natural ecosystem in the Garden State," said Alison Mitchell, Executive Director of NJ Conservation. "New Jersey Conservation Foundation has been permanently protecting land in the Pine Barrens for many decades, and we're grateful to be able to advance our Pinelands protection goals thanks to our incredible partners and supporters." “The Pine Tree Center will be an outstanding resource for promoting knowledge and understanding of our region – and for having great experiences exploring the Pine Barrens,” said Jaclyn Rhoads, Executive Director of PPA. “The Green Acres Program was happy to partner with New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance on this important acquisition,” said Martha Sullivan Sapp, Director of Green Acres. “The Department of Environmental Protection is committed to preserving forested land to support diverse wildlife habitat, mitigate the effects of climate change, and provide recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.” The property is located in the heart of the Pinelands National Reserve, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that enjoys the benefits of the nation’s strongest conservation and growth management program, and stretches across 1.1 million acres from inland forests and towns to the Jersey Shore’s estuaries, barrier islands, and beaches. In addition to the Pinelands Research Institute, the Pine Tree Center will be a hub for nature-based recreation and environmental education. With programming and activities at the Center, PPA’s Pinelands Adventures outfitter and the Pinelands Research Institute connect people from all backgrounds with the Pine Barrens’ forests, land, and water. These connections are essential to building an engaged public that enjoys and cares for this region’s exceptional natural resources. To learn more about the Pinelands Research Institute, visit pinelandsresearch.org; or contact Dr. Jennifer Krumins by email at jennkrumins@pinelandsalliance.org. For more information about the Pine Tree Center group programs, contact PineTreeCenter@PinelandsAdventures.org. New Jersey Conservation Foundation recognizes that this property, like the rest of New Jersey, is part of the traditional homelands of the Lenape people. We pay respect to the Lenape and other Indigenous caretakers of these lands and waters, those who lived here before, and the generations to come. |
