IN THE NEWS...
A Quick Snapshot of the Latest Important Information from Our Divisions
Land Use and Planning
The division is working with agencies on the implementation of amendments to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan approved by the commission in April of 2023 and which go into effect this July. The amendments, work on which began nearly a decade ago, will have beneficial impacts in the region.
Additionally, public hearings have been scheduled for two hardship waiver applications in the Core Preservation Area.
Groundwater and surface water resource monitoring will continue for two more years in the Central Pine Barrens via a joint agreement between the commission and the United States Geological Survey.
Science and Stewardship
Spring marks the start of prescribed fire season, and the Science and Stewardship division is working collaboratively with other agencies on such fires to improve ecosystem health, reduce the risk of wildfire and improve resilience to the southern pine beetle. Aiding the effort is the commission's professional seasonal fire crew and a new Type 6 fire truck. From now until June, operations will be underway at Sarnoff, Rocky Point and Otis Pike Pine Barrens State Forests.
The division is also supporting key monitoring and research initiatives to better understand the ecology of the Central Pine Barrens and getting ahead of the next invasive species.
Compliance and Enforcement
The Compliance and Enforcement division has joined with the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and other law enforcement partners to bolster efforts to deter illegal dumping in the Central Pine Barrens, encouraging residents to report polluters and urging lawmakers to increase penalties for illegal dumping.
A perfect example of this cooperative effort is the recent arrest of a man from Shirley who was charged with dumping a 24-foot boat in the woods in Manorville. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department investigated the incident based on information provided by the commission's Compliance and Enforcement division.
The division is also in the process of incorporating the use of unmanned aircraft systems (commonly known as "drones") as a tool to deter polluters. Division personnel also provided drone training at the most recent New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy.
The division plays a pivotal role in coordinating enforcement matters pertaining to the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act, helping to protect the vast ecological resources of the Central Pine Barrens.
Educational Outreach and Communications
Registration is underway for the incredible Barrens to Bay Summer Camp, held at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley. There's no place like Long Island's Central Pine Barrens, and no better place for your kids to learn about and enjoy all the region has to offer than Barrens to Bay camp.
The camp runs in three weekly sessions for six to nine-year-old campers beginning July 1 followed by three weekly sessions for 10 to 12-year-old campers beginning on July 22.
For more information, contact Tim Motz at tmotz@scwa.com.
Pine Barrens Credit Clearinghouse
The Pine Barrens Credit Clearinghouse is currently updating the Pine Barrens credit registry, which identifies potential buyers and sellers of credits.
After the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act identified the need for a credit program, the Pine Barrens Credit Program was created in 1995 to facilitate the transfer of development rights so the most environmentally sensitive lands in the Central Pine Barrens are preserved, with property owners able to transfer development potential to land in other locations.
Owners and purchasers of credits transact business in an open market, with all transactions tracked by the clearinghouse.
New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy
Plans are in the works for the 2024 New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy, which will be held this October at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
The academy, known as NYWIMA, has for more than two decades provided essential training to thousands of firefighters and emergency response personnel from all over the country in everything from introduction to wildland fire behavior to firing operations to use of unmanned aircraft systems.
Celebrating 30 Years Since the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act Became Law
Click here to see photos from the Commission's June 2, 2023 Cooperators Meeting event and partners
Featured Video Click here to see the video - Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act at 30 years
This video celebrates the history of this significant achievement to protect water and ecological resources in the Central Pine Barrens
Archive: Press Releases and Media Coverage
May 24, 2021 - East End Beacon - RX for the Pine Barrens - Fire
May 19, 2021 Central Pine Barrens Commission Press Release - Six Busted for Unlawful Dumping in the Central Pine Barrens
May 14, 2021 - Central Pine Barrens Commission Press Release on Commission's Comprehensive Prescribed Fire Management Plan
May 12, 2021 Riverhead News Review - Fire management plan nearly 25 years in the making outlines how controlled burns can prevent ...