John C. Stokes
Executive Director
Pinelands Commission
 

Democracy, many have observed, is not a spectator sport. The same can be said of efforts to protect the environment in New Jersey.
Residents can take pride in knowing that their state has successfully implemented a plan to safeguard the unique resources of the million-acre Pinelands area in southern New Jersey for nearly 30 years. The New Jersey Pinelands Commission, the agency that oversees land-use, development and natural resource protection in the Pinelands, remains vigilant in its mandate to protect the region’s environment.
Of course, there are many steps residents can take to further advance the Pinelands protection effort, beginning with their own home.
Now that spring has arrived, many homeowners’ thoughts have turned to visions of creating a perfectly-manicured lawn and garden landscape. With respect to planting grass, trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials, homeowners should go native. Think of it as working with your environment, instead of against it. Native plants tend to be drought resistant and therefore help reduce water consumption; require little or no fertilization or pesticides; effectively control erosion; and provide food and shelter for native birds and other wildlife. Avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides is particularly important in the Pinelands because pollutants can easily pass through the region’s porous soils and be carried into the ground water.
Pinelands residents should plant native grasses such as red fescue and slender fescue. These grasses are adapted to the region’s sandy, nutrient-poor soils and therefore don’t require homeowners to wage a constant battle against the natural environment to keep them alive. Some homeowners have greatly reduced or eliminated lawns from their landscape, choosing instead to expand flower beds or to create wildflower meadows that attract native animal species.
A list of native Pinelands plants for the home landscape is available on the Pinelands Commission’s website (www.nj.gov/pinelands). In addition, the Commission is currently developing a “backyard habitat” protection program in an area of two Pinelands municipalities - Evesham and Medford townships in Burlington County - that is home to rare plants and animals. Once complete, this program will heighten awareness of the area’s botanical heritage and provide specific information about practices homeowners can undertake to enhance wildlife habitat. It will also show how to use non-chemical methods to combat common garden pests and diseases. We hope the program will become a model for communities throughout the Pinelands and beyond.
For those with already established garden landscapes, concerns have arisen about recent gypsy moth infestations and the damage they have wrought on trees, particularly oaks. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s web site (www.state. nj.us/agriculture) contains a series of measures that homeowners can take to control gypsy moths. Look under “Gypsy Moth Suppression Program” on the department’s home page.
Conserving water at home is paramount. Although estimates vary, the typical person uses about 80 to 100 gallons of water per day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. People can reduce water use by fixing leaky plumbing, taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or installing high-efficiency washers and toilets. Homeowners can also use pervious cover in their yards, such as gravel or stone for walkways, driveways and patios, to help ensure that more rainwater soaks into the ground.
Maintaining septic systems is also crucial for Pinelands homeowners. Approximately one-third of the homes in the Pinelands have septic systems that, absent proper maintenance, can contaminate drinking water wells and surface waters, posing serious threats to human health. Although circumstances vary, septic systems generally should be inspected and pumped by a professional every three years. Homeowners also should not dispose of pharmaceuticals, paint, solvents or other household chemicals. Doing so can destroy the biological processes in septic systems, while also transferring pollutants into groundwater and contaminating drinking water.
Last but not least, homeowners in the Pinelands should take the threat of wildfire seriously and implement steps to reduce risks. Create and maintain a buffer from flammable vegetation around structures. Clean your roof and gutters regularly to prevent the accumulation of pine needles, twigs, leaves and other flammable materials. Remove dead limbs near your house. Clean your chimney at least once per year, and stack firewood at least 30 feet from your home and other buildings. Other specific steps homeowners can take are available on the Commission’s web site (www.nj.gov/pinelands).
Indeed, Pinelands protection begins at home. And the more people take action to protect this special place, the more successful all of our efforts will be.

John Stokes is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, an independent state agency that oversees land-use and natural resource protection in the Pineland Area of southern New Jersey.