UNESCO/Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve
New Jersey Pinelands
General information
The New Jersey Pinelands Biosphere Reserve is situated in the urbanized northeastern United States and consists of a mosaic of upland, wetland and aquatic environments. Wildfires have been favoring a pygmy forest of pitch pine (Pinus rigida), blackjack, and scrub oaks.Â
Detailed information
Key data
Year of nomination
1988
Country
United States of America
Total population
471035
Area
Surface
445,000.00 ha
Total terresterial area
445,000.00 ha
Location
Latitiude: 39.704 - Longitude: -74.5851
Contact
Ecological Characteristics
The New Jersey Pinelands Biosphere Reserve is situated in the urbanized northeastern United States and consists of a mosaic of upland, wetland and aquatic environments. Wildfires have been favoring a pygmy forest of pitch pine (Pinus rigida), blackjack, and scrub oaks. The wetlands provide suitable habitats for most of the rare and endangered plant and animal species of the region.The region's expansive forests provide habitat for 39 species of mammals, 299 species of birds, 59 reptile and amphibian species and 91 fish species. Forty-three animal species are listed as threatened or endangered. The Biosphere Reserve also contains approximately 12,000-acres of globally-rare pitch pine-shrub oak, large swaths of Atlantic white cedar swamps, intermittent ponts, acid-water aquatic and wetland plants and animals, as well as a fire-adapted landscape.
Socio-Economics Characteristics
The pinelands have already been intensively used by man before the colonization. Resource-related industries dominated the early Colonial and post-Revolutionary period. Conventional agricultural activities continue to be found at the periphery of the region, while cranberry and blueberry agriculture is important economic enterprises in the central part. The cultivated blueberry was first established here early in this century.