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Pine Barrens, Long Island, New York

Using a new and innovative financial strategy, the Conservancy recently brought together state and local governments to permanently preserve a 308-acre parcel of globally rare forest, located in the heart of the unique Pine Barrens region in Westhampton, Long Island, New York. This parcel is one of the most ecologically important pieces of privately owned vacant land remaining in the area. Its protection ensures that local residents will have clean and plentiful drinking water, while providing critical habitat for wildlife. Its preservation will also ensure that a wide panorama of expansive pine forest remains.

The Conservancy has worked for many years to preserve the natural communities of the Pine Barrens region. The recent acquisition of this parcel represents a crowning achievement in this effort. "While the forest is small in stature, it is huge in importance," said Paul Rabinovitch, executive director for The Nature Conservancy on Long Island. "This parcel completes a link to other preserved lands in the region, essentially closing the 'hole in the doughnut.'"

This acquisition was the result of a cooperative agreement between three levels of government: the state, Suffolk County, and the town of Southampton. The $7.4 million transaction was negotiated and coordinated by The Nature Conservancy, which acted as intermediary and facilitator for getting the project completed.

In putting the components of the deal together, the Conservancy suggested a new and innovative use of the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). The landowner will keep 100 development rights that can be either sold on the open market or used by the holder of these rights to add density to development in other less environmentally sensitive locations. The Conservancy suggested the use of the TDR program to supplement the public funds. “In effect, the private development market is subsidizing conservation that the public strongly desires,” Paul said.

Although only 75 miles east of New York City, the Long Island Pine Barrens region in which this property lies, seems a world away. It is a large, contiguous, ecologically functional landscape in the midst of a heavily urbanized area and is comprised of a rich tapestry of forests, coastal plain ponds, swamps and streams. This critically important region is a main source of drinking water for Long Island residents, and the land is home to variety of animals and plants—from water dependent species such as tiger salamanders to fire adapted species such as Coastal Barrens Buckmoth. A long list of rare damselflies, butterflies, and moths as well as a variety of migratory and breeding bird species make the Pine Barrens a hotspot for nature enthusiasts of all interests.

The newly acquired 308-acre parcel is located within an especially unique community the—dwarf pine plains—mostly made up of pygmy pitch pines and scrub oak. It is a favored nesting site of migrating songbirds including the prairie warbler, pine warbler, and ovenbird.

"This acquisition will also facilitate proactive fire management in the area, which is critical in protecting the nearby public from out-of-control wildfires," said Bill Patterson, conservation project director for fire at The Nature Conservancy on Long Island. "Fire is a vital process that sustains this type of dwarf forest over the long term."

Once opened to the public, this preserve will offer passive recreational opportunities such as hiking and birdwatching.

For More Information about the Pine Barrens:

• Where We Work: The Nature Conservancy in Long Island, New York
  Since the early 1950s, The Nature Conservancy has worked with partners and communities to preserve thousands of acres on Long Island, including maritime grasslands and shrublands, vast pine barrens and associated coastal plain ponds, coastal dunes and wide ocean beaches.
• Places We Protect: Long Island Central Pine Barrens
  The central pine barrens is a diverse mosaic of pitch pine woodlands, pitch pine-oak forests, coastal plain ponds, swamps, marshes, bogs and streams.
• How We Work: Global Fire Initiative
  Working in eleven countries at hundreds of priority conservation areas, The Nature Conservancy's Global Fire Initiative works with partners and communities to find solutions that allow fire to play a role in places where it benefits nature and people, and keep fire out of places where it is destructive.
• Press Release: The Nature Conservancy Partners with State, County, Town to Preserve 308-Acre Rare Forest
  In partnership with New York State, Suffolk County, and the Town of Southampton, The Nature Conservancy announced today the permanent preservation of a 308-acre parcel of globally rare forest, located in the heart of the Pine Barrens region, in Westhampton, Long Island.
• Archive of our Saves of the Week and Success Stories
  Read more about The Nature Conservancy's work to save the last great places on Earth.