National Biodiversity Parks, Inc.

NBP and its funding partners are working hard to purchase a one mile long, 352 acre property which is ideal for a biodiversity park. The Plumstead Township, Ocean County, New Jersey property shares a one mile long border with the Pinelands National Reserve. The property is also in close proximity to Colliers Mill Wildlife Management Area. The preservation of this property keeps intact the possibility of establishing a perpetual Greenway along the northern edge of the Pinelands National Reserve. There are recent records of several threatened and endangered bird, amphibian, and reptile species breeding in this area. The preservation of this site will effectively increase the critical habitat needed to sustain viable populations of these species.

If preserved and managed by National Biodiversity Parks, the spectrum of natural communities within this property can sustain tremendous biodiversity of plant and animal species.

Please feel free to e-mail NBP with any questions.

The property contains about 250 acres of various wetland habitats including headwater streams, wooded streams, wooded wetlands, vernal ponds, cranberry bogs, ponds and swamps. Approximately 30% of these wetlands have controllable water levels providing a substantial and exciting habitat management tool which we shall utilize to maximize biodiversity. This diversity of wetland habitats is a tremendous asset to many types of wildlife.

The 70 acres of forested uplands consists of several species of oaks, Pitch Pine, Sweet Gum, and other various tree species. This is critical habitat for neotropical migrant birds whose populations are declining. The birds depend on quality habitat to refuel energy stores during spring and fall migration. Many of these birds also rely on these forests for their breeding sites. This property lies in an area that possesses the top 10% of breeding bird diversity in the southern half of New Jersey (Birds of New Jersey, Walsh et al, 1999).

The 30 acres of fallow fields will provide habitat for various taxons that depend upon grasslands to forage and breed.

The large, contiguous mosaic of palustrine and riverine wetland habitats mixed with strips of uplands is the basic physical "ingredient" to support what conservation groups are trying to preserve for future generations...