LIttle Egg Harbor Protects Maritime Forest

Little Egg Harbor, NJ has received help to preserve what's left of its maritime forest.

At one time most of the Ocean County shore area was covered with maritime forest. But development in Manahawkin and Little Egg Harbor, NJ started fast and furious in the 60's and much of this integral part of the Jersey Shore ecosystem was lost. These forests are an important stop for migratory birds, and a natural barrier during storms and hurricanes.

Perhaps the largest preserved maritime forest in Ocean County, NJ is found at Island Beach State Park. On Long Beach Island, the protected area around the Barnegat Light House has a 1/5 mile walk through what's left of the maritime forest there.

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Now, through the efforts of the Little Egg Harbor Natural Lands Trust Advisory Committee, the Ocean County Freeholders and the Trust for Public Land, these 46 pristine acres, which were once slated for 73 new homes, are protected.

It's located off Radio Road on the southern tip of Ocean County and surrounded by both residential development and thousands of acres of protected tidal wetlands in the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and the Great Bay Wildlife Management Area.

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The total purchase price for this 46 acre tract on Osborn Island in Little Egg Harbor was $3.5 million.