A place where nature thrives among the ever-sprawling urban force, the Pine Barrens is New Jersey’s last bastion for wilderness. Federally protected, the 1.1 million acre stretch of forest encompasses 22 percent of the most densely populated state in the nation. This land is of vital importance to the people surrounding the area.

Growing up in the little town of Tuckerton, New Jersey, I’ve come to view the Pine Barrens as my home. By travelling 15 minutes south, I could be in the heart of the vast nature reserve. My high school was even named Pinelands Regional. The people of the pines have come to revere this land for its recreational and spiritual offerings. It is a place where the word “piney” has a positive connotation. The people who live in this area are proud of what they have. They know how to protect it and understand its importance. Generations of families have lived in this area, some still propagating today.

Hunting, fishing, hiking, birding and pure outdoorsmenship dominate the region. Using what the land has given us, many people find solidarity in these activities. Activities that are contingent to this region alone. One can spend hours lost in the wilderness of the Pine Barrens. Some looking for the first hunt of the season, others simply seeking comfort from the pressures of society.

It is a place where a person can be completely alone with themselves. Places such as this are scarce today, and are quickly disappearing, losing the battle with human “advancement.” As people of the region, we have an inherent right to protect and preserve this land. Many people, myself included, would be lost without it. The area is home to certain things that can be found nowhere else on Earth. From plants to endangered species, there are countless reasons to why this area needs to be protected. The Pine Barrens is a special place.

There is something to be said about the spiritual power of nature as well. The Pine Barrens provides a cathartic release unknown to most other areas. Among the pitch pine forests and amber colored streams, one can be at ease. Surrounded by nothing but wilderness in a state where it scarcely exists provides an experience like no other. It allows a person to be alone with themselves. This is something that can truly benefit anyone. You can really get to know yourself along the paths through the pines.

My entire life has been spent within this region. Now as a Stockton student, the area has had a profound impact on my

education and life, overall. The experiences this land has provided should be known to all.

The area of the Pine Barrens is truly like no other. The actions of the federal government and the attitudes of the people who live here fully reflect that. Speak to any person who has grown up in this area and they’ll all tell you the same thing. The Pine Barrens is a home like no other. It is my home.