The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is thinning trees this fall and winter on 91 acres in the Rapp Barrens area of the preserve. This tree thinning at Trailhead 2 is being done now to lessen disruption to wildlife, avoiding the breeding season for species that inhabit the preserve.

“Historically the Pine Bush was an open landscape of grasses, shrubs, wildflowers and scattered pitch pine trees,” said Albany Pine Bush Preserve Stewardship Director, Joel Hecht, in a release from the commission. “Due to wildfire suppression and historical agricultural activities, the Pine Bush in some regions of the preserve no longer resembles the unique landscape it once was.”

He went on, “To restore this habitat the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission will be thinning crowded pitch pine and oak trees along with some other tree species.  Non-native trees like black locust will also be removed.  This will allow other important pine barrens plants and animals to flourish. The thinning will also help reduce the potential for tree-top or “crown” fires in this sandy, dry, fire dependent environment.”

“With fewer than 20 places like the Pine Bush on Earth, this project will improve habitat for rare wildlife while preserving the barrens for future generations to enjoy,” said Executive Director Christopher Hawver in the release. “Some of the wildlife species that will benefit from this habitat restoration include birds like the prairie warbler and eastern towhee, other animals such as the hognose snake, spadefoot toad, and federally-endangered Karner blue butterfly along with flowers like wild blue lupine.”

For safety reasons, the recreational trails in this area of the preserve will be closed in late fall and winter while the trees are being removed.  Preserve visitors are encouraged to explore many of the other preserve trails during this time as there are almost 20 miles of official trails in the preserve.  Exact trail closure dates may be found at www.AlbanyPineBush.org.

Once this restoration project is completed, prescribed burning will be used to restore and maintain the pine barrens vegetation that is currently being shaded out by pitch pine and hardwood trees. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is continuing to restore many additional pine barrens acres in the preserve as mandated in the 2010 APBP Management Plan.