NJ Pine Barrens Maritime-Culture-Landscape 1 1 2024

Scale of Pinelands National Reserve Oak Forests Directly Impacted Ship and Barge Designs
VEGETATION OF THE PINE BARRENS by Jack McCormick (ref Burlington County Library System)
Water, fire, and man have shaped the modern vegetation of the Pine Barrens. At least until the early 1900's, most forests
in the Pine Barrens were clear-cut every 25 to 50 years for firewood, charcoal production, poles and lumber. Most of the
forests were burned repeatedly, at intervals of 10 years or less to 30 years or more. These frequent fires apparently
screened out many plants which grow along the margins, being predominant in surrounding regions.
Pitch pine, blackjack oak, and southern white-cedar are most characteristic of the twenty or more trees forming the
forests. Pitch pine grows on sites ranging from the driest to the wettest. Oak-pitch forests (600 to 900 trees per acre)
generally are less dense than pine-oak forests (1,100 to 1,200 trees per acre). The oak-pine forest canopy ranges from 35
to 50 feet high but in stands left unburned for 1 century or more, the trees may be 75 to 100 feet tall.
Ideal for ship constructed for coastal trade, oystering, barges, shallops….
Rancocas Pathways 102