Pinelands: New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast
Area: 9,400 Acres
Habitat: Primarily forested wetland with areas of shrub-scrub and mixed upland forest
Site Description: The Franklin Parker Preserve is an important wetland complex located in the center of the Pinelands. It is responsible for filtering rainwater that feeds into the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer, a valuable underground water resource. The site was purchased in 2003 by New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF) and now serves as an essential link between five major state-owned parcels totaling 250,000 acres. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection designated several Natural Heritage Priority Sites in the area, including the Chatsworth Woods Macrosite. These sites are considered some of NJ’s most significant habitats.