Long Island Pine Barrens Credit Program Instrumental In The Preservation Of Land

The Long Island Pine Barrens Credit Program is one of the most successful transfer of development rights programs in the country. It has been instrumental in the preservation of approximately 2000 acres of land in the core of the region. Bideawee received 13.36 credits recently to help the program cross the 1000-credit threshold.

Behind two Bideawee volunteers with dogs for adoption are, from left, Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission Executive Director John Pavacic, Commission Representative for Suffolk County Andrew Freleng, Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, Bideawee Chief Operating Officer Ray Cushmore, John Armentano, who worked on the credit transaction on Bideawee’s behalf, and Pine Barrens Society Executive Director Richard Amper.

“The significance of this landmark cannot be overstated,” said Pavacic at the event. “What the success of this program means is that we’ve been able to protect the most sensitive areas of the ecological treasure that is the Central Pine Barrens while still protecting the rights of those who own property in the core by transferring their development rights to places where it’s most appropriate. And that makes it a rare governmental program in which everybody wins.”