February is Black History Month.  While Black History is American History and should be embraced all year long, we still would like to celebrate this month by acknowledging the achievements of some famous African American environmentalists.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman may be the new face of the $20 bill.  While she is most known for being a fearless “conductor” of the Underground Railroad, she was also a naturalist! Tubman used her knowledge of the local environment to communicate and navigate her travelers through the Underground Railroad.  She also used owl calls to alert refugees when the coast was clear.  With her help and expertise, 70 people were able to escape slavery.

“Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise.” – George Washington Carver

Another important environmentalist icon to recognize is George Washington Carver.  Born into slavery, Carver went on to become one of the most prominent scientists of the 20^th century.  His research in crop rotation led to major breakthroughs in soil conservation and agriculture. He also invented and developed hundreds of products using peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans (although he did not create peanut butter, which is a common misconception).

“We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.⁠

One must of course acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  While not formally acknowledged as an environmentalist, Dr. King’s actions and the civil rights movement paved the way for the environmental movement.  When you look at today’s environmental justice movement, you will see that many of the rights that Dr. King fought for are at the center of today’s movement – the protection of all people, regardless of race, color, nationality, socioeconomic status, from environmental health hazards and the equal access to clean air, land and water.

Dr. Warren Washington (Credit: cgd.ucar.edu)

Dr. Warren Washington is one of the world’s most influential climate scientists. Dr. Washington is one of the first developers of groundbreaking atmospheric computer models that predict future states of the atmosphere and has helped scientists understand climate change around the world.  He and his fellow scientists won a Nobel Peace Prize for their research in 2007.

Audrey and Frank Peterman (Credit: Audubon)

Power couple Audrey and Frank Peterman are among the leading experts on America’s publicly-owned lands system. After traveling 12,000 miles across 40 states from Florida to Washington State, they were transformed by the stunning natural beauty, history and culture protected in our National Parks and forests. They were also shocked to see the lack of diversity in park visitors.  They are tenacious advocates for getting all Americans – regardless of race, age, or ethnicity – to take advantage of and appreciate our natural heritage.

“If we are going to be part of the solution, we have to engage the problems.” – Majora Carter

Majora Carter is an urban revitalization strategist who works to build and plan cities through an environmental lens.  This South Bronx native worked to develop the Hunts Point Riverside Park, the first open-waterfront park in the South Bronx in more than 60 years.  She is an environmental justice warrior, who works to bring nature into cities and incorporate a green economy into urban cities and rural communities alike.

While learning about these famed environmentalists is a good start, we encourage you to do more research into the countless other African Americans who have worked hard to protect our natural environment for all Americans (check out our resource links below).  Or perhaps celebrate Black History Month by picking up a nature book written by a BIPOC author (some great suggestions, here.)

By: Katie Muether Brown, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

Sources:

https://www.audubon.org/news/harriet-tubman-unsung-naturalist-used-owl-calls-signal-underground-railroad#:~:text=Harriet%20Tubman%20spent%20much%20of,quest%20for%20freedom%20in%201849.

https://blogs.cdc.gov/yourhealthyourenvironment/2019/01/21/martin-luther-king-jr-and-environmental-justice-a-leader-ahead-of-his-time-4/

https://sfenvironment.org/article/celebrating-black-environmentalists-during-black-history-month

Golfing for sport seems to be on the decline within younger generations and for good reason. Many people view golf as a boring or elitist sport, but golf also creates huge detrimental environmental impacts, as far as sports go. Often located on deforested land, behind the gates of a formal country club, golf courses require a lot of maintenance to uphold the country club standards. In lieu of the recent approval by the New York State Pine Barrens Commission for Discovery Land building company to move forward with their Lewis Road project to create a luxury resort in East Quogue, it seemed fitting to break down all the environmental risks to come.

In the US, golf courses occupy about 1,504,210 acres of land, so we have ample evidence of their negative impacts. Creating golf courses often involves destroying wild habitats and clearing out native species in an area. This can hurt ecosystem functions, and even cause the endangerment of possible at-risk species. With a clear terrain, sediment run-off into waterways becomes an issue.   On top of this, golf courses require constant upkeep to maintain the aesthetic. Companies will use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides and large amounts of water to care for the grass. This causes large amounts of water waste and pollution in our groundwater. On average, the golf courses in the US use an estimated 1.859 million acre-feet of water a year in maintenance.(GCSAA, 2014) Additionally, the daily mowing of the lawn constantly burns harmful fuels releasing their emissions into our atmosphere. 

With all that said, Long Islanders should realize the grave danger to Long Island’s environment should the Lewis Road Project in East Quogue begin. Over the past several years, countless environmentalists, scientists, civic leaders and even the founders of the Pine Barrens Act, provided expert testimony, pointing out the many ways this project fails to comply with the Pine Barrens Act and Land Use Plan. Hundreds of community members spoke out against the project. Still, in a catastrophic disappointment, Pine Barrens Commissioners voted (3-1) to move forward with the project.  However, this project is still the subject of pending litigation brought by Group for the East End and joined by our Pine Barrens Society.  There are serious violations to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) that need to be adjudicated before this project can move forward.  We are looking into other legal avenues as well.

Dick Amper- Lewis Road Hearing 2/20

Now with all the golf hating out of the way, golf is still a beloved sport by many, so it’s worth mentioning the ways to make it more sustainable. Some golf courses have already made the switch to supplying their turf with native vegetation that may require less water. Other ways to reduce water waste, is to use recycled water or greywater when watering the lawn. To avoid the use of pesticides, companies can take a biological control approach. Most importantly, establishing companies should reach out to environmental groups in their area or research into the environmental regulations to ensure their course creates the least environmental damage to their area.  Golf courses should never be built in sensitive environmental areas, such as the Pine Barrens.

By Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

Is your dog your best friend?  Have you ever wanted to bring your dog along on a hike with you? Well, you might be happy to learn that several parks in the Long Island Pine Barrens are “Fido-Friendly.”

A walk in the woods is good for both you and your dog.  Bringing your dog on a walk can help mentally stimulate your dog, prevent obesity and other health issues, and can even help curb behavioral problems.

Staff Pup, Heidi, Exploring Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve.

Before bringing your dog along on your next nature outing, it’s important to keep some things in mind –

1. Not all parks allow dogs. Always check signage (or a park’s website) to make sure dogs are allowed before entering the woods and respect the rules.  Dogs can signal the presence of a predator and can cause a disturbance to certain wildlife, disrupting feeding and nesting patterns.  If dogs are not allowed, there’s likely an important reason why.

2. Always keep your dog on a leash. You might think your dog is super friendly and always listens to your commands well, but the purpose of the leash is to respect others that are out enjoying our parks.  Some people are afraid of dogs and it may ruin their experience to see an unleashed dog on the trail.  In addition, a leash helps keep your dog out of harm’s way and helps protect our wildlife.

3. Always pick up after your dog and most importantly, dispose of the waste properly. There are usually garbage cans at most trailheads and in some parks, cans around the property.  If your dog makes a mess, pick it up (hopefully with a biodegradable poo bag) and carry it with you until you can properly dispose of it.  Dog waste can carry and spread harmful bacteria to others and can even pollute nearby waterbodies. We are seeing more and more people bag their dog’s waste and leave it on the trail.  This is completely disrespectful to others’ experience.  No one wants to stare at neon-colored bags along a trail.  Please remember to leave no trace.

Please don’t do this. Always pick up and dispose of your dog’s waste properly.

Now that we have the rules in order, let’s talk about some options on where to take your pup!  You can always download our handy “Dog-Friendly Parks” guide for quick reference.  However, here are some of our favorite Fido-Friendly parks:

• Rocky Point State Pine Barrens Preserve, Rocky Point
• Cathedral Pines County Park, Middle Island
• Prosser Pines Nature Preserve, Middle Island
• Southaven County Park, Yaphank
• Manorville Hills County Park, Manorville
• Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve, Riverhead
• Indian Island County Park, Riverhead (technically not Pine Barrens, but close!)

Enjoy the Long Island Pine Barrens with your pup, safely and respectfully! Share your hiking adventure photos with us by using the hashtag #PineBarrensPups.

By: Katie Muether Brown, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

As the holiday season winds down and social distancing rules remain intact, you may find yourself having extra free time. So what can you do that will create a memorable experience without risking your families health? As suggested in our recent Winter Recreation Guide, participate in an outdoor seal walk. You can find groups that offer guided tours or venture out to the water on your own in hopes of stumbling across some resting seals.

Harbor seal. Notice V-shaped nostrils and spotted fur.

Long Island hosts five native seal species including; Harbor, Grey, Harp, Hooded, and Ringed seals. However, you’ll most likely come across either Harbor, Grey or Harp seals as Ringed and Hooded seals tend to stay toward arctic seas. For the most part, these seals will look pretty similar with their long torpedo-like bodies, flippers and caterpillar-like movement, but if you get a close look ( through binoculars, of course) you can discover distinctive traits between species. You’ll know you have spotted a Harbor seal if you see a dog-like snout with V-shaped nostrils and spots on the fur. In compassion, Grey seals have round heads with parallel nostrils and they’re typically grey or brown in color. Lastly, while very rare, you’ll know you’ve come across a Harp seal if you see black pigmentation on the snout and a black mark on their back that resembles a harp.

Grey Seal. Notice parallel nostrils and brown fur.

Now that you know the traits to identify the seals, it’s time to pick a location to start your seal-watching hunt. Seals have been spotted at the following park in the past,, so they may be worth a visit: Jones Beach State Park, Montauk Point State Park, or Cupsogue Beach State Park. You can also opt to attend a seal cruise or guided tours you can find online. We suggest checking out the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island. And, right now is the best time of year  to see seals. From November to about April seals rest on sandy beaches to regulate body temperature or prepare for birth. If you’re lucky enough to spot some seals on your walk, keep your distance and do not  disturb them. Seals are a federally-protected species and are protected against harassment and being killed. Harassment is defined as anything that can cause a change in the mammal’s behavior. Always maintain a 200 feet distance when observing seals. As adorable as they look, they are still unpredictable wild animals! 

Harp seal. Notice black back and snout.

By Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

2020 – a year we most certainly will never forget.  The year has been referred to as a “dumpster fire,” a nightmare, surreal and relentless.  I think we can agree that those terms are appropriate for a year marked by such profound loss.  Was there any bright side?  For us environmentalists, we were happy to see so many new people finding the value in nature for the first time.

With many businesses, restaurants and other indoor recreation closed due to the pandemic, families were looking for somewhere to escape to.  The answer? People explored the outdoors, our national, state and local parks, in record numbers.  Certain national parks saw a 9 to 21% increase in visitors this past year.  And while no official data has been released on the amount of visitors to New York State’s parks in 2020, there has been plenty of local news and anecdotal stories that depict long park entrance lines that had never been seen before.  There was also a surge in the purchase of camping and outdoor recreation gear.

At our Pine Barrens Society, we saw a spike in the amount of people visiting our recreation pages on our website.  We also fielded countless calls from people looking to explore our Pine Barrens for the first time.  We responded to this increased interest with all new recreation guides and by creating a popular #TrailFeatureFriday series on Facebook.

Group hike led by the Pine Barrens Society in November 2020

We know from experience that when people see and experience the beauty and value of nature first hand, they’re more likely to become environmental stewards themselves.  We were happy to help people experience the Long Island Pine Barrens for the first time.

I for one, felt I got to experience the changing of the seasons like never before.  I was able to spend some more time outside and felt that I noticed little natural subtleties more – noting when certain songbirds arrived to my bird feeder or the particular way certain plants bloomed in Spring. I even got to witness a family of Robins grow up in a nest in my backyard (watching from afar).  These are things I surely would have missed in the daily hustle-and-bustle of my usual pre-pandemic commute.

Premature Oak Leaf (hand for scale) observed Spring 2020

In another win for nature, global greenhouse gas emissions plunged by roughly 2.4 billion tons last year, a 7% drop from 2019 and the biggest reduction in emissions since 1945.  This was mostly caused by a decline in transportation (air travel and daily commuting).  However, we can’t get too excited – scientists say this will have little to no effect on the status of climate change, especially if emissions rebound in 2021.  We should strive to continue and accelerate this decline in emissions.  Perhaps we should permanently adopt some of the lifestyle changes brought on by the pandemic – shop small and local, work from home when we can, and instead of driving (or in extreme cases, flying) to meetings, we should opt for remote communications instead.  And of course, we should continue to invest in cleaner energy and infrastructure.

Well, it’s 2021 – what now?  It’s our hope that people will continue to embrace Long Island’s beautiful outdoors. Even though it’s Winter, you can still head outside (check out our latest Winter recreation guide for some ideas).  It is also our hope that those who have learned to love and appreciate nature will help us protect it.  Respect nature when you’re in it and leave no trace.  Make small changes at home to reduce your carbon and water footprint.  Speak up for the environment.  If there’s anything that 2020 taught us, it’s that nature is an invaluable resource – both for our physical and mental health.  It must be protected.

By: Katie Muether Brown, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

Help us continue to protect Long Island’s natural treasures – make a contribution to the Long Island Pine Barrens Society today!

The term “Endangered Species,” by definition, describes a species at risk of becoming extinct. When most people hear this term, they probably picture a flagship species, like panda bears. The unfortunate reality is that we have endangered species even here in the Long Island Pine Barrens. A species can become endangered through habitat destruction (naturally caused or human evoked), overhunting, invasive species outcompeting with native species, or lack of genetic variation. Knowing the risk factors of endangerment makes it easier to implement conservation plans. Sometimes, species can become endangered to a specific location. We see that with the following species and their declining population in the Long Island Pine Barrens.

The Eastern Mud Turtle

These small hard-shelled reptiles have populations ranging from Long Island all the way to Eastern Texas. Their species covers a large part of the country however, the Eastern Mud Turtle population in New York holds an endangered status. The decline of these small turtles is due to their migration over roads where they’re often unseen and hit by drivers, destruction of their New York habitat or illegal pet trade. The DEC recommends conservation plans that would include placing turtle crossing signs on roads intersecting turtle habitats and maintaining and protecting current areas these turtles knowingly reside.

Photo by: Alex Roukis

Northern Harrier Hawk

The once abundant New York Population on Harrier Hawks began to decline in the 1950s. The decline of their population is owed to the destruction of their breeding habitat and poison from pesticides. Current plans from the DEC aim to protect nesting areas and also ensure that Harrier Hawk prey populations, like grassland raptors, remain stable as well so these hawks have an abundance of food.

Photo by: CC Stan Lupo

The Eastern Tiger Salamander

The Eastern Tiger Salamanders found themselves on the New York State endangered species list, as well. Out of all New York state, you will only find these amphibians on Long Island, specifically in the Pine Barrens. The DEC estimates only 90 ponds located on Long Island occupy a breeding habitat for these creatures. When these ponds become overpopulated with predators or destroyed by off-roading vehicles, the salamanders will struggle to repopulate. Some conservation plans include the construction of salamander tunnels under roadways, instalment of salamander crossing signs and restoration of wetlands habitats.

Photo by: Alex Roukis

If you feel alarmed about losing these native Long Island species, you can make changes in your everyday life that will help species survive. First, pay attention for animals in the road, even when you don’t see signs, or if you visit a park, avoid walking through designated nesting areas. In fact, try not to disturb any wildlife you may come in contact with and try to observe from afar. You can also avoid using pesticides in your gardens, and swap it for a natural alternative to avoid possible poisoning of wildlife. Lastly try to keep your cats indoors to avoid unnecessary predation on our wildlife.

By Miranda Gonzales, The Long Island Pine Barrens Society

As the temperatures drop and the sun sets earlier, we may feel inclined to stay indoors. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to cozy up with a blanket on a cold day? But, in one of the most mentally and physically staining years, setting aside outdoor time can crucially benefit our health when we need it most. Spending time outside can boost your immune system, enhance creativity, restore focus, and improve your mood. Follow along to start planning your trip to the Pine Barrens.

Photo by: Katie Muether Brown

Who?

The Pine Barrens consists of parks that the whole family can enjoy. From grandparents to the little ones our parks provide hikes suitable for anyone. If your family can’t make it, plan a hike with your dog! You can find a list of dog friendly parks here. 

What?

Recreational activities in the Pine Barrens include; hiking, bird watching, mountain biking, landscape photography or hunting! Some parks even offer educational workshops or nature centers that feature native animals.

Note: Hunting season falls between October 1st – January 31st with waterfowl season extending into April 15th in some areas. Be sure to research hunting regulations and areas before going to a park and always check for signage posted.

Where?

Some parks we recommend for Winter exploration include:

• Prosser Pines Nature Preserve in Middle Island
• Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island
• Indian Island County Park in Riverhead
• Quogue Wildlife Refuge in Quoge

*These parks are hunt-free locations.

When?

Ideally, you may want to plan your day outside on a warm or sunny Winter day, especially because Pine Barrens tend to be colder than the surrounding areas. If the cold doesn’t bother you, then bundle up in layers, but be sure to plan out the timing to make it out of the park before dark!

Check out the full 2020 Winter Recreation guide for more details!

By Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

The holiday season is here, and that means it’s the time for togetherness, giving, and pure joy, right? Well, for some. There’s no denying participating in festive events increases holiday spirit, but when you look at the environmental impacts you may think twice about how you celebrate. If you struggle with eco-anxiety, like myself, perhaps these statistics will influence you to adopt sustainable practices for your holidays. 

Research shows that our trash production in the United States increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Years. That amounts to about an additional 25 million tons of waste sent to our landfills to be burned, emitting greenhouse gases that will accelerate the impacts of climate change. So, you see, throwing away a few plastic forks can snowball into an alarming impact (and this may be the only type of snowballing we may hear of this winter if we don’t combat the climate crisis now!). If  you feel inclined to go-green this holiday season, I encourage you to follow some of the tips below for each holiday! And, if you want to incorporate sustainable practices in your daily life too, head to our Facebook page to stay updated on our weekly sustainable tips.

Sustainable Thanksgiving
Give thanks by preparing a locally-made feast! Long Island provides several farms or farmers markets to buy local produce. Check out some of these markets when food shopping for your holiday: Sea Cliff Farmers market in Glen Cove, Natural Earth Organic Farms in Calverton, or look up some local markets/farms in your area!

So, you’ve provided your family with locally sourced food but what else can you do? Encourage your family to come prepared with their own tupperware containers! Arguably one of the best parts of Thanksgiving is snacking on leftovers for the next week! You can kill two birds with one stone when you bring your own tupperware by eliminating food waste, and avoiding disposable containers or plastic wrapped plates!

Sustainable Hanukkah/Christmas

By December 1st, the Holiday season will be in full swing. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love shopping for gifts with a hot chocolate, and Mariah Carey’s Christmas album on repeat? You don’t have to stop these traditions to have a green holiday. Sustainable shopping starts by staying mindful. Perhaps instead of shopping at the mall, look for companies that use sustainable practices, or only buy gifts the receiver will use! Better yet, give the gift of an experience.. A gift of an experience eliminates the waste of gift wrap, which contributes a large portion to the holiday waste. If you opt for a gift that needs to be wrapped try finding recycled wrapping paper or get crafty and use old newspapers, twine or any other unused fabrics laying around your home!

Another significant part of the holidays are the decorations! When decorating your homes this year aim to purchase LED lights that use less electricity and last longer. Bring out that crafty side again, and create your own decor with things you may find outdoors! Also look for natural candles for your menorahs to avoid the release of harmful chemicals. 

Sustainable New Year

While New Year’s Eve parties may look a little smaller this year, we must still consider the environmental impact of our gathering. In preparation for your party, avoid buying single use decorations or utensils. If you can’t avoid this, try swapping for a biodegradable option. 

A New Year’s Eve party wouldn’t be complete without at least one person showing up in those notorious sparkly outfits. If that person is you, try to shop secondhand. A study done in Great Britain states that about 8 million pieces of clothing get thrown in the trash after being worn once to a holiday party. Protest fast fashion by using the many online secondhand outlets, such as Poshmark, ThreadUp, or Depop. If this wont work, take a look through your local thrift stores, or a sibling’s closet!

Lastly, come up with an eco friendly resolution….except don’t wait until 2021 to start. The best time to start living environmentally friendly is now! Your small lifestyle changes will make an impact, although it may not seem like it. Hopefully these tips will help you celebrate a sustainable holiday season!

By Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

The Long Island Pine Barrens Society is continuing on with our blog feature called “Five Questions with an Environmentalist.” We have interviewed a variety of people who are involved in protecting Long Island’s natural environment – advocates, scientists, artists, educators and more! Each person has their own unique perspective and we are excited to share their voices over the next few months.

This week, we are delighted to share the interview we had with Jane Fasullo- a loyal volunteer at the Long Island branch of the Sierra Club! Let’s jump right into the interview!

1. Can you please tell us a little bit about your background?

I was born in Queens, that’s where I grew up when I was not in the Hamptons. The family was lower middle income but my mom was determined to give us a lot of outside time. So, we had a homemade, pull-behind, car trailer and an old army tent that the family lived in (mom, me and my older sister) all summer at Montauk State park. I was born in late May and taken to the ocean to “swim” in June. Mom felt I would learn how to dog paddle faster if I had to, and I did. Dad traveled back to the city to work during the weeks and joined us on weekends. So, mom learned how to use the natural foods to supplement our diet – blackberries, blueberries, wild grapes, beach plums, fish that dad caught on weekends along with clams, oysters and crabs gotten out of Napeague Harbor. When home in Queens (Whitestone), mom would make sure we were out playing every non-rainy day. We also took some day trips with the tent in the early spring and fall stopping at campgrounds around the state. When Montauk state park no longer allowed full season camping, we moved to a camp on Napeague Harbor. Dad built a “cabana” composed of bolted together 4 by 8 panels and an aluminum framed canvas roof for use at Napeague. There, being right on Napeague harbor, a much quieter body of water than the ocean and rich with seafood, we regularly clammed, fished, crabbed, etc. My folks moved our winter home to Syosset around the same time as the camp at Napeague was sold. So, mom and dad looked for land to build something on from Sag Harbor east to Montauk. They chose a parcel between Three Mile Harbor and Gardiners Bay with waterfront on both waterbodies. We continued to use the cabana on a platform dad constructed for the summer time for two years then mom and dad with some help from me, built a small house. We pumped, by hand, our own water. That was the best water I’ve ever had! While the house was under construction, my younger twin-sisters were born. Mom was pregnant when a severe hurricane hit out east – the worst one I have ever gone through. But that’s another story. We continued to eat off the land when we could and I loved going berry picking and eating those wonderful toast-tite pies – mmmm GOOD!

I tell you this so you have a good idea of why I put a lot of time now into protecting what little of that wonderful life remains.

Upon finishing high school in Syosset, I bucked my parents and went to college. To do it had to save every penny I could from working as a babysitter while going to junior and senior high, and from my summer job with as a cashier at a local electronic store (in my senior year). I moved back to Whitestone to live with my paternal grandmother so I could go to Queen College free, but I hated Queens college so I transferred to Stony Brook after one semester because scholarships paid my tuition and books while jobs on campus paid my room and board. I finished as a mathematics major with a computer minor though I always liked doing architectural design (and still do like to do floor plans for solar homes). After graduation I worked as a math teacher, a computer instruction lab manager at Stony brook U., and a part-time as a real estate salesperson. Along the way I earned a master’s degrees in general studies with electives all in science, and I attended Suffolk Community College where earned two certifications – one in drafting and one in computer programming. But from the day I was born, I loved watching nature.

When I retired, I looked for a way to keep busy. I wanted to do something for the environment. Only the Sierra Club had opportunities for people like me who wanted to make a difference for the environment but did not have a degree in science, environmental science, management, or the like.

Montauk – Jasen Miller

2. What are some of the programs that the Sierra Club offers on Long Island?

As an all-volunteer entity with no office and no staff, running programs depends entirely on who will volunteer to do them. And we can only run those that someone wants to do.

At the moment, we have only two programs; a citizen science water testing program and an outing program. The water testing program tests for some basic water quality items such as temperature, turbidity, Ph, salinity, etc. We record the data on our own website but would LOVE to have one that contains our data along with that from other programs – I think the Nature Conservancy may be looking to set up such a universal site. The outings program takes club members and people from the public into the outdoors on hikes, bicycle rides, and kayaks. On a vast majority of the events, educational discussions are held about what is being seen and what is needed to protect our natural surroundings.

Most of what we do is educational. We have a tabling program where we go to events other entities are offering and hand out information about the state of the environmental, actions they can take to help protect it, world issues such as global warming, and so on.

We also work with other organizations on programs they create and need either physical or financial help with. We are able to do advocacy and have both a political committee that mainly recommends the endorsement of local political candidates and a legislative committee that advocates for and comments on legislation. The Club has a national staff person who works on energy matters here on Long Island. Before she arrived, we had a local energy committee working on Long Island energy issues.  Now, instead of our own energy committee, those who are interested, mostly work with that staff person, though many of us still comment on and promote smart energy development. We had hopes of starting a beach/park clean-up program this summer but Covid-19 put a hold on that. We also have taken legal actions against private companies and the government when it is clear environmental damage has been done that needs to be corrected.

3. What are some of the volunteer opportunities that the Sierra Club offers on Long Island? How can individuals get involved in Sierra Club’s work?

We don’t have many opportunities for short term volunteers. Even the citizens that do the water testing have to be regulars and be trained, likewise for the outdoor program event leaders. But we need volunteers who are able to commit some serious time to starting up programs, doing advocacy, joining or heading up committees, becoming certified to be an outdoor leader/educator, manage the tabling events, and so much more.

4. What do you see as the biggest threats to Long Island’s environment?

Everything! Poisons that are killing off our insects and hurting humans, draining down our aquifers by using sewers that do not clean the water enough to be spread on the surface to recharge the aquifers, overdevelopment, poor waterbody quality which is killing off our seafood, global warming causing flooding and changing the species that can survive here, and on and on. Asking what is most important is like asking me to pick out the best piece of straw from a haystack.

Brown Tides- Long Island

5. Do you have a favorite Pine Barrens park and why is it your favorite?

I love every undeveloped piece of land on Long Island, even some just in the early stages of recovery. Each has its own characteristics and again, it’s hard to pick out one. Some have water ponds, some have water front, some have nothing but dried uplands that some consider boring, but that provide habitat for things that live nowhere else. Some include historic uses like the cranberry bogs but which show how nature can recover in spite of our abuses. Some have almost no oaks and some are nearly all oaks. Each has its own special properties. And I love them all.

Nature Deficit Disorder, a term coined by Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods, describes the behavioral impacts of children spending less time in nature and more time indoors. Some side effects include: increased childhood obesity, attention disorders, and depression. The Coronavirus pandemic makes it even harder for kids to get outside, so we must do what we can to make sure children get the outdoor experience they need.

To combat Nature Deficit Disorder, some schools have created environmental education programs, green school yards and natural playgrounds. We need to push for advanced environmental education programs in Long Island public schools so our kids can truly learn and appreciate how the natural world works. It’s equally as important to promote outdoor playtime. Constructing green school yards or natural playgrounds will give students a much-needed break from the sedentary classroom life. Some schools with these strategies see improved test scores, less bullying, and happier students overall. With the benefits being clear, why haven’t we seen public schools push to connect their students with nature?

While we wait for schools to incorporate class outside, what can you do to ensure your child doesn’t suffer the consequences of Nature Deficit Disorder? You can start by limiting screen time, but this won’t be enough. You must take your kids outside! Even adults need to reignite their adventurous side every once and while. Maybe you want to take a hike through the pines, or go bird watching, but don’t know where to go. We’ve got you covered at the Long Island Pine Barrens Society. Check our recreation tab on our website (www.pinebarrens.org/recreation/) and choose the activity you want to do! We’ll map it out for you, you just need to choose where to go!

Learn more about Nature Deficit Disorder in our upcoming newsletter – stay tuned!

By: Miranda Gonzales, Long Island Pine Barrens Society