Banking on Nature: The Economic Benefits to Local Communities of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Description Edwin B. Forsythe NWR, extending almost 50 miles northward from Atlantic City in coastal New Jersey, was once two distinct refuges: Brigantine NWR and Barnegat NWR, established in 1939 and 1967, respectively, to provide important wintering habitat for waterfowl, especially American black ducks and Atlantic brant. The refuges were combined in 1984 as Edwin B. Forsythe, in honor of the late conservationist Congressman from New Jersey. The refuge is comprised of approximately 47,000 acres in three counties including Atlantic, Burlington, and Ocean. Nearly 80 percent of Edwin B. Forsythe Refuge is tidal salt meadow and marsh, interspersed with shallow coves and bays, which is very important for wintering waterfowl and migratory shorebirds. Most of the remainder of the refuge is woodlands dominated by pitch pines, oaks, and some Atlantic white-cedar. More than 6,000 acres of habitat are designated as the Brigantine Wilderness Area. This includes Holgate and Little Beach Island, two of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches in New Jersey. These pristine sites provide critical nesting habitat for federally listed threatened piping plovers and a wide variety of other beach-nesting species, including black skimmers and least terns. Occasionally peregrine falcons, bald eagles and osprey are seen. Each spring and fall, thousands of water birds stop at Edwin B. Forsythe Refuge during their long migrations. Waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds may be viewed from the Wildlife Drive as they feed and rest. Refuge uplands also provide important stopover habitat for migrating passerines. Edwin B. Forsythe Refuge is a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, a Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, and an important area for wildlife photography and bird-watching. It also is a part of The Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve and The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail. Area Economy Edwin B. Forsythe NWR is located in southeastern New Jersey on the coast. Table 5-31 shows the area economy. The area population increased by 8 percent from 2001 to 2011, compared with a 4 percent increase for New Jersey and a 9 percent increase for the U.S. as a whole. Area employment increased by 10 percent from 2001 to 2011, with New Jersey showing a 5 percent increase and the U.S. a 6 percent increase. Per capita income in the area increased by 1 percent over the 2001-2011 period, while New Jersey and the U.S. increased by 4 and 5 percent respectively.
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