Our region is undergoing a surge in new home building and construction activities. Because of our region’s unique natural heritage, it is imperative that land use decisions be considered with great care.

Land is being surveyed for development along the northbound lanes of Route 903 in Penn Forest Township near the turnpike interchange. Much of this area consists of forested boulder fields. To the untrained eye, these boulder communities may appear as nothing more than piles of rocks, but these habitats are teeming with microbial and insect life that is part of a larger ecosystem. Arachnids such as wolf spiders, and a variety of bugs, beetles, worms, ants and hidden creatures live among the rocks where they seek the cool damp environment under rocks to protect themselves from UV radiation and the elements. If left undisturbed, boulder communities may provide habitat for snakes and rock-dwelling mammals as well. The disturbance or removal of boulders for construction and other activities could have negative consequences for the entire boulder field ecosystem.

The forested boulder communities of Penn Forest Township, while smaller and less impressive than the famous Hickory Run Boulder Field, are equally deserving of protection. This is the same area where several acres of wetlands were destroyed for the construction of the 903 Turnpike Interchange in 2014. All “vacant” land in this vicinity should be preserved in its natural state, free from development, to compensate for the damage done to the area’s natural communities by the construction of the turnpike interchange.

Juliet Perrin

Albrightsville