Project Description
Swamp pink is a perennial herb native to the eastern United States. Historically, swamp pink ranged from Staten Island to the southern Appalachians but today is found in disjunct populations on the coastal plain of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, and along isolated headwater streams and mountain bogs from Virginia to Georgia. In New Jersey, the plant can be found growing on hummocks in swamps dominated by Atlantic white cedars or red maples. Swamp pink has oblong, dark green leaves that form an evergreen rosette. Between March and May, some rosettes produce a flowering stalk with clusters of 30 to 50 small, fragrant, pink flowers. Swamp pink populations are threatened by habitat loss, off-road vehicles, poaching, and browsing by white-tailed deer. In 1988, swamp pink was listed as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Trustees are working with the Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and Raritan Valley Community College to protect and restore a population of swamp pink in East Brunswick, NJ. The East Brunswick swamp pink population is the northernmost known occurrence of the species within its range. This project includes the installation of deer exclusion fencing to protect swamp pink and nearby cedar saplings, installing anti-herbivory cages around individual swamp pink plants, implementing appropriate habitat suitability actions, and monitoring the site for a minimum of five years. The protection of this remnant population is important for maintaining the distribution and genetic diversity of the species.
Parties Implementing Restoration
Raritan Valley Community College; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DOI Project Representatives
Fish and Wildlife Service