DESCRIPTION OF ROLES
1.Retired Person (prospective homeowner) - you wish to retire to a home in the N.J. Pinelands. You want neighbors close by in a planned community. You want safety and protection from forest fires with hydrants and fire fighting equipment nearby.
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2. Farmer - you farm blueberries and cranberries. In the past you have cut and burned the forests in order to clear areas for growing. You fear the loss of land through more housing construction and the threat of forest fires to your crops.
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3. Tree Farmer - you grow trees in order to sell them, such as Christmas trees. You fear forest fires because they could destroy your entire crop of trees. Also, you could lose your land because of the increasing pressure to build homes.
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4. Young Prospective Homeowner - you love the N.J. Pinelands. You want to build a home and live out in the woods surrounded by trees with no neighbors in sight. You are not concerned about forest fires - you'll take your chances.
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5. Real Estate Land Developer - you purchased the land long ago and now you feel that you should have the right to build on it and make a profit. You want to provide homes for people who desire to live in the N.J. Pinelands. Adding safety precautions against fire increases the cost of a home- and you believe people don't want to pay the extra money. Besides it's the Forest Fire Service's job, not yours, to protect people from forest fires.
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6. Contractor - since you will do the actual construction of homes, this development means jobs for you and your workers. You've built hundreds of homes in the N.J. Pinelands; and not one has been destroyed by forest fire.
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7. Local Firefighter - you have some experience fighting forest fires but mainly you have fought house fires. You've seen how quickly a forest fire can destroy a home - just two years ago a home located in the woods by itself was burned to the ground by a small forest fire before anyone could do a thing to save it. Your local fire department doesn't have the manpower or equipment to handle a major wildfire.
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8. Sportsman (hunter) - you've hunted white-tailed Deer and small game in season since you were a young boy of 12. Over the past 25 years you've seen how continual development in the N.J. Pinelands has destroyed wildlife habitats, which means less animals for you to hunt. You haven't "bagged" a deer in four seasons. Your gun club was completely destroyed in the April 20, 1963 fire, but it was eventually rebuilt.
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9. Camper - you and your family have enjoyed camping, hiking, and canoeing in the N.J. Pinelands for years. You love the Pines and are always careful with campfires, matches, lanterns, etc. You want an end to any more building - you want the forests protected for your favorite activities. You're also fearful that someday a wildfire might trap you while camping.
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10. Environmentalist/Nature Lover - you appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the N.J. Pinelands. You feel there has been far too much building already. You would like the state and the Federal government to purchase as much land as possible from private land developers in order to preserve it in its natural state. Also, you think the state should somehow limit the amount of recreational use in the Pinelands. More people in the forest increases the risk of fires.
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11. New Jersey Forest Fire Service - better than most people, you clearly understand the dangers of building homes in a fire prone forest - people are just asking for trouble. You still vividly the devastating 1963 fire which killed a friend of yours You know that if, after 23 years of extensive building in N.J. Pinelands, a fire similar to 1963 were to happen today, the loss of property, and possibly lives, would be staggering. A retirement community with hundreds of homes built close together, surrounded by a highly flammable forest, is a catastrophe waiting to happen. You've warned people, but no one listens. You would like to see no more construction, but realize the pressures for more homes. If people would at least put fire precautions into the building and maintenance of their homes, that would be a start.
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12. Longtime N.J. Pinelands Resident - you were born in the Pines, as were several generations of your family. You make a living hunting, trapping and gathering wild berries, dried plants, and pine cones. Your home has been partially burned by forest fires a few times, but you've survived. You resent the intrusion by outsiders who don't fully understand or appreciate the Pines. You are feeling the pressures of a "shrinking" forest due to increased development. However, you also realize that increased population benefits the local economy
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13. Local Fire Warden - you've fought forest fires your entire adult life. Now that you've become a fire warden, you are responsible for the entire operation of forest fire fighting in your region You realize that the present supply of manpower and equipment is totally inadequate to fight a major fire involving many homes. You are concerned about coordinating efforts with the local fire department and planning for the evacuation of residents in case of an emergency.
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14. Forester - you are responsible for the overall management of the forest and its resources. Your business is trees. There are fewer trees for you to manage today than there were 25 years ago. However, people do need homes and you know the most important building material is wood from trees. You also have prescribed burning experience. Unfortunately, you know that there isn't enough money or manpower to do prescribed burning near housing development. Prescribed burning eliminates highly flammable forest litter thus reducing the risk of a wildfire.
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15. Pinelands Commissioner - it is your responsibility to protect the N.J. Pinelands natural environment while at the same time respecting the rights and needs of the people who live there and providing for orderly, limited development. You find it difficult to balance the two. People with different and conflicting (opposite) viewpoints often put pressure on you to decide in their favor.