August 20th 2008 • HOME •
The Anti-Environmental Backlash
Some people on Fire Island complain about today's extreme, pro-environmental environment, and fear that the government and organizations such as ours seek the de-population of the island. According to an article in As The Grove Turns, there are "plans being bounced around by various Federal and State agencies, and backed by almost every environmental organization there is! The main proponent of these extreme, private property rights, land grabbing violations, is non[e] other then [sic] The Nature Conservancy. ...Fire Island Ecology... is also a proponent of these anti-Fire Island plans. Apparently of concern is the land buy-out proposal. Although FIE has not formally endorsed this, it does seem worthy of discussion. The land buy-out plan would involve land sold by willing sellers; there would be no infringement of property rights.
Almost all of the millions of visitors to the Fire Island National Seashore go because they love its natural environment. Most seasonal residents are there for the same reason, too. However, there is a vocal, entrenched minority (including some year-rounders) who are unsympathetic with efforts to protect the environment, and are constantly trying to do battle with the the National Park Service.
This sentiment is reflected in The Pines Paper, the only regular publication associated with the Fire Island Pines Property Owners' Association. The May 1999 issue contains the following item, which speaks for itself. We reproduce it in its entirety:
"Signs Seen in the Pines
"Piping Plover: `Tastes just like chicken.'
"Piping Plover: `The other white meat.'
"If you don't get this, you are new to the community, and require some education. Seek out a native."
FIE informed the editor that we find such a cavalier attitude toward society's effort to save this endangered species (see our Fauna page) to be in poor taste.
Lest anyone think that such sentiments are benign, the news gets worse:
In May 1999 a few members of an endangered species of birds called least terns (sterna antellalrum; graphic were found nesting on the beach at the Fire Island community of Water Island. The NPS went to meet with the residents there to decide how to proceed with any necessary vehicular restrictions. The next day, all the least tern eggs were found to have been smashed.
Updated 21 May 2003