Camden County College Preserves Rare Plant

Camden County College was recently recognized for its efforts to preserve one of the highest quality populations of a threatened plant.

An 83-acre portion of the college's Blackwood campus, home to hiking trails and about 37 acres of wetlands, is covered by the rare swamp pink (Helonias bullata) plant.

Swamp pink is a wetlands-dwelling member of the lily family that once covered areas from New York to Georgia, but now is mostly found in New Jersey.

The CCC Board of Trustees has approved a permanent deed restriction that includes development buffers to help maintain the ecological integrity of the area.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated swamp pink as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in 1988. 

As a "threatened" plant species, swamp pink's survival is contingent upon voluntary conservation agreements such as the one approved by the college board.

To recognize the board's deed-restriction move, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently named CCC as a recovery partner.

A large placard that shows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's certificate of appreciation to the college and tells the swamp pink story has been mounted in the college’s Connector Building.

For more information on swamp pink, visit www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/Endangered/swamppink.html.