Serpentine Barrens have been maintained for the last 12,000 years by periodic disturbance, usually in the form of fire.  The plants that are endemic to serpentine barrens soil have evolved to withstand and often thrive with periodic fire. 

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The following pictures show the progressive loss of open savanna grassland on the Cherry Hill Barrens over 48 years. Without fire, Virginia Pines and Eastern Red Cedar rapidly take over the open grassland.

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We are grateful to R. Wayne Tyndall PhD for providing the photographs.