The Long Island Pine Barrens Society released a six-month environmental study Wednesday that calls for immediate action toward preserving open space.

The society calls for the preservation of half of the 70,000 acres of property not already committed to the cause or development. In all, the environmental group wants 25,000 acres of open space and 10,000 acres of farmland secured.

If the public doesn't move to protect open space now, it could be gone with the blink of an eye, said Stony Brook University's Dr. Lee Koppelman. "The decisions have to be made now because within a five-year period, maybe three or four years, the land use decisions by private investors will have already been made."

Richard Amper of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society estimates the preservation cost at $3 billion. Amper said two-thirds of that money would come from the extension of existing open space programs. New York State would need to kick in the rest by increasing the environmental protection fund, Amper said.

News 12 Long Island has learned Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper will introduce a resolution next month for an extension of the quarter-cent sales tax program to protect open space. The tax is set to expire in 2013. If voters approve the proposal, it would be extended to 2030.

Related Information:Long Island Pine Barrens Society