<human>:  Why is the New Jersey Pine barrens called a barrens?
<bot>: That’s a good question. It’s called a barrens because it’s very dry. The barrens is a unique ecosystem that has been protected from development and logging for over 100 years. The ecosystem is dominated by pines and is home to many endangered species, including the pine barrens tree frog, the pine barrens cricket, and the pine barrens snail.