a. Develop, improve, protect, manage and administer all State forests, State parks, State recreation areas, State historic sites, and State natural areas, excepting those regulated by interstate compact.

b. Protect all forests, brush lands and marshes from damage by fire, insects and disease, and promote the use of good forest management principles on all forest lands.

c. Administer the program for licensing of certified tree experts in accordance with the “Tree Expert Act” (P.L.1940, c. 100).

d. Administer the program of the Bureau of Recreation in accordance with P.L.1950, chapter 338, effective July 24, 1950.

e. Administer the program of the natural areas section in accordance with P.L.1961, chapter 51.

f. Manage the properties of the Morris Canal and Banking Company in accordance with Revised Statutes 13:12-1 to 13:12-29.

g. Administer the historic sites program as in this act provided and in accordance with Revised Statutes 28:1-4 to 28:1-11, 28:1-13, 28:1-17, 28:2-7 to 28:2-14, 28:2-17 and 28:2-18, P.L.1945, chapter 22 and P.L.1948, chapter 448.

h. Provide liaison between the Federal and the lesser governmental levels in matters pertaining to forestry, conservation, recreation, historic sites and other appropriate fields.

i. Perform such other functions of the department as the commissioner may prescribe.

L.1966, c. 54, s. 2, eff. July 1, 1966.