The commission was created by an act of the New Jersey Legislature in 1979 - the Pinelands Act. Its mission statement indicates its role "is to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural and cultural resources of the Pinelands National Reserve, and to encourage compatible economic and other human activities consistent with that purpose." It consists of 15 commissioners, of whom seven are appointed by the Governor of New Jersey subject to the approval of the New Jersey Senate. Another seven commissioners are to be appointed, one each, by the seven New Jersey counties affected by the Pinelands Act: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean Counties. The 15th and final commissioner is appointed by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Commission terms are three years in length and include no official compensation. The commission meets monthly, as do most of its sub-committees.
