The Pinelands Management Area encompasses parts or whole of fifty-three municipalities within seven counties. Land uses such as transportation, communication and utility rights-of-way extend beyond county and municipal boundaries and therefore need to be addressed regionally. In other instances, municipalities that share a common setting or circumstance, such as forestry concerns or development pressures, need to coordinate planning efforts at the macro level. The Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) has established nine management areas ranging in magnitude of development and protection. Since these management areas do not always follow political boundaries, municipalities, counties and watershed associations need work together and plan at a regional scale. The Pinelands Commission also coordinates with the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, Office of Smart Growth and other agencies on an array of projects that extend beyond local boundaries.
