Contact:

SANDY PERRY, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
PHONE: 908-234-1225, EXT. 104
SANDY@NJCONSERVATION.ORG

Novartis volunteers improve habitat at Hunterdon County nature preserve

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DELAWARE TWP. – The Wickecheoke Creek Preserve in Hunterdon County has benefited once again from the volunteer land stewardship efforts of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation employees.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, a group of about 20 Novartis employees joined with staff members at New Jersey Conservation Foundation to help rid an Upper Creek Road property of invasive plants, especially Autumn olive bushes.

Two years earlier, volunteers from Novartis planed more than 1,000 native shrubs and oak trees on the same property.
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Shouts of “Timber!” rang out across the property as the volunteers, outfitted with hand saws and heavy-duty clippers, felled hundreds of the fast-growing invaders to allow native plants to flourish. They also cut down multiflora rose bushes, an invasive plant found growing around many of the olives.

The volunteers came to New Jersey Conservation Foundation courtesy of Novartis’ 13th annual Community Partnership Day of service and volunteerism. It was the fourth consecutive year the company had worked with New Jersey Conservation Foundation on stewardship projects.

Although the work was physically tiring, the volunteers tackled the job with gusto.

Michele Gysen, one of the team leaders for Novartis, was back for the fourth consecutive year. She explained that the team members signed up because they like to do outdoor work and enjoy helping New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

Another Novartis team leader, James Wilmott, clearly enjoying some time outside, demonstrated his expertise at cutting branches.

By the end of the day, several acres of land had been cleared of the invasive olive bushes, improving the habitat for native species. “A lot was accomplished – the whole view has changed,” noted Sieglinde Mueller, easement steward for New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

During the past 20 years, New Jersey Conservation Foundation has preserved more than 2,400 acres of open space and farmland along the Wickecheoke Creek Greenway, including about 850 that are public preserves for outdoor recreation. The Wickecheoke is a tributary of the D&R Canal, a major drinking water supply source for residents of Central Jersey.

Community Partnership Day is a global Novartis initiative that reaffirms the company's commitment to social responsibility and offers opportunities for associates to “give back" to the communities where they live and work. This year, more than 1,400 associates from Novartis’ East Hanover headquarters spent Oct. 1 volunteering to help more than 85 nonprofit agencies throughout New Jersey.

New Jersey Conservation is a private, nonprofit organization that preserves land and natural resources for the benefit of all. Since 1960, the foundation has preserved more than 120,000 acres. For more information, visit www.njconservation.org or call 1-888-LANDSAVE.