Q&A with Highlands Executive Director Julia Somers

Why does the New Jersey Highlands Coalition need to be a separate organization?

A hiker enjoys Allamuchy State Park. (Photo: Wilma E. Frey)

With the passage of the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, it is time for the New Jersey members of the Highlands Coalition to formally solidify and create an organization that will focus entirely and exclusively on protection of the New Jersey Highlands through effective implementation of the state's Highlands Act. The Coalition's mission is to promote protection, preservation and enhancement of water, forests, wildlife, farmland and other natural, historic and cultural resources of the Highlands and to enhance the sustainability of natural and human communities and the quality of life for current and future generations. A healthy partnership between the state government and the nonprofit and advocacy sectors will ensure the long-term protection of these important resources.

What are the greatest challenges facing the organization?

The first thing is to support creation and adoption of a strong and comprehensive Highlands Regional Master Plan. We do not anticipate this will be easy. Second, after adoption, towns in the Planning Area of the New Jersey Highlands have the opportunity to "opt in" to the Plan, which will offer them a broad array of benefits and further protect the resources of the New Jersey Highlands. Third, we will pursue a broad-based education effort so that the 5.2 million New Jersey residents who depend on the Highlands for their water supply will understand the value of the region's resources, the effectiveness of the Act and continue to support the importance of protecting this region.

Why should people continue to be concerned about the future of the region after the passage of the Highlands Act?

It's the water, stupid! A plentiful supply of clean water is something that, in the past, we have had luxury to take for granted. But, in northern New Jersey, we are rapidly approaching the time when that will no longer be true, unless we protect our water resources. The fact that this is an incredibly beautiful region, site of many forests and parks, home to many threatened and endangered species, host to thriving eco-tourism and agri-tourism industries, as well as a substantial portion of New Jersey's remaining farmland, is also important.

How would you respond to individuals that claim the Highlands Act places unfair restrictions on their property?

No property anywhere in the United States is without some type of restriction. In most places, the restrictions are dependent on the interest and value the public retains in the land. In the Highlands, with the passage of the Highlands Act, that's clearly very high. The New Jersey Highlands Coalition is joining with many others to support the renewal of the Garden State Preservation Trust, to ensure Highlands landowners are fairly compensated. At the same time, land is only becoming more scarce, and the Pinelands experience has shown that, even in the short or medium term, land will likely retain or increase its value.