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By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director James Still always wanted to become a doctor, but as a Black child in the 1800s, never had the opportunity to go to medical school. Undeterred, he learned to make botanical extracts from native plants, and studied books on anatomy, physiology, botany and medicine. Still became a skilled healer with…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director Interested in saving money on home energy bills? How about helping to fight climate change by reducing your carbon footprint? Or ensuring that the New Jersey communities most affected by environmental pollution get justice and help? If so, the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 may have something to…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” according to a Chinese proverb. But in the avian world, journeys can last well over a thousand miles – and begin with a flap rather than a step! Each spring, birds known as “neotropical migrants” make incredible long-distance journeys…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director New Jersey is not only the nation’s most densely populated state, it’s also predicted to be the first to reach full build-out – the point where all land has been either developed or preserved. If current trends continue, full build-out could occur by the middle of this century. Why is…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director If you’re near a pond, stream, or marsh on a warm day, you may notice quick-flying insects skimming across the water or swooping and darting through the air. When they alight, you may be dazzled by their brightly-colored bodies and double sets of lacy wings. They’re dragonflies and damselflies, fierce…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director It’s hard to imagine a world in which the fastest way to move freight between Philadelphia and New York City was having mules tow barges along a 70-mile canal connecting the Delaware and Raritan rivers. But that world existed when the Delaware & Raritan Canal opened in 1834. It was…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director While out walking or driving, did you ever notice trees so covered with ivy that they look like totally different life forms? In a way they are – because if the ivy continues to grow unchecked, the trees themselves might not live much longer. Trees laden with ivy are something…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Most longtime New Jerseyans – especially gardeners and growers – have noticed that winters have gotten milder over the last few decades. Cold weather seems to arrive later, and the Garden State gets fewer days of truly frigid, bone-chilling weather. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has noticed, too, thanks…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director You might think a biologist who’s spent nearly two decades researching bobcats in New Jersey would spot these native wildcats on a regular basis. If so, you’d be wrong! “For me, without cheating (by tracking a bobcat wearing a radio collar), I think I’ve seen a bobcat in the wild…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Ever heard of a “sponge city”? Sponge cities are urban areas with a superior ability to absorb rainfall and prevent flooding, thanks to abundant natural features like trees, lakes, and parks – and good infrastructure design. As climate change brings warmer temperatures, and stronger and more frequent storms, “sponginess” is…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Winter is the northeast’s quiet season, when songbirds go south, many animals hibernate, and people spend more time indoors. On the increasingly rare occasions when a blanket of snow covers the landscape, New Jersey is as silent as it can get, with even our constant drone from traffic muffled! With…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director Walk into nearly any grocery store, any time of year, and you’ll likely find fresh blueberries in the produce aisle. Many consider them a perfect fruit … sweet and juicy, delicious fresh or cooked, and packed with health-boosting antioxidants. If you’re among the many who love blueberries, you have a…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director It’s easy to take lands in their natural state for granted. An old forest or beautiful meadow in your town may have “always been there,” but unless the land has been permanently preserved, it may be built upon in the future. New Jerseyans seem to understand the wisdom of preserving…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director As thick snow fell on central New Jersey earlier this week, the bald eagle pair at Duke Farms in Hillsborough showed themselves to be responsible parents-to-be, taking turns keeping the two eggs in their nest warm while the other hunted. When it came time for a shift change, the returning…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director In an ideal New Jersey, all residents would have equal access to the outdoors and nature, with the joy and health benefits they bring. Unfortunately, there are barriers – some real, some perceived – keeping people out, especially in communities of color. One obvious barrier is that many New Jerseyans…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director New Jersey’s largest protected property, Wharton State Forest in the Pine Barrens, covers 195 square miles in Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties. For perspective, it’s bigger than the entire land mass of Hudson County! Wharton is crossed by hundreds of miles of avenues used by motor vehicles, everything from highways…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director If we say someone’s an “odd duck,” it means they have a quirky personality or unusual habits. The expression comes from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, “The Ugly Duckling,” in which (spoiler alert!) the little duck who doesn’t fit in with the rest of the flock is actually a…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director We all have personal boundaries, the limits and rules we set for our relationships. When others don’t respect our boundaries, there can be trouble! People aren’t the only ones with boundaries. Mother Earth also has boundaries – the complex systems and processes that keep the planet stable and resilient. A…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Spring is months away, but as warmer weather arrives we can expect a familiar sight at garden centers and nurseries in New Jersey: a wide offering of non-native woody plants and perennials from foreign landscapes. These plants may be attractive, with blooms or fall colors that stand out in gardens,…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director No matter where you were in New Jersey in 2023, it was impossible not to notice signs of a changing climate. Wildfires in Canada brought an orange haze to New Jersey’s skies, along with hazardous air quality that triggered breathing problems. Tropical weather systems brought intense rainstorms that caused widespread…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director Here in the nation’s most densely populated state, a diversity of wildlife is something that can never be taken for granted. Wildlife habitats face a constant barrage of threats, and many species are seriously imperiled. A combination of vigilance, sound planning and strong actions is needed to maintain the biological…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director If you’re like many New Jerseyans, you probably haven’t given much thought to squirrels, except maybe wondering how to keep them out of your birdfeeders. They’re so common in every New Jersey community – rural, suburban and urban – that a lot of people don’t give them a second glance.…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director ‘Tis the season to deck the halls with boughs of holly, decorate evergreen trees with twinkling lights, make wreaths from sprigs of greenery, and hang mistletoe from the ceiling. These pops of green have a magical way of making a home feel cozy and festive during the shortest days of…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director New Jersey’s cutest seasonal visitors are back – seals from New England and Canada who swim south each winter to follow their food sources. With their big eyes, long whiskers and almost comical resting poses, seals resemble well-fed puppies. In fact, they’re sometimes called “sea dogs.” Harbor seals – the…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director It’s easy to feel discouraged as we face the enormity of climate change and the mounting extinctions of plant and animal species. We may wonder: What can one person possibly do to help avert this unfolding catastrophe? Douglas Tallamy has a powerful message: Don’t give up, because every single person…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director Four years ago, residents of rural Warren County were shocked when a Pennsylvania developer announced plans to build 2.8 million square feet of warehouses on 600 acres of prime farmland in White Township. From the local viewpoint, nothing about the Jaindl Land Co. plan made sense. High quality soils for…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director For the past 20 years, a New Jersey organization not widely known among the general public has been making a big environmental impact through dozens of projects aimed at restoring and enhancing the state’s wetlands – ecosystems that are critical allies in the global fight against climate change. The New…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director It goes almost without saying – but I’ll say it anyway – that all the land in New Jersey once belonged to the Indigenous people who lived here for millennia before European colonization. After 400 years of wars, treaties, forced removals and migrations, and unfair government policies, little land in…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director For a small state, New Jersey is a big producer of fruits and vegetables. We earn our “Garden State” nickname by ranking in the top 10 nationally for many crops, including eggplant, tomatoes, cranberries, spinach, bell peppers, asparagus, squash, peaches, cucumbers, blueberries, and sweet corn. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director “Our whole universe was in a hot, dense state; Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started, wait; The Earth began to cool, the autotrophs began to drool …” If you’re a fan of the Big Bang Theory television series, you probably can sing the rest of the show’s theme…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director From hummingbirds to hawks, and warblers to woodpeckers, New Jersey is home to hundreds of migratory and resident bird species. Our state’s location along the Atlantic Flyway means huge increases in bird traffic during the spring and fall migration seasons. Migrations are inherently risky, as birds undertake journeys of hundreds…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Think of a farm, and you may picture rolling fields with rows of vegetables, orchards of fruit and nut trees, and bucolic pastures with cows and sheep. But farms in the Garden State often include a whole lot more: roadside stands, greenhouses, corn mazes, hay wagon rides, markets selling everything…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director Every passing week, it seems, brings a new reminder of the many ways our climate is changing, and not for the better. Most recently it was a storm fed by tropical moisture that deluged New York City with two months’ worth of rain in 24 hours, causing severe flooding. In…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director Every fall, hordes of people head to New England or upstate New York to view the annual spectacle of trees changing color. New Jerseyans know you don’t need to drive hours for great leaf viewing. Thanks to our varied geography – everything from rugged mountains to rolling piedmont to coastal…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation This past July was the hottest month on record globally, with heat impacts especially severe in urban areas lacking a robust green tree canopy. In what’s known as the “urban heat island” effect, asphalt and concrete absorb and retain the sun’s warmth. Even after sunset, there’s…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director There are plenty of great reasons to be interested in solar power: Energy from the sun is plentiful and free, and harnessing it doesn’t pollute the air with greenhouse gases at a time when the impacts of climate change have become a regular threat to our health and safety. But…

Bog turtle hatchling. Photo by Andy Scarpulla.  By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director When strolling through your local park this summer, you may have noticed turtles sunning themselves on logs or poking their heads up in lakes and ponds. Chances are they’re painted turtles or red-eared sliders, two of the most common species in New Jersey.…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director It sounded like the setup for a joke: “Pinelands to become beachfront property?” But the question posed by Heidi Yeh, policy director for the nonprofit Pinelands Preservation Alliance, is no laughing matter. A new study is predicting the collapse of a system of Atlantic Ocean currents, which could raise sea…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director Ever since he was a boy growing up in Somers Point, Atlantic County, in the 1970s – fishing and crabbing in the bay, exploring the meadows and marshes – Allen Crawford has loved nature and all living things. But nature struggled during his childhood years. Due to environmental contaminants, especially…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director The timing was coincidental, but could not have been more poignant. On July 16, Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency due to widespread flash flooding, landslides, and downed trees from severe thunderstorms that swept through the state. The next day, new state regulations to protect people and property…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director The completion of a six-year, $300 million renovation of New Jersey’s historic State House in Trenton was cause for celebration this spring, but there was something important missing: a green oasis worthy of this magnificent building and the capital city’s residents and visitors. Thanks to a vigorous campaign by park…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director The news these days is full of suggestions for how to live a longer life. You may be doing just that if you live near a green space like a park, community garden or nature preserve. A just-published study by researchers at Northwestern University found that people who live near…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director As real estate people often say, the three things that matter most about a property are location, location, location. And if you’re an organization dedicated to helping birds and marine life, there’s no better location in New Jersey than the tip of the Cape May peninsula. That’s why the future…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director Among the things that many New Jerseyans tend to take for granted are blue skies and the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities. We rarely think twice about going outside for a run, a walk, a bike ride or other physical activities for fear of sore throats, burning eyes, asthma attacks…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Ever since Liberty State Park was established in 1976 along the Jersey City waterfront, the guiding vision has been to preserve it as a “people’s park” in the style of New York’s Central Park – free, non-commercial, and open to everyone. It’s a fitting vision, as the Statue of Liberty…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of beach season at the Jersey shore. As if a switch has been flipped, beaches along the ocean and bays go from quiet and deserted to buzzing with human activity. The season does not begin as suddenly for migratory shorebirds that make New…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director The chunky woodland sandpiper called the American woodcock is a favorite of spring birdwatchers due to the male’s acrobatic courtship display flights. Making a distinctive buzz call and melodious twittering song, males rise hundreds of feet in the air before making plunging dives earthward. Though woodcocks are part of the…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director If you look at the New Jersey Pine Barrens from the road or the air, it may seem to live up to its name – miles upon miles of endless pitch pine forest. But the million-acre-plus region spanning seven counties in South Jersey is not just pines … and it’s…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director New Jersey is known as the Garden State, but not all communities are filled with trees, flowers and fresh breezes. Many of the state’s urban areas host facilities like power plants, trash and medical waste incinerators, landfills, and recycling and scrap metal processors that emit pollutants into the air. Constant…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director You wouldn’t guess this from its name, but the wild plant called sensitive joint-vetch has beautiful buttery yellow flowers with red centers and veins. Its name comes from its leaves, which fold slightly when touched. American chaffseed is another wild plant whose name gives little clue about its attractive blossoms…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Have you ever seen the Milky Way? No, not the candy bar – the galaxy we live in! If not, you’re in good company. Due to light pollution, which is especially widespread in urbanized places like New Jersey, most people can’t step outside and experience the true wonder of the…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director To some people, vultures may seem ominous as they search the landscape for dead animals to eat. If those big dark birds are circling above your head or watching you from tree branches, you might be tempted to yell, “Go away, I’m not dead yet!” Wildlife educators believe vultures have…

“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!”  – Sitting Bull Now that days are longer and temperatures are warming, many nature lovers share Sitting Bull’s joy. It’s time to get outdoors and enjoy this marvelous…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director As organic growers and educators, Newark residents Akirah and Mancoba Hlatshwako are on a mission to provide healthy foods for their community, teach others how to grow their own food, and create green jobs. But when they looked for land to start their own farm and educational nonprofit, they learned…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director New Jersey is the most densely populated and developed state, with an average of more than 1,200 residents per square mile. It’s the only state in which every county is deemed “urban” by the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet, 40 percent of this state we’re in – about 2 million acres…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Do you enjoy spending time outdoors at New Jersey’s parks, nature preserves, recreation areas, beaches and other open-air places? If so, how can your experience be improved? If you don’t get outside much, what can be done to make outdoor recreation more accessible and appealing? The New Jersey Department of…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director If you watch sports on television, including the Super Bowl, you’ve probably noticed the commercials for four-wheel-drive vehicles. With heart-pounding music playing, they show rugged vehicles climbing hills, splashing through streams and flinging mud from spinning tires. To some, it must look like fun. But what the commercials don’t show…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director When you think about farmers in the Garden State, you might picture them planting seeds, milking cows, raising poultry, harvesting crops, and delivering fresh, healthy foods to market. Without a doubt, farmers feed the world. As the old saying goes, “No farmers, no food.” Did you know that as farmers…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director “New Jersey is the Garden State. We’re known for our blueberries, we’re known for our corn, we’re known for our peaches. But we’re not known for the slaves that were here tilling the soil, we’re not known for the whole history of slavery right here, and how slavery was the…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director New Jersey isn’t nearly as famous as Vermont for maple syrup, though native sugar maple trees grow in our state’s north and central counties and many small farms tap trees for syrup. South Jersey? Not so much. Sugar maples are extremely rare in the region, and those few that do…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director From large forests to tree-lined city streets, from wooded wetlands to coastal salt marshes, green landscapes are some of humanity’s best allies in addressing threats posed by a warming climate. Trees, seagrasses and other plants act as the Earth’s lungs, pulling carbon dioxide from the air and emitting oxygen through…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in New Jersey yards and gardens often can’t be contained – especially when non-native plants are present. When species from other regions of the world are introduced, they can spread aggressively and create ecological havoc. “Invasive species” is the…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director New Jersey was quite frigid in December, but temperatures warmed as the new year arrived. So what’s happening in our forests and streams between these cold nights and mild days? Endangered tiger salamanders might be breeding while you read this! These large amphibians are in a group called mole salamanders,…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director The year 2022 will go down in history as one defined by many challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic dragged into its third year, the war in Ukraine destabilized world security and finances, and record heat, droughts and storms again brought home the reality of a changing climate. New Jersey, like everywhere…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Each year at Christmas, New Jerseyans are reminded of our state’s key role in the American Revolution as historic reenactors pile into wooden rowboats on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River and paddle toward our shore. The re-enactment commemorates General George Washington’s bold Christmas night 1776 crossing of the…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get outside and exercise more, here’s a great way to start 2023 on the right foot: Join a “First Day” hike on Jan. 1. Across New Jersey, guided New Year’s Day hikes are being organized to help residents get a jump…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director Long before the rise of interstate highways, railroads were king. During the golden age of rail transportation in the late 1800s and early 1900s, passengers and freight relied on trains to get everywhere from the next town to distant locations. But as cars and tractor-trailers took over, many rail enterprises…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director “They paved paradise, put up a parking lot,” sang Joni Mitchell in her 1970 song “Big Yellow Taxi,” a commentary on nature’s beauty being lost to development. Mitchell didn’t write the song about New Jersey – but it might seem that way, considering how much green in the Garden State…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director There’s been a lot of talk about who voted “red” or “blue” during the Nov. 8 midterm elections. But at least one issue on many ballots was nonpartisan “green” – open space preservation. Across the country, voters of all demographics and political parties overwhelmingly supported ballot questions aimed at creating…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director In stories of the first Thanksgiving more than 400 years ago, Native Americans are often portrayed as skilled hunter-gatherers who also grew crops like corn and squash. Native plant expert Jared Rosenbaum believes this view doesn’t recognize the sophistication of Indigenous people’s land management. Recent archaeological studies, he said, suggest…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director If you’re out this fall enjoying your yard, strolling through neighborhood streets or city parks, or hiking along wooded trails, you may have spotted lots of acorns, hickory nuts or beech nuts on the ground. Or maybe you noticed the opposite – a lack of acorns and other nuts in…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director You don’t have to be a space geek or even a casual Star Trek fan to be mesmerized by the images recently released by NASA. The stunning images of star clusters and other celestial phenomena were made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which launched on Christmas Day…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director Before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009, Karen Richards was an athlete. She could hike for miles on rugged mountain trails, and she regularly swam distance laps in a pool. Having multiple sclerosis changed all that for Karen, New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s director of finance and administration. She now…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director In the most urban area of the nation’s most densely populated state, there’s a small peninsula along the Hudson River where it widens into Upper New York Bay. It’s an amazing haven for nature and wildlife. Migrating shorebirds, including ospreys and American oystercatchers, stop at Caven Point in Jersey City…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director If you love fall’s spectacular colors but not raking leaves, here’s some good news: You can stop! By leaving your leaves alone, you’ll help your lawn, local wildlife and the environment. Leaves falling from trees shouldn’t be seen as trash to be collected and hauled away. Decomposing leaves are nature’s…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director Nearly everyone who lived in New Jersey 10 years ago has vivid – and possibly traumatic – memories of Superstorm Sandy slamming this state we’re in. Thirty-eight lives were lost. More than 300,000 homes were either completely destroyed or so badly damaged as to be uninhabitable. About 2.7 million people…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director The pristine wilderness of the New Jersey Pine Barrens may seem worlds apart from the state’s polluted industrial sites in need of cleanup and restoration. But one thing they had in common was James Florio in their corner. Florio – a former Governor, Congressman, Assemblyman and chair of the state…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director For four centuries, the Black community in New Jersey has been helping shape the state’s history, culture, arts, sciences, government, educational and religious institutions, and business and industry. For just as long, Black residents have been seeking equality, justice and an end to racism. From north to south, this state…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director The year was 2011 and former Assemblywoman Maureen Ogden was worried about the future of open space in New Jersey. The nation was in an economic downturn, but she wanted New Jerseyans to understand the need to create a permanent, dedicated source of funding to preserve large swaths of the…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director At nearly 125,000 acres, or 194 square miles, Wharton State Forest is by far the largest tract of land within New Jersey’s state park system. It’s bigger than Essex and Hudson counties put together, and attracts over 800,000 visitors a year! Located in the heart of the Pine Barrens, Wharton…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director The mighty Delaware River flows for 330 miles, from its source in the Catskill Mountains of New York to its mouth in the Delaware Bay between New Jersey and Delaware. It provides drinking water for 13 million people, abundant scenic beauty, a corridor for trade and commerce, and habitat for…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Like many New Jersey summers in recent years, this one has been a scorcher. For five consecutive days in Newark in late July, temperatures exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit, setting new heatwave records for the city. Other cities throughout this state we’re in sizzled as well. In the midst of the…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director For those who love fresh produce – delicious Jersey tomatoes, peaches, blueberries, corn and much more – it’s the most wonderful time of the year. New Jersey’s farm stands and farmers markets are packed with just-picked fruits, veggies and herbs – the mouth-watering stuff we can only dream of in…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Many New Jersey residents are lucky enough to live in places where they can breathe clean air and drink clean, healthy water. But many others are not, especially those in low-income and minority neighborhoods, which have more than their fair share of polluting industries like incinerators and power generating plants.…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director According to an old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Similarly, one should always “look before you leap.” In essence, plan ahead! That’s exactly the advice being given to New Jersey municipalities to help them deal with an onslaught of warehouse proposals. The State Planning…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director When outside exploring nature, many people are drawn to the animal kingdom. Animals have observable behaviors, not to mention a pair of eyes staring at you – the owl in a tree, the fawn in a clearing, the frog on a lily pad or the squirrel in the grass. The…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director From High Point State Park at the “top” of the state to Cape May Point State Park at the southern tip, New Jersey has an incredible variety of public lands. Mountains, lakes, ocean beaches, bays, deciduous forests, pine barrens, beautiful rivers and streams, historic sites – we’ve got it all!…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director Parks go a long way toward improving quality of life in New Jersey, especially in cities where asphalt and concrete dominate. Parks offer something for everyone: playgrounds and splash pads for kids, ballfields and trails for those who want exercise, community spaces for events like concerts and farmers markets, as…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director When it’s time to “hit the trail,” where do you like to go? For many people, trails are a recreational amenity – great places to hike, bike, walk their dogs, observe nature and admire scenic views. For others, urban and suburban trails provide a way to commute to work or…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director From tiny hummingbirds sipping nectar from blossoms to majestic bald eagles soaring high in the sky, birds are endlessly fascinating and can inspire a deep love of nature. But not everyone has equal exposure to the outdoors – especially people of color living in urban areas – and many do…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director In the fight against climate change, it’s clear that New Jersey needs a full toolbox of strategies to address both the causes and impacts – from reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels through clean energy and electrification, to nature-based solutions like preserving mature forests and converting flood-prone residential lands…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director Ever had a “bad mood” day when you felt stressed, anxious or gloomy – only to have your spirits lifted just by going outside and spending time in the fresh air and sunshine? If so, you’re not alone! Nature can be a powerful mood booster, as a multitude of studies…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Since the Covid-19 pandemic began two years ago, many people have rediscovered the joy of spending time in the great outdoors. Not only is being in the sunshine and fresh air good for physical and mental health, it’s a great way to gather with friends when socializing indoors isn’t safe.…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director No matter where you live in New Jersey, blue recycling bins with their triangular-arrow logo are a familiar sight along rural, suburban and city streets. It’s been 35 years since a mandatory recycling law was signed by former Governor Tom Kean to reduce the amount of metal, glass, plastics, paper…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director New York’s world-famous Central Park is a place of tranquil beauty, 843 acres of rolling terrain, winding paths, scenic woodlands, sweeping lawns, wide lakes, meandering streams and areas set aside for active recreation. It would be easy for visitors to assume that this pastoral landscape came courtesy of Mother Nature,…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director There’s a new virus going around – one that people should be aware of but not necessarily worried about catching. No, it’s not another Covid-19 variant! New Jersey wildlife and agriculture officials are keeping their eyes on an outbreak of a bird flu that’s affecting both wild and domestic birds…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director Whether tumbling down roads, tangled in tree branches, floating in rivers or washed up on beaches, plastic shopping bags seem to be everywhere. They’re among the most frequently found pieces of litter by volunteers cleaning up beaches, rivers and streams in New Jersey. Single-use plastic bags are harmful to wildlife.…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Like a caterpillar that becomes a beautiful butterfly, a contaminated property along the Delaware River in Camden has been transformed into a vibrant city park where people and nature can once again thrive. This is the first spring for the Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, a 62-acre urban oasis completed last…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director It may seem like a tall order: Make changes to your home to lower your energy bills, remove harmful pollutants from the air you breathe, and help in the global fight against climate change. But it’s not as hard as it might sound! According to a new report commissioned by…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Imagine going out on a damp winter night, wearing waders and a headlamp, in search of a large, elusive salamander that spends most of its life underground. I was lucky enough to do exactly that more than a decade ago when working at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director New Jersey has always been a busy intersection – and not just where major highways cross! This state we’re in is also a major intersection for wild things! New Jersey is the northern tip of the geographic range for many “southern” species, and the southern tip for many “northern” species.…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Harriet Tubman is legendary for her intelligence, sense of justice and – above all – extreme courage in repeatedly risking her life to help some 70 people escape slavery. What else did it take for Tubman to lead her charges hundreds of miles to freedom in the 1850s while eluding…

By Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director In the two years since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States, many people have taken solace in nature and developed a deeper appreciation for wildlife. One bright side to spending more time isolating at home has been the chance to observe more birds in our own backyards and neighborhoods.…

By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director In the fight against climate change, some of New Jersey’s most powerful weapons are tall, green and leafy. Trees, through their natural process of photosynthesis, pull harmful carbon dioxide from the air and emit oxygen. Carbon gets stored in the wood, roots and surrounding soil – keeping it out of…

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director Everyone has to eat. But not everyone in New Jersey has equal access to fresh, healthy, nutritious foods. This state we’re in has many “food deserts,” or communities without places to buy groceries. Food deserts exist mostly in cities where supermarkets are scarce and lower-income households don’t have transportation to…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director 1999-2021 This is my last weekly column as executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the nonprofit where I’ve loved working for nearly 40 years. In my years at New Jersey Conservation, I’ve made the Garden State my home and have grown to love it like a native. I’ve…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director 1999-2021 Early every winter, anticipation builds among lovers of rare birds in New Jersey. It’s time once again for the arrival of magnificent snowy owls from the north! These striking white owls with bright yellow eyes spend their breeding season north of the Arctic circle in Canada, hunting lemmings…

By Michele S. Byer, Executive Director 1999-2021 You may have noticed New Jerseyans doing a strange “dance” before the weather turned cold. It’s the Spotted Lanternfly Stomp, and it was performed in a variety of outdoor settings, including sidewalks, public parks, private yards, farms and orchards. The purpose of the Stomp was to help eradicate…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director 1999-2021 You may think of farmers’ markets as summer events, with tables laden with fresh-picked seasonal crops like Jersey tomatoes, sweet corn, peaches, melons and blueberries – and a wonderful sense of community. But winter doesn’t mean the end of healthy foods and local farm products, or even gathering…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director 1999-2021 On paper, the Munsee Three Sisters Medicinal Farm in Sussex County looks like a start-up business. But at its heart, it’s a charity with the goal of feeding, healing and sustaining members of the Turtle Clan of the Ramapough Lenape Nation. This Native American tribe historically lived in…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director, 1999-2021 New Jerseyans love preserved land! Over the past 60 years, voters overwhelmingly passed every statewide ballot question on funding to protect open space, farmland and historic sites. This state we’re in may be the nation’s most densely populated, but we’ve worked hard to permanently preserve about a third…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director, 1999-2021 Many people don’t know about the highly complex and technical steps required to preserve land! It may seem that suddenly a sign goes up on a farm or forest indicating the land is now preserved. But how did it happen? Well, one of the most knowledgeable and respected…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director, 1999-2021 A few weeks ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made headlines by announcing the removal of 23 species from its endangered list. But this was not good news.  These species are not recovering, they are extinct and gone forever. The announcement was a belated obituary for these…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director, 1999-2021 Step into a mature stand of Atlantic white cedar trees on a hot day and you’ll instantly feel cooler. These towering native evergreens grow so dense that they shade out sunlight and create forest floor habitat for ferns, sphagnum moss, liverworts, insect-eating plants, rare orchids and swamp pinks.…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director, 1999-2021 If long-tailed salamanders, Northern long-eared bats, and the other creatures of forests, fields and marshes could throw a party, they’d be celebrating this week! They just won a permanent reprieve from an unneeded and unwanted gas pipeline that would have slashed a huge swath through open space, farms,…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director, 1999-2021 New Jersey experienced its worst flooding in years on Sept. 1, when the remnants of Hurricane Ida dumped up to 11 inches of rainfall on a landscape already saturated from previous storms, including Hurricane Henri just 10 days earlier. Heavy rainfall was expected, but the torrential downpour and…

By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director, 1999-2021 Are you ready to get out and hike this fall? New Jersey has hundreds of miles of public trails: long and short, rural and urban, pedestrian and multi-use. Many are scenic, with especially stunning views and fall colors. Other trails double as transportation routes for walking or biking…

Sit outside on a summer evening around sunset and look up. If you’re in an open area with nearby woods, you may be treated to a dazzling aerial display of bats hunting for flying insects. “They’re endlessly fascinating,” said Ethan Gilardi, a bat biologist with the nonprofit Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. “They’re fun…

Farmers starting out in the Garden State face a conundrum.  On one hand, New Jersey has preserved 33 percent of its farmland and secured the protection of thousands of acres of fertile farms and soil. Yet, this state we’re in has the nation’s second most expensive farmland, putting land ownership out of reach for many…

It doesn’t take a hurricane or tropical storm to flood out streets in New Jersey’s coastal towns. “Sunny day flooding,” associated with high tides rather than storms, has become common in the past two decades due to sea level rise caused by climate change. And it will get worse in the coming years. How bad…

Long before fireworks were invented, our ancient ancestors watched the night sky for entertainment and inspiration. They saw changing moon phases, imagined animal and human shapes in the stars, and created elaborate myths about the constellations. And they’d spot meteors streaking across the sky, and comets with bright tails. All these millennia later, the night…

Stand in the sun on a hot summer afternoon and wilt.  Step into the shade and feel instant relief. Now imagine places without shade. Many New Jersey cities have too much pavement and concrete, and not enough trees with leafy canopies. Urban neighborhoods without shade trees can be up to 12 degrees hotter than nearby…

Essex and Hudson counties make up the most densely populated corner of the nation’s most densely populated state: a place with lots of people and pavement but precious little open space. But a proposal to turn nearly nine miles of abandoned railroad corridor into a 100-foot-wide linear park with a hiking and biking path, benches,…

At a time of year when most parks are green and lush, the centerpiece of Madison Square Park in New York City is a stand of skeletal trees with nary a trace of green. This bleak, gray landscape is completely intentional. The dead Atlantic white cedars are part of a unique art installation, “Ghost Forest,”…

Passion for the environment, talent for absorbing and analyzing information, strong work ethic, desire to share knowledge, and determination to make a difference. Combine these qualities with a big smile and a dose of humility and you get Abigail Fair! Abbie co-founded the Great Swamp Watershed Association, was instrumental in the passage of the New…

Ever wonder what the Green Acres signs are about all over New Jersey?  No, they’re not an advertisement for a funny old TV show! Green Acres is the name of New Jersey’s hugely successful 60-year-old program of land preservation.  You may not know that the New Jersey Green Acres Program is a national leader in…

New Jersey’s butterflies are some of the most enchanting creatures of summer, with intricate wing patterns and beautiful colors. Even their names are charming! For example, there’s the Silver-bordered fritillary, Baltimore checkerspot, Acadian hairstreak, Sleepy orange, Frosted elfin, Bronze copper, Green comma, and Pepper and salt skipper. Sadly, however, the butterflies just mentioned are either…

New Jersey is still the “Garden State,” famous for blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, corn and other delicious fruits and veggies. But these valuable crops will not grow without the services of honeybees, wild bees like bumblebees, and other insect pollinators. Together, they pollinate nearly $200 million worth of produce a year. Bees are disappearing at an…

How comfortable are you in the outdoors? Do you feel happy and safe in parks and outdoor spaces, or do you feel unwelcome or uncomfortable? Your answer may depend on the color of your skin. Not everyone feels safe in parks and nature preserves that belong to us all. People of color may feel out…

In the effort to slow climate change, forests are a powerful ally. Trees naturally remove harmful carbon dioxide from the air and store, or “sequester,” it in their roots, branches and wood. But future generations of giant canopy trees must be able to reproduce. As individual trees are lost to storms, drought, or disease, new…

After 17 years of socially distancing underground, billions of “magic” insects are about to come out for a party spreading across swaths of the northeastern United States, including New Jersey. If they’re in your neighborhood, it will get noisy! These flying insects, periodical cicadas of the genus Magicicada, are known for their bright red eyes…

Imagine if invasive plants like phragmites – the thick beds of reeds found in marshes – could be transformed into a work of art in the city of Camden? Or if a sculpture made up of straw bales in a formerly industrial Trenton neighborhood could grow food and become a beautiful gathering place for the…

Spring is here and many folks are itching to boost their health and fitness.  But with more than a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, too many of us are still stuck at computer screens: working from home, socializing online, exercising in virtual classes and even supervising children’s virtual schoolwork. Health professionals are increasingly urging people…

Take a walk in the woods this month and check out the forest floor. There in the dappled sunlight, popping up through last year’s leaves, you may spot the short-lived flowers of native perennials known as “spring ephemerals.” Spring ephemerals are native woodland wildflowers that bloom during the brief window of time between snowmelt and…

When Mark Canright’s father, John, opened his organic farm in Somerset County in 1974, many customers didn’t know what “organic” meant or why it was important. “Farmer John’s Organic Produce was the first farm in New Jersey that called itself ‘organic.’ We spent a lot of time explaining to people what it was,” recalled Mark,…

The days are longer and warmer, an unmistakable cue to New Jersey’s hibernating amphibians – frogs, salamanders and toads – that it’s time to leave their winter hideaways and start mating. The first warm, rainy nights of spring produce a frenzy of amphibian activity, as spotted salamanders, Jefferson salamanders, wood frogs and spring peepers emerge…

With spring around the corner, we’ll soon get to enjoy seeing a multitude of animals as they migrate back to New Jersey, come out of hibernation, mate and have babies, and raise their families. Animal behaviors are fascinating: How do they know how to do everything from hunting for food to avoiding danger to taking…

It’s hard to go more than a few miles in New Jersey without bumping into a historic site. The state isn’t called the “Crossroads of the American Revolution” for nothing – George Washington spent more time here than in any other state!  And New Jersey has many historic sites connected to early industry and agriculture.…

For many folks, the abandoned rail corridor along the Paulinskill River in Warren and Sussex counties wasn’t worth keeping. But Len Frank and a group of like-minded friends saw a once-in-a-lifetime chance to create a 27-mile multi-purpose trail for hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, cross-country skiers and nature lovers. Len, who passed away on Jan. 17 at…

In his 2016 book, book “Half Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life,” biologist and author Edward O. Wilson made a strong case for preserving half the planet – both land and oceans – for nature. This, he argued, is the best way to prevent a mass extinction of species that could lead to the collapse…

What’s the size of about 10 car parking spots, improves air quality, attracts butterflies and other wildlife, and enhances biodiversity? It’s a “tiny forest!” While many folks think of forests as places big enough to get lost in, tiny forests can be small spots that are densely planted with native trees, shrubs and plants. You…

Winter may seem quiet, almost like nature is taking a break.  But is this true? Many animals are hibernating, lots of birds have fled to the south and plants are dormant. But you might be surprised at all of nature’s activity in winter in this state we’re in! More than a week has passed since…

It’s hard to overstate the health benefits of walking. A brisk daily walk or hike keeps your body’s systems tuned, and helps with everything from muscle strength to blood pressure to digestion. And when you walk outdoors in nature, the benefits multiply. Fresh air, sunshine, green scenery – and, right now, the chance to walk…

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose …” By the time those famous lyrics were penned in 1945, most of the magnificent American chestnut forest in the eastern United States were gone, the victims of a blight that would eventually kill some four billion trees. In today’s terms, it would…

‘Tis the season to decorate for the holidays, and time to bring home the perfect tree. But what is the most environmentally friendly tree choice?  Cutting down a live evergreen, or sparing the ax and getting an artificial “faux fir?” Buying an artificial tree may appear to be the most eco-friendly choice, since it can…

“Friluftsliv” might be hard to pronounce, but it’s a concept to embrace this winter amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meaning “open-air life” in Norwegian, friluftsliv (pronounced free-loofts-liv) is deeply ingrained in Nordic culture. Scandinavians are renowned for their love of the outdoors, no matter the season or weather. There’s even a popular saying: “There is no…

In the not-so-distant past, the value of forests was based on the timber generated from logging. Forests without commercial timber potential were thought to be nearly worthless. Today much more is known about forest values. Forests are considered priceless for providing wildlife habitat and many “ecosystem services,” including filtering impurities from the air and water,…

By this time, most of New Jersey’s nesting migrators have headed south for the winter. Songbirds like orioles, hummingbirds, vireos, and most warblers won’t be seen again until next spring, and while some birds of prey stay during the colder months, tens of thousands of hawks, falcons, and eagles have already bid the Garden State farewell. While…

Not long ago, experts who track New Jersey’s land use and development trends were putting the nail in the coffin of suburban sprawl. As recently as this past winter, indicators showed that millennials – the generation that’s taking over the workforce, and marrying and having children – didn’t want suburban life. Instead, they wanted to…

In his 94 years, British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough has explored every part of the Earth, from polar ice caps to equatorial rain forests to African savannas. His acclaimed television series, including “Life on Earth” and “The Blue Planet,” brought exotic animal species into millions of homes, sparking a sense of wonder and discovery.…

For those who love nature and wildlife, the New Jersey Pine Barrens are a million acres of incomparable beauty and wilderness in the middle of the heavily-developed East Coast corridor. It’s a region rich in rare plants and animals, some found nowhere else on Earth, and has been designated an international Biosphere Reserve. Unfortunately for…

Liberty State Park in Jersey City – the state’s most popular park, with over 5 million annual visitors – has been called New Jersey’s Central Park. But it has something Central Park doesn’t: spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Manhattan skyline, New York Harbor and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. This state…

Do you ever read through old newspapers and notice that sometimes the topic and perspective are still pretty current and fresh? So much has changed in the world in recent decades, but our fascination with nature is timeless! Please enjoy the following column written 34 years ago by Dave Moore, the former executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation,…

If there’s any doubt that New Jersey is the Garden State, visit a local farm stand or farmers’ market. This time of year, you’ll find some of the world’s most delicious produce: fresh Jersey tomatoes, peaches, sweet corn, peppers, blueberries, melons, squash and much more. What makes them so good?  One key ingredient is excellent…

For most folks, globe-trotting vacations and cross-country road trips are out this year due to travel restrictions and quarantines. Instead, “staycations” within the Garden State seem to be the new fad. If you haven’t explored New Jersey from top to bottom, now’s the time to discover the treasures of this small but diverse state. Have…

The summer Olympics in Tokyo are on hold due to the pandemic, just like hundreds of other athletic events ranging from local 5K races and biking events to the New York City Marathon. If you’re missing the action and want to participate in a large-scale athletic event while supporting a good cause, why not join…

Since the earliest days of human civilization, the night sky has been a source of fascination and mystery.  Ancient star-gazers saw human and animal shapes in clusters of stars, and invented elaborate mythologies.  Trying to understand the night sky inspired science, religion, philosophy, mathematics, art and literature. One of the most awe-inspiring sights is a…

Nothing says summer like Jersey tomatoes, blueberries, sweet corn and peaches. We’re not called the Garden State for nothing! A new report by the nonprofit American Farmland Trust ranks New Jersey number one of all states in preserving its agricultural lands and keep farming viable. New Jersey is continuing to earn its Garden State nickname!…

When you think of farming in New Jersey, what comes to mind? Maybe huge rolling fields planted in rows of crops, or cows grazing in a pasture with a picturesque red barn? New Jersey has lots of farms like those, but farming in the nation’s most densely populated state is so much more! Picture this:…

“Raise your hand if you want to be Candy Ashmun when you grow up!” This was the question posed jokingly at the dedication ceremony for the 4,000-acre Candace McKee Ashmun Preserve at Forked River Mountain in the Pine Barrens. Immediately, dozens of hands shot up in a crowd filled with New Jersey’s conservation leaders. Of…

The coronavirus hit hard, infecting over 1.5 million residents in the U.S. and triggering the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. New Jersey is at the epicenter of the pandemic, with more COVID-19 cases than any state except New York. Thanks to difficult but essential social distancing and reduced travel, the coronavirus is hopefully…

This time of year, New Jersey is popping with color from blooming flowers and shrubs and beautiful songbirds. One of the brightest is the ruby-throated hummingbird, which returns to the Garden State each spring to breed and raise young. These tiny birds – weighing only a little more than a nickel – are the only…

When we talk about a “sea change,” we mean a deep, profound transformation. And that’s exactly what a Princeton-based group called C-Change Conversations is trying to bring about in talking with people about climate change. “Today, the vast majority may understand that climate change is happening and may believe it’s influenced by human actions,” said…

If bluebirds are a symbol of happiness, here’s some extremely happy news: New Jersey is the nation’s top state in expanding its population of bluebirds! According to Allen Jackson, president of the New Jersey Bluebird Society, a national survey of breeding birds for 2005-2015 shows that bluebirds in the Garden State are increasing their numbers…

Fifty years ago, people took to streets and campuses across America to sound the alarm on pollution and demand stronger environmental protections. The occasion was the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, an idea conceived by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson after witnessing the ecological damage caused by a massive oil spill in California the…

Dia, Fagen and Fly are high-energy dogs who love to run through woods and fields for hours, their noses to the ground. While it’s all play to them, their outings have a serious purpose: sniffing out invasive plants and insects, and helping scientists learn about the locations and movements of New Jersey’s endangered and threatened…

In the wooded wetlands of South Jersey, tender buds of swamp pink flowers are popping from the ground like stalks of asparagus. The buds open into beautiful blooms with large clusters of tiny, bright pink flowers dotted with blue anthers. More and more, these rare flowers are surrounded by cages and fences designed to protect…

Farming is unpredictable, with crops dependent on good soils and the right amounts of sun and rain. Droughts, floods, wind storms, blights and pest infestations can all derail a farm’s growing season. This year, with the worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, farmers face additional challenges. Many farmers’ livelihoods depend on selling to restaurants, but…

The coronavirus has thrown our lives into pandemonium. Schools and workplaces are closed and you can’t even go to health clubs, restaurants or bars! Stress levels can hit the roof as we worry about our families, hunker down at home and isolate ourselves with “social distancing.” Some of us are trying to work and attend…

In these uncertain and difficult times, we all need to look for signs of hope.  Thanks to Mother Nature and a little help from her friends, here is a wonderful story of recovery and hope for New Jersey’s bald eagle population. Two baby bald eagles just hatched at Duke Farms in Hillsborough – tiny fluff…

“Along the river, over the hills, in the ground, in the sky, spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm, new life, new beauty, unfolding, unrolling in glorious exuberant extravagance  –  new birds in their nests, new winged creatures in the air, and new leaves, new flowers spreading, shining, rejoicing everywhere.” -John Muir, naturalist and…

Why did the turtle cross the road? Probably to look for a place to lay her eggs. The better question might be: Can she get to the other side? The answer: Only if she’s lucky. New Jersey’s vast network of roads with high-speed traffic can be dangerous for small, slow-moving reptiles like turtles and snakes…

“Everyone wants to witness a miracle. Yet, if Walt Whitman was right and we are actually witnessing them every day, why aren’t we more aware of our good fortune? Isn’t it … miraculous that trees have sensors that can detect the length of daylight? Or that trees can ‘eat’ sunlight and turn it into nourishment…

New Jersey has an amazing diversity of landscapes, and every region has a unique assemblage of native plants and animals, geological features and history. Want to explore this state we’re in’s incredible natural diversity? Nothing tells the stories better than New Jersey’s environmental centers and science museums. These centers are gems for nature lovers of…

Governor Murphy is making a PACT with New Jersey by taking the most proactive step of any state to address climate change. “PACT” stands for Protecting Against Climate Threats, and it’s part of the governor’s proposal to reduce the vulnerability of residents to the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and air pollution.…

How often do you think about the soil under your feet? Not much, probably! But the folks at the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey are serious about it. To them, soil is not just dirt … it’s a living thing that’s crucial to producing healthy foods, and a powerful ally in the fight…

Tripod Rock, an enormous boulder balanced precariously atop three tiny rocks, has been called “Morris County’s Stonehenge.” Geologists say the amazing rock formation was created when glaciers plowed through the area over 18,000 years ago, although local lore offers the alternative theory that it was built by prehistoric Native Americans as a spiritual place. The…

It’s the nation’s most densely populated state, with the most Superfund sites, and sometimes called Cancer Alley! This state we’re in faces many environmental challenges, including air pollution, threats to clean drinking water and sprawl. But New Jersey is also a leader in open space and farmland preservation, and still rightfully retains its Garden State…

If New Jersey were to have a “people’s park,” it would be Liberty State Park in Jersey City – 1,200 acres of land and water along the Hudson River waterfront with sweeping views of the New York City skyline, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Liberty State Park was created on a former industrial site…

Every once in a while, a “blast from the past” comes along to remind you how much things have changed. That blast was a packet of old State We’re In columns from the early 1980s – nearly 40 years ago. They addressed what was then a looming crisis in the Garden State, the loss of…

Spotted lanternflies are invading from Pennsylvania into eight New Jersey counties! Fortunately for New Jersey Christmas tree farmers – and Christmas tree lovers – these alien pests don’t like the taste of evergreens. “They’re absolutely not a problem for us,” said Donna Allison Cole, executive secretary of the New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers Association. “Christmas…

Just in time for the holidays, the state of New Jersey announced plans to permanently preserve the nearly 1,400-acre “Holly Farm” property in Millville and Maurice River Township, Cumberland County. Protecting this beautiful landscape is the best possible gift to the many rare plants and animals that inhabit the ecologically-sensitive area between the Menantico Creek…

With the final leaves of fall on the ground, it’s time to look for owls! Winter is prime season for spotting and listening for owls, those incredibly mysterious and beautiful birds rarely seen up close in broad daylight. “Owls are a little more obvious at this time of year because the leaves have fallen off…

If you’re like me, you may have a case of “weather whiplash” from the wildly fluctuating temperatures. New Jersey’s long stretch of mild weather ended abruptly when the polar vortex moved southward and caused the mercury to plunge. Brrrr … a blast of January in November!  But by the time you read this, New Jersey…

Most people don’t like insects except when they’re spectacularly beautiful, like monarch butterflies. But insects are the Earth’s most numerous creatures, with a global estimate of 5.5 million species, including legions of little-known flies and beetles. Would anyone notice or care if these bugs started disappearing? In 2017, somebody did notice. A group of European…

Since colonial times the route from New York City to Philadelphia has been a well-traveled corridor, with most of its miles in New Jersey. Philadelphia was the nation’s first capital, the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed. New York served as capital city when George Washington was inaugurated as our first president and…

Winter is coming, and wildlife is getting ready. New Jersey’s wild animals – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and more – have many strategies for coping with winter. Some hibernate, some migrate, and others stay put. Who does what? Hibernators – Hibernation is more than a long winter’s nap. Animals that hibernate – including bats, woodchucks,…

Autumn is here, and the leaves will soon be down. Time for a massive yard cleanup, right? Not so fast! Before you go for the rake, blower and bags, you should know that you can help keep your lawn and soils healthy – and give yourself a break! Those brilliant red, gold and orange leaves…

Imagine two light bulbs side by side. One is a 12-watt LED bulb and the other is traditional 60-watt incandescent. When the switch is flipped, the two bulbs glow with the same amount of light. But the LED bulb uses 75-80 percent less energy. This means lower electric bills and less pollution. States are like…

Bird watchers all over New Jersey have been feeling something amiss. “I see lots of backyard birds like cardinals and robins, but I have to search harder to find birds that thrive in more natural habitats,” says Dr. Emile DeVito, staff biologist at New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “The birds are all still out there, but…

The signs said it all: “There’s no Planet B.” “The world is changing, why aren’t we?” “Our home is on fire.” “I would be in school if the planet was more cool.” Last Friday, Sept. 20, millions of young people all over the world skipped school to demand action on climate change. School strikes were…

The land conservation community in New Jersey was stunned five years ago when the private, for-profit PennEast pipeline company announced plans to build a gas pipeline across miles of preserved open space and farmland in Hunterdon and Mercer counties. “How can they do that? It’s preserved land!” was a typical reaction. This week, the long-awaited…

Your yard may be your neighbors’ envy … beautifully landscaped and well maintained. But if it’s full of non-native plants, to birds it’s a parched desert. A recent study by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute found that birds who need high-protein insects often go hungry in yards landscaped with non-native plants. As a result, populations…

Why did the turtle cross the road? On a mid-July day, a diamondback terrapin tried to cross busy 2nd Avenue in downtown Stone Harbor, in Cape May County. How it got there and where it was going are mysteries. The turtle was not near any water! One thing was certain: It was in immediate danger…

It’s hard to be optimistic in the face of climate change. For instance, just this past week we learned that July was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth. And rapidly melting glaciers in Greenland are adding billions of gallons to sea level rise, and wildfires are burning out of control in the Arctic. But…

At New Jersey’s freshwater lakes and reservoirs, summer usually means long days of swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, wading, water-skiing, rafting and paddle-boarding. But this year, a sickening intruder is spoiling the fun. Blooms of cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, have shut down water sports at several of New Jersey’s most popular lakes, including Lake…

The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was one of the worst man-made disasters in our history. Due to poor farming practices and many years of drought, topsoil in the southern plains turned to dust and blew away. Failed crops and dead farm animals led to the hunger and misery of the Great Depression. Is the…

Anyone who’s planted “garden variety” morning glories knows how easily they grow. These showy annuals climb like crazy and produce lots of seeds. New plants pop up year after year and are almost unstoppable! But that’s not the case with the delicate perennial known as Pickering’s morning glory, one of New Jersey’s rarest and most…

Someone once said “the best things in life are free.” But even “free” things like air, water and the quiet enjoyment of nature have tremendous value.  And those values can easily be stripped away. That’s the finding of a new report commissioned by New Jersey Conservation Foundation on the costs of natural gas pipelines and…

Placed end to end, the New Jersey rivers and streams proposed for higher environmental protections would stretch from High Point to Cape May and back again – twice! The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection plans to designate nearly 750 additional miles of rivers and streams throughout this state we’re in as “Category 1,” a…

While Washington turns it back on climate change, New Jersey is busy reclaiming its national leadership role on clean energy. One year ago, New Jersey passed a landmark Clean Energy Law to transition half of the state’s electricity from fossil fuels to renewable sources like wind and solar by 2030. Also one year ago, Governor…

Would you care if northeastern beach tiger beetles and arogos skipper butterflies disappeared? How about blue-spotted salamanders and southern gray tree frogs, or peregrine falcons and piping plovers? What if bobcats, Indiana bats and North Atlantic right whales vanished? All of these creatures are on New Jersey’s list of endangered species, and their prospects for…

To early European settlers, the native evergreen trees known as Atlantic white cedars must have seemed like a gift. The towering cedars – some over 1,000 years old – grew in dense swamps up and down the Atlantic coast, including many spots in New Jersey. Cedar wood was lightweight, straight-grained and rot-resistant – ideal for…

Dairy farming has always been a tough occupation. Dairy farmers work long days, milking twice a day in all seasons and every kind of weather. There are no weekends or holidays off. For hundreds of years, dairy farming provided a good living for New Jersey farm families. As recently as the 1950s and ‘60s, this…

Back in the heyday of New Jersey’s railroads in the 1800s, train lines transported everything from iron ore to peaches to oysters. The era of motor vehicles and highways eventually doomed many rail enterprises in this state we’re in. Fortunately, many old rail lines have been repurposed as pedestrian and bicycle paths. They’re known as…

The South Branch of the Raritan River is one of central New Jersey’s prettiest waterways. It winds through mostly rural and suburban towns with little industry. Its clear waters are ideal for fishing, paddling and wildlife watching. Yet, a recent pilot study by watershed watchdog Raritan Headwaters Association found a virtually invisible form of pollution:…

It was a warm, rainy May night in 2016 and filmmaker Jared Flesher was searching for threatened and rare Pine Barrens tree frogs. With help from a guide, he found himself next to a pond deep in the wilderness of Wharton State Forest. “We could hear whippoorwills singing, then we heard this ‘quonk, quonk, quonk’…

Imagine someone blasting an air horn next to your ear. Now imagine that sound thousands of times louder. That’s how experts describe the sound of seismic testing to whales, dolphins, sea turtles, fish and other marine life. Seismic testing, or blasting compressed air through water using airguns, is done to find oil deposits under the…

The late Mary Oliver, the Pulitzer Prize winning poet who passed away earlier this year at the age of 83, was an artist who used her words to paint pictures of the natural world. Her verses express deep reverence for nature as sources of beauty, solace and wisdom. “I could not be a poet without…

Nature is all around, even in cities and towns! Birds, butterflies, bugs, flowers, trees, mushrooms and even weeds! The idea behind City Nature Challenge is to get folks out looking at nature. It’s an international competition in which citizen scientists search major metropolitan areas for diverse plants and animals over four days – Friday, April…

For folks living in most of New Jersey, the idea of mountains in the low-lying Pine Barrens might seem farfetched. Many have never heard of the Forked River Mountains of Ocean County, located due west of Barnegat Bay and the Garden State Parkway. Although they’re called mountains, the Forked River Mountains are actually large sand…

Here’s a not-too-fun fact. Eighty-five percent of New Jersey’s rivers are considered impaired, in large part because their banks are denuded of vegetation. Without trees, river banks erode, sediments and contaminants are washed into rivers, and waters become too warm for trout and other aquatic wildlife. Bare riverbanks and floodplains cannot absorb rainfall from heavy…

If you build it, they will come. That’s the hope for new nesting boxes for American kestrels, whose populations have declined severely over the past 50 years. Kestrels are North America’s smallest and most colorful falcons, and were once common in New Jersey. They were easy to spot perching on trees, fence posts and telephone…

Even though it’s winter, it’s time to plan for spring! It’s time to enjoy more daylight, crocuses, returning birds … and signups for CSA farms. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and it’s a great way to put the freshest and tastiest vegetables on your table while keeping local farmers strong. The time to sign…

David Robinson, New Jersey’s official climatologist for the past 27 years, spends much of his time keeping up on research about climate change and how it’s affecting this state we’re in. He’s also a scientist and professor at Rutgers University, specializing in tracking global snow cover as a measure of how quickly the Earth is…

Bald eagles are New Jersey’s early birds. In the chill of winter, they’re the first to build nests and lay eggs. Even in the short days of December, these early birds are busy gathering sticks, grass and other materials to build or repair their nests. Only two weeks into the new year, they start laying…