News

SALEM COUNTY, N.J. — Earlier this month, a short film about the inspiring story of a South Jersey land preservation project that returned 63 acres to Indigenous conservationists earned recognition from the global environmental conservation organization Jackson Wild.

The 10-minute film, “Nature For All,” was designated as an Official Selection for Jackson Wild’s 2025 World Wildlife Day Film Showcase. One of eight films selected for the showcase from across the globe, “Nature For All” gives audiences a look into the partnership between Indigenous leaders and land preservationists that led to the creation of the Cohanzick Nature Reserve in Salem County.

The film was created by Sourland Studios, and executive produced by New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJ Conservation), a statewide nonprofit that preserves land and natural resources throughout New Jersey for the benefit of all, and NJ Conservation trustee Kathleen Bourke.

The land at the center of “Nature For All,” known as the Cohanzick Nature Reserve, is owned by the Native American Advancement Corporation (NAAC). This forested parcel is the traditional homeland of the Cohanzick Lenape people, who have cherished and cared for this land for thousands of years prior to European settlement. The property was preserved in partnership with New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program, and The Nature Conservancy in August 2023.

Each year, Jackson Wild — a nonprofit that elevates impactful storytelling at the nexus of nature, science and conservation — brings attention to critical conservation issues worldwide through its film showcase. This year’s powerful films follow the theme of “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,” highlighting the communities, projects, and ideas driving conservation forward.

“We had the privilege of working with Sourland Studios and NAAC to create a film that beautifully spotlights the deep-rooted connection between land and people, as well as the ways Indigenous values inspire conservation,” said Alison Mitchell, executive director of NJ Conservation. “Preserving land is one piece of the puzzle, ensuring the land is cared for by the next generation is another. This film shows how creative partnerships can accomplish both.”

“Nature For All” and the other 2025 Official Selection films can be watched online for free at watch.eventive.org/wwd2025.

About New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Recognizing that a healthy environment is critical to the well-being and survival of all living things, New Jersey Conservation Foundation is devoted to preserving land and protecting natural resources throughout New Jersey’s rural, suburban, and urban landscapes.

Since 1960, the nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide organization has preserved more than 140,000 acres of open space, farmland, and parks. The organization manages more than a dozen nature preserves, conducts public outreach and education programs, and advocates for sensible land use and climate policies that will protect the health of New Jersey’s plants, wildlife, and people for generations to come.