Tag: New Jersey Conservation Foundation
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Preparing New Jersey for a warmer, wetter future
By Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation The timing was coincidental, but could not have been more poignant. On July 16, Gov. 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…
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A giant step forward for Capital Park in Trenton
by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation 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…
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Are green spaces a fountain of youth?
by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation 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…
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Fireflies: ‘Jewels of the night’ that may be disappearing
by Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation If ever there were creatures with the power to make a summer night magical, it would be fireflies – also known as lightning bugs. Watching fireflies twinkling amongst the backdrop of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees on a warm summer night is a mesmerizing and awe-inspiring experience.…
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Help New Jersey wildlife by reporting your sightings!
by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Even in the nation’s most densely populated state, most people have tales of close encounters with wildlife – often while behind the wheel. Maybe they noticed an interesting creature passing through their neighborhood or backyard, or they stopped to help a turtle cross the road, slammed…
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Hazy orange skies illustrate need for climate action
by Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation 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,…
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A win for Liberty State Park – and the people of New Jersey!
by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation 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…
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Attorney General targets illegal off-road vehicles
by Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation The illegal use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) – including four-wheel-drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and dirt bikes – is increasingly plaguing communities throughout the state, from city streets to sensitive natural areas in the Pine Barrens and beyond. Many communities have been passing ordinances to crack…
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Share the sand with beach-nesting birds!
by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation 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…
