by Alison Mitchell, Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation
New Jersey is small and densely populated, and the environment in this state we’re in is always in the crosshairs. From a climate perspective, things were pretty bad in 2024 as we experienced the hottest summer on record followed in October with the driest month. We continue to lose forests and farmland that we cannot replace, some of it to fossil fuel infrastructure that helps perpetuate the climate crisis. This combination threatens clean air and water, livable communities, and the wildlife that shares this place we call home.
Unprecedented challenges loom in 2025, with a new federal administration looking to roll back measures that protect and steward the country’s landscapes and natural resources. The bottom line? Get ready for a challenging, uphill hike!
Despite all of this, there is reason to celebrate and now is a good time to remember some of what was achieved in 2024. When enough people – or sometimes just one person – set their minds to it, really good things can happen for Mother Earth and her inhabitants.
Facing Up to the Climate Crisis – New Jersey is already a leader in the transition to clean energy, and last year, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection announced a new set of regulations to help protect New Jersey residents from the effects of climate change. If these rules are adopted, New Jersey will be the first state in the nation to combat the effects of a rapidly warming planet using climate-science modeling – improving water quality, supporting renewable energy, and safeguarding people and communities in the face of coastal flooding.
Unneeded Gas Pipeline Permit Revoked – Environmental organizations and an impacted landowner successfully challenged the Regional Energy Access Expansion pipeline; another project bringing unneeded additional gas capacity and pollution into New Jersey. A federal appeals court overturned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of the project, noting its failure to comply with the Natural Gas Act when it concluded there was a public need for the gas despite New Jersey’s conclusion that there was not. Although the fight is not over, the ruling was a significant turning point in the transition to cleaner energy and the protection of natural lands and waterways.
Progress Curbing Illegal Off-road Vehicle Damage – In November, the state released an access map for Wharton State Forest – one of New Jersey’s true Pine-Barrens treasures – that improves wildlife habitat protections, visitor access, and public safety. By designating certain roads for public use and others off-limits for vehicles, natural areas can remain protected from recreational off-road vehicle (ORV) use that disturbs and destroys some of the most unique wildlife on the east coast. Despite extensive state land holdings in the Pine Barrens, this precious and fascinating region continues to suffer from extensive illegal ORV use. A long time coming, the new map is an important step towards addressing the problem, but the state will need to step up enforcement for the measure to work.
Nature For All: A 2050 Vision For New Jersey – New Jersey leads the nation in its percentage of conserved land but there is so much more we need to do! Setting forth a fresh vision, the Nature For All report launched last April and promoted by an impressive cadre of committed individuals and conservation organizations makes two vital recommendations. First, the state must preserve 50% of the most critical remaining lands by 2050, with a focus on water resource areas, agriculture, and ecological values. Second, New Jersey must work to “green” under-resourced communities and rectify decades of environmental injustice by establishing a Green & Health Cities Initiative. This will require a focused effort by many organizations, government officials, and citizens, but the end result will be a state much more resilient to the effects of a rapidly warming climate and a healthier, more beautiful place to live. Read the report at njconservation.org/nature-for-all/.
Open Space Funding Boost! – 2024 marked the 10th anniversary of the landmark dedication of a portion of the Corporate Business Tax (CBT) for open space, farmland, and historic preservation! Transportation, land preservation, and other public interest groups joined in a successful campaign to recoup funds lost when a surcharge on the CBT expired at the end of 2023. This 2024 success ensures an additional $60 million for preservation programs, and provides much-needed funding for New Jersey Transit.
A Milestone in Highlands Protection – Twenty years ago, New Jersey made an historic investment in the future by passing the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (Highlands Act). Passage of the Highlands Act was the first broad step in protecting the region, which provides more than half the residents of New Jersey with clean drinking water. This past summer, State Sen. John McKeon introduced new legislation that would allocate $7.5 million of revenue annually from state preservation funds to preserve more critical land in the Highlands. This measure has yet to pass so please contact your state legislators and urge their support for bill number A4627/S3466. Visit https://njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster to find your legislators and their contact information.
Going forward, we will need to redouble our efforts to protect the environment and defend public lands, clean water, and the air we breathe. New Jersey is small but mighty. Collectively, we can – and will – continue to make a difference. For more information on preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at https://www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.
