Policy Priorities in New Jersey

As the most densely populated state in the country, open space in New Jersey is being consumed faster than it is being saved. About one-third of New Jersey is developed, and one third is protected, leaving the fate of about one third, or 1,407,000 acres, undetermined.

We are at a critical point in shaping New Jersey’s future landscape as the fate of the remaining acreage hangs in the balance. Since the 1980s, development has been outpacing conservation with more than 377,000 acres of farmland, forest and wetlands being converted for development. Simultaneously, this development has led to increased fragmentation, creating patches of disconnected landscape too small and isolated to fully function as ecosystems, and pushing wildlife ever more into busy roadways as they try to find food and raise young. 

Throughout the state, local governments, once eager to attract development, are now burdened with the often-devastating effects of land conversion: compromised water and air, loss of species and natural communities, increased infrastructure costs, hazardous environmental conditions and a decline in quality of life. And too often, traffic congestion and sprawl define what had previously been an open landscape. 

Federal environmental regulation of private land alone cannot do the job, and most New Jersey landowners are not financially able to donate land for conservation. We must champion legislation that incentivizes more private land preservation in the state, continue exploring funding and staffing opportunities for our state parks and open spaces, and commit New Jersey to a goal of conserving 50% of New Jersey’s remaining best lands by 2050.  

From turtles to bears to bobcats, New Jersey wildlife needs to be able to roam through the landscape to find food, shelter, mates and other resources. Without the ability to move in relative safety, healthy species populations simply will not persist over the long term.

Animals and plants in New Jersey are challenged with habitat loss, disconnection and degradation due to steady urbanization and a dense roadway network, with impacts worsened by the stress of changing climate conditions. Studies indicate that human activities may be altering the genetic pool for multiple species across New Jersey, including carnivores like coyote and the state-endangered Bobcat.

We are committed to pursuing policy that encourages a systematic approach to connectivity throughout New Jersey, to stop and hopefully reverse the alarming rate of regional and global biodiversity decline.

New Jersey’s 200,000+ acres of coastal salt marsh do double duty, providing critical nursery habitat for marine life while helping protect coastal communities during storms and flood events. But, many of these grassy expanses are drowning of erosion due to accelerating sea level rise from climate change.

The Nature Conservancy is championing policy to promote natural solutions for marsh nourishment and make it a widespread practice. Similar to how New Jersey’s ocean beaches are regularly bolstered with dredged sand, our coastal salt marshes can also benefit from an innovative and economical application of clean sediment from boating channels for a boost in elevation. We are building relationships with regulators to encourage nature to be a first-line approach for resilience along the coast. 

New Jersey has more than 1,700 dams blocking its rivers. Many of the dams have outlived their usefulness and become hazardous, degrading water quality, disconnecting access to important spawning habitat for migratory fish and posing a danger to recreational paddlers. Maintenance and repair of an aging dam is costly, and in many cases removing it is the cheaper and more ecologically conscious option.

The Nature Conservancy is leading the Statewide Dam Removal Partnership, which includes exploring policy ideas to streamline permitting for dam removals, build capacity of those who do this important work, create more enabling conditions for removals and brainstorming funding sources to offset the costs of these projects.

Cities are on the front lines of climate change, facing significant challenges like urban heat islands, pollution from traffic and industry, and flooding that occurs in “built” environments where natural floodplains have been devegetated and covered in concrete.

More than 92% of New Jersey’s population lives in urbanized areas. We have 324 cities, including four with populations greater than 100,000 people and high concentrations of vulnerable populations.

The Nature Conservancy is consulting with city residents and leaders to understand the environmental problems in their communities, and exploring how we can join forces to solve issues and enhance quality of life using nature. Advocacy with government officials at all levels is an effective strategy for building awareness and inspiring action on urban projects that improve conditions and boost resilience in New Jersey’s cities.