Author Archives: Pola

Press Release from DEP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         
December 11, 2017
 
 
Contact: Lawrence Hajna      (609) 984-1795
                Robert Geist            (609) 292-2994
                Caryn Shinske          (609) 984-1795
 
 
DEP SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON MAJOR UPDATE TO STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN
PLAN WILL GUIDE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES OVER NEXT DECADE
 
(17/P119) TRENTON – The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on a major revision of the State Wildlife Action Plan, a blueprint that will guide wildlife conservation decisions and efforts in New Jersey over the next decade.
 
The State Wildlife Action Plan will provide a strategic vision for conservation actions for wildlife species of concern and is used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of its process in determining eligibility for important grant funding to states. This is the first revision of New Jersey’s plan since 2006. 
 
“The State Wildlife Action Plan will guide DEP’s work and that of New Jersey’s very active conservation community in protecting our most vulnerable wildlife, ensuring that our great diversity of species can be enjoyed by future generations,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “We look forward to gathering valuable input from the public and conservation organizations across the state as we work together to develop the best plan possible.”
 
State Wildlife Action Plans assess the health of each state’s wildlife species and their habitats, identify the problems they face, and outline the actions needed to conserve them over the long term.  New Jersey’s 2005 Plan has helped sustain and enhance populations of at-risk species. The updated plan will continue to provide a guide for actions to protect species of greatest conservation need.
 
“By focusing on the needs of species of concern, this plan will help the Division of Fish and Wildlife make important conservation decisions that can prevent species from becoming listed as threatened or endangered,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Larry Herrighty.
 
The public is encouraged to submit comments online. To view or download the draft State Wildlife Action Plan and submit comments, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/waphome.htm
 
Previously known as the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the State Wildlife Action Plan is a 10-year blueprint for protecting rare and declining wildlife species. To make the plan more focused and to establish clear and reasonable implementation goals, the proposed revision identifies 107 Focal Species from a list of 656 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) that will be the target of conservation actions, such as habitat identification and management as well as research efforts.
 
The list includes bird species such as American woodcock, northern harrier, piping plover, cerulean warbler, and peregrine falcon; fish species such as brook trout, shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, and ironcolor shiner; reptile and amphibian species such as the northern scarlet snake,  bog turtle, New Jersey chorus frog, and northern diamondback terrapin; mammals such as the little brown bat, Indiana bat, and Allegheny woodrat; and invertebrates such as yellow lamp mussel, American bumble bee, and pink sallow moth.
 
Conservation actions have been developed to address the most serious threats to these species, such as habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and emerging diseases. Recommended actions include habitat protection and restoration, management of SGCN populations, and targeted monitoring to measure results.
 
In lieu of online submissions, written comments may be mailed to:
 
Wildlife Action Plan Comments
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Fish and Wildlife
PO Box 420, MC 501-03
Trenton, NJ  08625-0420
 
The DEP will consider all comments before submitting the final plan to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The public review and comment period will remain open until Jan. 19, 2018.

Important – TAKE ACTION TODAY

Please see our page regarding the resolution being taken up by the Pinelands Commission this Friday, July 14th.  The meeting starts at 9:30 am at the Richard J. Sullivan Center for Environmental Policy and Education, Terrence D. Moore Conference Room, 15C Springfield Road, New Lisbon, New Jersey

OTNJ’s position on this resolution can be found at this link
This is a specific call to action with some suggested text and a link to send an email to the Commissioners on this page.

Other important links to important information:

ECO EGG HUNT – 4/15 Atsion Recreation Area

What a great way to for kids to spend the day on 4/15. . . in the outdoors.

Eco Egg Hunt Flyer
Click on graphic to open pdf in new window

Flyer says: Join us at Wharton State Forest’s Atsion Recreation Area for our first ever ECO EGG HUNT.

Children of all ages are encouraged to attend and enjoy the great outdoors. We are hosting a light litter clean up to EDUCATE youngsters about environmental stewardship, and along the way they might just find some candy egg SURPRISES.

Guided Nature Hikes and Atsion Mansion Tours will also be available to those interested.

So grab your baskets and your hiking shoes and come out to Wharton State Forest.

WHEN: April 15th at 10 am

WHERE: Atsion Recreation Area, 715 Route 206 in Shamong.

Save

Sign this Petition!!

Restore Fair Access to Wharton State Forest
Petition by Ben Ruset

To be delivered to Bob Martin, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, Mark Texel, Director of the State Park Servuce, The New Jersey State House, and The New Jersey State Senate

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION

The sand roads in Wharton State Forest have been open to motorized traffic even before the state purchased the tract from the Joseph Wharton estate. While there are serious concerns about the damage that illegal off-road vehicle traffic causes, the blanket closing of over 50% of the roads in the forest is not the answer. This action will only serve to keep law-abiding people out while doing nothing to curb the abuse from the minority who drive destructively. By and large the effect will be felt by citizens who do not even drive vehicles capable of creating the kind of damage that this policy attempts to address.

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