27^th Annual World Series of Birding

The “Highlands Hawks,” the Conservancy’s birding team led by Captain Dennis Miranda, will participate in the 27th Annual World Series of Birding on Saturday, May 15th. Armed with binoculars and spotting scopes, the team will be combing the state with one objective in mind: identifying as many species of birds as possible in a 24-hour period.  This celebrated, annual event focuses world attention on New Jersey’s wealth of natural resources and its strategic importance to migrating birds. Sponsored by the New Jersey Audubon Society, it also helps organizations like the Conservancy raise funds to protect natural habitat.  You can help sponsor our team -- with a pledge of $1 or $2 or even 25 cents a bird. The more birds our team identifies, the more dollars they raise toward our land preservation goals.

You can support our World Series of Birding Team by making a pledge here! 

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Historic Dower Farm Preserved!

The historic Dower Farm in the Peapack Valley has been preserved by The Land Conservancy of New Jersey in partnership with the Somerset County Agriculture Development Board, State Agriculture Development Committee, and the Borough of Peapack & Gladstone. Overlooking the Sourland Mountains, these scenic 47 acres were permanently protected on March 23, 2010 through an agricultural easement purchased for $1,960,817. “The Land Conservancy is extremely grateful to the van den Bergh family for their dedication to preservation, and also to the SADC, the Somerset CADB, and the Borough of Peapack & Gladstone for their support in preserving Dower Farm. The preservation of this farm is central to the future of this lovely and historic landscape. This project is unique in that in addition to preserving land for agriculture, we have also protected a cultural icon that well represents a very special place in our state,” said Sandy Urgo, Land Preservation Manager for The Land Conservancy of New Jersey.

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Check us out in the current issue of New Jersey Countryside Magazine! On stands now

The article takes a look at organizations working to preserve the countryside in the Garden State and features many pictures of properties preserved with the assistance of the Conservancy.

 

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Summer Internship Opportunity 

This paid internship opportunity will begin in May.  Click here for more info

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222 Acres Preserved in Byram for Recreation and Conservation

On Friday February 19th, Byram Township, with the assistance of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, concluded a four year effort to secure 222 acres of the New Jersey Highlands known as the Hudson Farm Greenway for $4,150,000. more

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Conservancy President David Epstein was featured on ISSUES AND IDEAS this past Sunday on WSUS-FM 102.3, WNNJ-FM 103.7, WHCY-FM 106.3, and WTOC-AM 1360.

click here to listen!

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30-Acre Farm Permanently Preserved in Frelinghuysen Township
 
The 30-acre Woodcock farm in Frelinghuysen Township was permanently preserved by grants provided by The Land Conservancy of New Jersey and the Warren County farmland preservation program. Since 2006 The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has helped Frelinghuysen Township preserved 195 acres of open space and farmland in their community. Located at the scenic corner of Golden Chain Road and Camp Wasigan Road, the Woodcock Farm is an active farm supporting beef cattle and chickens with hay grown on its gently rolling fields. “The Land Conservancy has been working with the family since 2006,” stated Megan Haidet Land Preservation Specialist with the Conservancy. “Through their dedication and the support of the Township and County we are happy to see this farm permanently protected.”
 
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Land Conservancy Ends the Year with a Flourish!

 

During the final months of 2009, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey in partnership with municipalities, counties, the state, and other organizations assisted in the preservation of nine properties totaling 332 acres throughout Morris, Sussex, Essex & Warren counties. Five of these properties were preserved in the final 10 days of the year!   In many instances innovative partnerships and diverse funding sources were needed to bring a successful project to conclusion.  Projects were steeped in history, offered new opportunities for a variety of recreational activities, and protected our farmland, water resources, forests, and habitats for threatened and endangered species
 

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NJ Nets at Branch Brook Park for Partner for Parks Project

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s Partners for Parks program held a project recently at Branch Brook Park in Newark with employees from the NJ Nets. Pictured left are the four NJ Nets players and their mascot who attended the project. From left, Josh Boone, Bobby Simmons, Devin Harris, Courtney Lee and Sly.

As part of NBA Cares Week of Service, volunteers spent the day working hard weeding, pruning and spreading wood chips around 40 cherry trees. This work was necessary in order to prepare for the winter months ahead and helps to ensure the health of the cherry blossoms enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors during the parks’ cherry blossom festival held each April.
 

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11 Acres Added to South Mountain Reservation in West Orange! 
Local Leaders Support Public Question #1

     

Staff and Board Members of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey joined Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., West Orange Mayor John McKeon, Dennis Percher from South Mountain Conservancy, and Cathy Elliott-Shaw from the New Jersey Green Acres program to announce the preservation of 11 acres of open space in West Orange on Friday, October 23rd. The parcel will become part of Essex County’s South Mountain Reservation and be open to the public for recreation. In addition, the County Executive announced his endorsement of Public Question #1 on the November 3rd ballot to provide $400 million of funding for the NJ Green Acres program.

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Conservancy Earns National Recognition

Accreditation Awarded by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has become the first New Jersey based land trust organization to achieve accreditation in the state.  The announcement was made by The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the national Land Trust Alliance.  more

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The Conservancy's PSA

The Conservancy's PSA ran at the AMC theaters in Rockaway and East Hanover this summer.  Check it out!

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184-Acre Koehler Property Preserved

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey partnered with Boonton Township, Kinnelon Borough, and Rockaway Township to complete the purchase of the 184 acre Koehler Pond Property. This property is adjacent to more than 8000 acres of public land in the Farny Highlands including Buck Mountain State Park and Jersey City watershed lands. This is the third conservation property that The Land Conservancy has purchased from the Koehler family. The first two properties, totaling 587 acres, were located in Rockaway Township and were added to the Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area in 2005.

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