The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey

Preserve Update: construction of the new accessible boardwalk at South Cape May Meadows Preserve is still underway! The boardwalk itself is nearly done. Next will be the installation of the railing, handrail, benches, and other final touches. Please keep in mind: there will not be any gaps in the boardwalk's surface, this is simply a progress photo. Updates to the existing trails and picnic area are complete. For your safety, The Main Trail will be closed from its trailhead near the Welcome Center to where it intersects with the Dune Connection and State Park Connection trails. Both dune crossings and the rest of the preserve's trails will remain open. If you have any questions about the trail closure, please contact Lily Mullock: [email protected] Thank you for your understanding while we make important updates to this preserve. We are so excited about this project and we can't wait to share it with you. See you on the trails!

Happy Summer Solstice! 🌞 Today is the longest day of the year and the official start of summer.

Today, we commemorate #Juneteenth, the day that enslaved people were emancipated in the United States in 1865. To create a world where people and nature flourish in harmony, we must acknowledge our history and let knowledge and understanding guide our actions. Our success lies in advancing justice for both humanity and our planet. 🌎 To learn more about the history of Juneteenth, click the link from the National Museum of African American History & Culture: https://lnkd.in/g4EX_uUD

Update from the field; the American oystercatcher chicks have hatched! These shorebirds are nesting on the one-mile of protected beach at South Cape May Meadows preserve. This protected beach provides critical habitat for beach nesting birds like American oystercatchers, least terns, piping plovers and black skimmers. For many years at this site, there was no success for the beach-nesters. Every single nest was lost to predators or dogs. In 2019, TNC piloted an innovative project to improve survival odds for these charismatic birds at two designated areas on the one-mile of protected beach this preserve protects. A large enclosure was installed, as well as decoy birds and eggs, a call box, and 45 tons of shell across the sand which is used by shorebirds for camouflage and nest-building. So far the innovative nesting enclosure has proven to be successful. In 2019; after several years of no fruitful nesters, TNC was happy to report seven least tern fledglings. While this number may seem small, it was a huge success for TNC and the nesting shorebirds who had gone several years with no fledges. Photo Credit: Dennis Flanagan

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul." –Wyland Happy World Oceans Day!

Another win for conservation in New Jersey! In an effort led by The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, 37 acres along the Paulins Kill River in Frelinghuysen are now permanently preserved! It’s a forest of oak and hickory trees, with notable giant hemlocks, limestone cliffs, and river views. The property is located in the heart of Bobcat Alley, making it TNC's 26th completed land protection project in this important wildlife corridor. This important piece of land will be owned and stewarded for public recreation by Warren County, as an addition to their White Lake Natural Resource Area just across the river. This project could not have been done without the collaboration of our partners at The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, The Open Space Institute and NJDEP-Green Acres. Many thanks!

There’s more than just fish in the sea! Explore what else the ocean provides, from crucial medicines to inspiration for music and dance. Dive into some of the many benefits the ocean brings to you and everyone you know. https://nature.ly/3XcVIK5

Happy Pride Month! 🌈 Humanity is inclusion. Dignity is respect. Pride is uplifting people from ALL communities. Let’s ensure that nature is always a welcoming place. Photo Credit: Ralph Pace

On May 21 we had 15 volunteers from PSE&G help us clean up Ryle Rd. in Paterson, NJ. Ryle Rd is near Mary Ellen Kramer Park and the Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park, part of the National Park Service. Because of the city’s combined sewers, trash often ends up in this area after heavy rain events and flooding. PSE&G Foundation has supported TNC-NJ’s Greening Our Cities Program for a number of years.

Last week, The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey and our Board of Trustees gathered to fine tune our ambitious 2030 goals. It was an inspiring gathering that left our staff and trustees hopeful and excited. From tackling climate change, to restoring rivers, to making our preserves more accessible, every contribution counts!