New Jersey Conservation Foundation

05/29/2026

Our Manager of Science & Stewardship Emile DeVito recently spoke with New Jersey 101.5 about invasive jumping worms, which destroy healthy soil and are dangerous to NJ's ecosystems:

"The worms are harmless to people and our gardens because we can do things to fertilize and make our plants and vegetables grow. But, unfortunately, we can’t fertilize a forest or put organic matter back onto the forest floor, DeVito said."

Read more 👉 nj1015.com/asian-jumping-worms-new-jersey/

Invasive worms that can leap a foot in the air are spreading across New Jersey and dozens of other states.

05/28/2026

Like many insects, moths are in decline, much of it due to modern agricultural practices which are heavy on chemicals. In this week's State We're In column, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Executive Director Alison Mitchell reminds us of the importance of moths, our unsung pollinators. Learn more at https://www.njconservation.org/mighty-moths/

Photos (c) Jill Dodds

05/26/2026

What does it mean to hold something in trust? It means honoring a sacred commitment to protect what is precious, and to pass it forward to those who come after. 🌳⛰️💧

Please join us at our annual fundraising gala for an evening celebrating this legacy of stewardship and renewing our dedication to the work ahead. This year's gala will be held June 10 from 6-9 p.m. at The Coach House at Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/4df5hv4b

05/22/2026

Join us for a free guided bird walk with TB Wildlife Photography!
🗓️ Saturday, June 6
🕙 10 - 11 a.m.
📍 Cramer Hill Waterfront Park (playground area), 1590 Pierce Ave. Camden, NJ 08105
🔗 Register at njconservation.org/event/cramer-hill-bird-walk/
All are welcome — no birding experience needed. We'll have binoculars available to borrow. 🙂

05/21/2026

This June, Liberty State Park is celebrating its 50th Anniversary! In honor of this exceptional place, our recent State We're In column by New Jersey Conservation Foundation Executive Director Alison Mitchell explains why it’s worth pausing to consider what an extraordinary resource it offers to our state.

Read about the park's uniquely American history, activities for the celebration, and more at https://www.njconservation.org/liberty-state-park-50th-anniversary/

Photo (c) NJDEP

05/20/2026

Russell Juelg, our Senior Land Steward, was interviewed by CBS News to discuss the discovery of a new plant species in the Pine Barrens - a plant that is found nowhere else on Earth!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqiD8aYQZ_I

You can read more about this incredible discovery in a recent State We're In column at https://www.njconservation.org/triantha-novacaesariensis/

By Alison Mitchell, Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Photo: Pine Barrens’ Triantha novacaesariensis (c) David Taylor In a place as well-traveled and studied as New Jersey, it’s easy to assume that there aren’t many natural surprises left. And yet, deep in the Pine Barrens...

05/19/2026

Huge congratulations to our very own Jay Watson, who was honored with the Governor Jim Florio Excellence in Environmental Service Award at the 8th Annual Camden Environmental Summit earlier this month!🎉👏

The award, presented by Camden Community Partnership and the Camden Collaborative Initiative, was established to honor the enduring legacy of Governor Florio — a lifelong champion for Camden, environmental justice, and public service. The organizations recognized Jay’s nearly 45-year conservation career, including leadership at New Jersey Conservation Foundation and decades with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, reflecting a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and community impact.

In his current role as our Senior Fellow for Conservation Justice, Jay continues to advance equitable, climate-resilient solutions through advocacy, engagement, and investment in green infrastructure across the state.

Thank you, Jay, for all that you’ve done — and continue to do — to build a sustainable future for New Jersey communities!💚

05/18/2026

🎉🎉🎉

We're thrilled to celebrate the preservation of 115 acres of farmland and open space in Upper Freehold and Robbinsville after working alongside other advocates for more than a decade to permanently protect this historic site. Two warehouses totaling 453,720-square-feet of space were planned for development on the site, which would have brought flooding and pollution to the area.

Read more via The Asbury Park Press:

The properties in Upper Freehold and Robbinsville, Mercer County, were originally planned for the development of two warehouses.

05/15/2026

Last month, New Jersey Conservation Foundation joined the legal fight demanding an environmental review of a proposed ICE detention facility in Roxbury Township.

Here's the latest from NJ.com: "President Donald Trump’s administration has agreed to hold off on converting a Roxbury warehouse into an immigration detention center until it completes a federally mandated environmental review, a significant concession to New Jersey and local officials who have been fighting the plan in court since March." Read more at the link below.

New Jersey sued to stop an ICE detention center in a Morris County warehouse. Now the feds have to prove it's a good idea before they can build it.