Honoring Barbara Heskins Davis

In January of 1999, Barbara Heskins Davis joined the Morris Land Conservancy as its fifth employee. The staff was working in a small office on Main Street in Boonton to set up a workshop series to promote land preservation and a Friends group for the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. That Friends Group has now won several national awards (just like us!), and the workshops have empowered dozens of towns throughout the state to protect their natural resources.

Almost three decades later, our beloved Barbara is retiring. Her accomplishments during her 27 years with TLCNJ are truly staggering. The Partners for Greener Communities Program has completed 226 land conservation plans, with close to another 20 underway. We have helped towns receive more than $275 million in federal, state, and local grants to preserve land in their communities. We have worked in 122 towns in 11 counties across the state of New Jersey. Our impact is real, and it is felt everywhere.

“How incredibly fortunate The Land Conservancy has been to have Barbara’s expertise and unwavering dedication to land conservation on our side for nearly three decades,” said TLCNJ President David Epstein. “Barbara has set a remarkable standard for environmental planning.  And by training more than 100 young people how to play an active role in preserving the environment, she has left a wonderful legacy that will be felt for many decades to come.”

We’re not the only ones who notice. Barbara has been honored by a number of our organizational partners: the Borough of Madison, Hanover Township, and the State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC) have all recognized her with well-deserved awards and proclamations and she transitions to retirement. 

During Madison’s May town council meeting, Barbara was presented with an award that named her a “champion of open space, parks, trails, and the environment,” saying, “Through her work with The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, Barbara played an instrumental role in projects that have helped shape Madison’s landscape—including the preservation of Giralda Farms, the acquisition of the MRC property, the development of trails, and ongoing efforts to protect the Drew Forest.

“Her passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to conservation have left a lasting impact on our community. We thank Barbara for her years of partnership and service, and wish her a joyful retirement filled with time spent with family and grandchildren.”

In a similar vein, Hanover Township recognized Barbara with a Distinguished Community Service Award for the many years she served as the township’s Open Space Technical Advisor, protecting and preserving the township's open space and environmental resources.

At the state level, the members and staff of the SADC expressed deep appreciation for Barbara’s contribution to the preservation of farmland in New Jersey, writing, “During your tenure as Vice President of Programs at the Land Conservancy of New Jersey you have been a true leader in the state’s conservation community. Over twenty-five years you led the development of 46 Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plans in seven counties and 18 municipalities. As a Professional Planner you brought a deep knowledge of land use planning to this effort with passion and distinction.

“Your ability to effectively articulate the importance of farmland preservation, and the many facets of planning for agricultural retention, is without compare. The knowledge passed on to county agriculture development boards, municipal agriculture advisory committees, and the public, in addition to the dozens of interns you have mentored, will continue to benefit New Jersey’s farmland preservation efforts long into the future.

“Please accept our heartfelt thanks for sharing your time, expertise, and exceedingly good nature, in support of New Jersey’s quest to remain, forever, the Garden State.”

We will miss Barbara as a colleague, but we’re happy that she will have time to rest on her laurels and spend well-deserved time with her family. Reflecting on her tenure, Barbara said, “It has been a privilege to work at The Land Conservancy. I have been continually impressed and awed by the intelligence and passion of our staff, Trustees, and partners. Ideas are openly shared and implemented. I have learned here, excelled here, and I come away with a tremendous amount of pride in what we have done together.”