Over the past 40 years, we have been able to save 28,000 acres of gorgeous landscapes and critical habitats all over New Jersey. As you know, there is always more work to be done, and we are in the midst of some of our most important land preservation work ever just as our fiscal year is wrapping up on June 30. We need your help to finish the job.
Every day, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is working to preserve land—your land. Those acres contain rivers that become our drinking water, sacred indigenous land, endangered American chestnut trees, and precious green space in densely populated areas. Our work benefits millions of New Jersey residents like you, as well as the plants and wildlife that rely on us to survive.
Last year we completed an ambitious restoration on the West Brook that was years in the making. Now we are cultivating projects that will come to fruition next year and beyond, like the preservation of Split Rock Mountain. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has given us their vote of confidence with a grant of $100,000, along with a challenge to raise the rest.
Split Rock Mountain
This site, sacred to the local Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation, is owned by the Rockland County Sewer District. It was slated for public auction and development, but we were able to convince the District of the importance of preserving the property. With the help of generous members and the Doris Duke grant we have raised $218,000, but an additional $142,000 is needed to hold on to this irreplaceable treasure.
Ramapo Mountain Preserve
Adjacent to Split Rock Mountain, The Land Conservancy owns 93 acres of spectacular, rugged terrain overlooking northern New Jersey and the New York City skyline, which is connected to 13,000 acres of county and state parks. We were able to add two new parcels of land in 2020, with a third on the horizon. There’s another important 17 acres to add to the preserve this year, but we need an additional $12,000 to make this happen.
West Brook Restoration
After purchasing 198 acres to establish our new Nancy Conger West Brook Preserve, we completed a massive project to restore the headwaters of the West Brook to its historic channel. Since, everything in nature is connected, we found a small upstream dam on a separate property that must be removed in order to make the stream restoration worthwhile. We need to raise $11,000 to remove the dam and invasive plants, finally transforming this area back into a haven for wildlife.
Yards Creek Preserve
We founded this preserve in Blairstown in 2018 to protect a stream that flows into the Delaware River—a source of drinking water for 17 million people. Sounds like a small task, but we set our sights on 1,000 acres to preserve that would tremendously help the Delaware River Watershed. Over the past two years we have acquired 228 acres, removed a dilapidated home along with its sheds and septic, and planted 575 native trees to restore the forest. We have a contract to purchase another 53 acres, but we need to raise $12,000 to cover the expenses and expand this remarkable protected area.
Together, we can help ensure that future generations have fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, and beautiful places to enjoy a peaceful moment. Please join us by making a gift online at tlc-nj.org. Your gift is very important to help complete this work, and we are deeply grateful for your support.