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Trento J, Co-chairs of the Forest Stewardship Task Force presented its recommendations to guide the protection and management of New Jersey’s public forestlands today to a joint meeting of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.
The Task Force, co-chaired by Eileen Murphy from New Jersey Audubon, Tom Gilbert from New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Andy Bennett from NJ Forestry Association, and Anjuli Ramos-Busot from NJ Sierra Club, shared a comprehensive framework that was supported by a supermajority (two-thirds) of the diverse organizations and individuals involved in the process that involved many meetings and hours of discussion over the past year.
The Forest Stewardship Task Force was formed in 2022 by Sen. Bob Smith to study and identify ways in which New Jersey can best protect and manage its forests to fight climate change, prevent forest fires, improve ecosystems, and protect soil and water quality, among other things.
“The task force’s recommendations acknowledge the vital role that forests play as part of the state’s response to the climate crisis, while also recognizing the equally important goals of ecological health, biological diversity, clean air and water, and recreation opportunities in the most densely populated State in the nation,” said co-chair Ramos-Busot, director of the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club.
The report, which includes “consensus” and “non-consensus” recommendations, will be used as a “foundational” document to guide the development of policy proposals and legislation, Senator Smith said.
“Forests are critical to the environmental welfare of our state,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset). “They play a major role in mitigating global climate change, provide habitats for wildlife, help clean and protect drinking water sources, and stabilize soils. Proper management of forests is also necessary for preventing wildfires, which are becoming more frequent and intense. This report will help to identify the most effective and responsible ways to manage and preserve our forest land.”