Letters: Healthy forests

Hunterdon County Democrat By Hunterdon County Democrat Hunterdon County Democrat
on July 29, 2013 at 9:21 AM, updated July 29, 2013 at 9:27 AM

To the editor:

Given Gov. Christie’s desire for a second term, he should consider something before he signs or vetoes the Healthy Forests Act. Does he want an endangered species to vanish from the state during his watch? Without signing this bill increasing the stewardship of DEP-administered forests, parks, and wildlife management areas, this is a possibility during the next five years.

That species is the golden-winged warbler, which has dwindled to 25 breeding pairs in the state, mostly in the northwestern extremes. Why is this bird on the brink when the state owns 719,000 acres, largely for the benefit of recreation and wildlife? It is because the state is not creating young forests that this and other wildlife species need to survive.

While forestry had been practiced in state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas from their inception, this stewardship was virtually eliminated during the 1980s. Those young forests have matured to a point where early-successional species no longer utilize them. Thus, 33 species are now Species of Greatest Conservation Need because of lack of proper stewardship from state government.

While the DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is making a valiant effort to create habitat for golden-winged warbler in and near Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area, should those projects not increase local populations, then the next area to focus on would be along the New York-New Jersey state line. This may include portions of High Point, Waywayanda, Ringwood, and Long Pond Ironworks state parks, and Abram S. Hewitt, Norvin Green, and Ramapo Mountain state forests.

So if state government is mandated to prevent endangered species from extinction, and it owns land where wildlife management projects could occur, then why are projects being focused on one area, and not all possible avenues? As boggling as it sounds, it is because those properties are administered by the DEP Division of Parks and Forests, whereas the DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife administers wildlife management areas.

As sad as it sounds, that administrative difference could doom a species in New Jersey.
The fact that early successional species are obviously declining statewide — and that forest health on state-owned lands is declining by any number of metrics — has captured the attention of the legislature. Conservation-minded legislators from both sides of the aisle passed this bill with the support of a broad coalition of environmental groups.

In just a few days, Gov. Christie will choose between transforming DEP or continuing administrative nonsense and lack of accountability. He will choose between fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors for proper stewardship of state-owned lands or the phony fiscal boogeyman dreamed up by groups who previously had no concern for fiscal issues. He will choose between creating a more resilient New Jersey or protecting the status quo at DEP where, according to its deputy chief of staff, they “do not need our work validated by someone else.” Clearly, many New Jerseyans prefer the former to the latter.