New Jersey
The State We’re In: Planning ahead to protect New Jersey’s biodiversity (New Jersey Conservation Foundation column)
Ever heard of the State Wildlife Action Plan – or its more common name, “SWAP”? The same way a budgeting app lets you know you’re spending too much and should start saving now so you don’t starve later, a SWAP compels state leaders to compile a list of species whose ranks are thinning, and to make a plan to do something about it. The idea is the same: act now, stave off dire consequences later.
Every state, plus a few territories and Washington, D.C., has a SWAP. A coordinated effort to craft them got liftoff in 2000, when Congress recognized that there’s value, economic and otherwise, in proactively addressing the needs of species before they’re officially labeled threatened or endangered. SWAPs have since become our nation’s blueprint for keeping an eye on wildlife species that are declining but not yet classified as in trouble.
There’s now a chance to weigh in on a 2025 revision of New Jersey’s SWAP. Last year, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Wildlife division opened a bid for public comments on our SWAP’s list of animals that fit the category of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Until July 12, they’re accepting public input, via their website, about plant and fungi species they’ve identified as SGCNs. What they’re looking for: Insights on species that might have been overlooked and thoughts on how we can better conserve the plants and fungi that need conserving (general comments are also welcome). So far, Fish and Wildlife has combed through more than 50 such comments, said Kim Korth, Fish and Wildlife’s SWAP coordinator.
You don’t need to be a biologist, conservationist, or even a nature lover to understand why gathering a wide swath of input on New Jersey’s vulnerable flora and fauna matters. A meticulously crafted SWAP, with input from stakeholders from a range of backgrounds, is good for people and business as well as plants and other animals.
Recovering a fish species by restoring a wetland, for example, not only benefits that species but can improve local water quality, protect the nearby community from flooding, and create jobs. On the other hand, if a species is in such bad shape it qualifies for the emergency room measures of the endangered list, it’s more difficult, and more expensive, to recover.
Fish and Wildlife’s callout in May for input on plants and fungi is its third public appeal for suggestions for the 2025 SWAP, and it won’t be the last. Korth expects the next opportunity for public comment to be announced on the division’s website this fall. The final draft will likely be shared with the public for comment by May 2025, she said. The timing of these callouts isn’t random. Next year, states are required to submit their revised plans to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a precondition for receiving funds from the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program.
The appeal to the public to get involved reflects the scope of the current revision. “It’s pretty major,” Korth said. “We’re putting into play comments we’ve been receiving since 2018,” when the last big revision was submitted. Since then, “there’s been a lot of feedback about what needs to be improved.” Another reason the revision is weightier than in past years: Until now, plants and fungi have been excluded from the SGCN list!
Their addition to the revised SWAP has been in the works for years. “It was a vision we wanted to include in the last revision,” Korth said, but the department lacked the resources. Now, “more states, especially in the Northeast, are adding them. We’ve gotten better at this.”
In 2025, animals like the bog turtle and the Eastern box turtle — both dwindling, both critical parts of their ecosystems —will be joined by 100 vascular plant species (Pickering’s Morning Glory, Hirst Brothers’ Panic Grass, the rare orchid Small Whorled Pogonia, Broom Crowberry, Bog Rosemary, and Wild Bleeding-heart are examples), 17 non-vascular plant species (such as Florida Largeleaf Peat Moss), and 11 species of fungi.
Korth and her team will address what she called “actions” to protect the SGCNs as the SWAP revision rolls on. “We’re focused on habitat improvement and threats to habitats,” she said. For example, crabbing is a threat to diamondback terrapins, so Fish and Wildlife might ask for input from recreational and commercial crabbers. “And illegal poaching and collecting is a threat to all our turtles, so there will be an action that manages that.” One more action she’s looking forward to implementing is connectivity. “Basically, animals need to move, and for that they need connected habitats. That’s a huge issue for us in New Jersey.”
The implementation of the new SWAP could be huge for New Jersey. “If this revision can help us focus the efforts of our conservation partners, and if we can collectively focus our time, money, and talents on actions that will make a difference, we can really improve the outcome for these species in the next 10 years,” Korth said.
To find out more about New Jersey’s SWAP, and to get updates on calls seeking public comments, go to https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/news-2024-05-21-njdep-fish-and-wildlife-seeks-public-comment-on-the-list-of-rare-plant-and-fungi-species-of-greatest-conservation-need-sgcn/#:~:text=NJDEP%20Fish%20%26%20Wildlife%20(NJFW),costly%20to%20protect%20or%20restore.
And for information about preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.
New Jersey
Jersey Shore beach roped off to protect nesting birds just in time for Memorial Day weekend
They took them under their wing.
A large stretch of a Jersey Shore beach is roped off to protect a bird’s nest just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
A pair of American Oystercatchers made their home on the sand in Belmar — and New Jersey Fish and Wildlife is prohibiting beachgoers from trespassing in the area to protect them and their eggs, according to NJ Advance Media.
The agency erected signs at 7th Avenue Beach — one of the most popular spots in Belmar — that say “Do Not Enter,” and explain that the area is a nesting area for the shorebirds, which are protected under federal law.
The placards also warn that “harassing these birds, their eggs or their young” can incur a $50,000 fine or jail time.
The birds are not listed as endangered or threatened species in New Jersey, according to Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.
However, their status has been to changed to one of “special concern.”
Many on social media agreed with the agency’s efforts to protect the creatures, which are known for their black and white body and long orange-red bill.
“Love love love this!!!! Beautiful birds! One of my favorite!” one gushed.
“Leave that cute birdie alone people,” another added.
Others thought even more safety precautions were needed.
“We should send a biologist or conservation police to guard the area,” one wrote.
DEP officials told the outlet that the length of time the area would be closed will be determined by whether the chicks opt to remain there after hatching.
If the baby birds decide to relocate to another spot on the beach, that new area will be closed off instead, the agency added.
It’s been nearly a decade and a half since the Brooklyn Nets moved out of New Jersey.
The organization has completely revamped its vibe since switching states, ditching the red, white and blue look for a very basic black and white colorway.
The Nets have also intermittently changed the colors of the banners hanging up in the Barclays Center from red, white and blue to black and white, much to the chagrin of traditional Nets fans.
Despite the Nets now playing in a bigger market and being far removed from their days in the Garden State, some fans seem to hope for the Nets to make their return across the river. New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill was asked about the matter.
“I mean, would I support it? I ask about it all the time,” Sherrill said. “I love the idea. So, I have been pressing for that. I haven’t made a lot of headway yet; you know, maybe in my second 100 days.
“But I do think there is some work being done for some — I don’t know if I’m allowed to say too much about it — but some people are working on some different sports coming into the Rock.”
As time went on, the Nets eventually started to embrace more of their New Jersey roots, which started when they rocked a clean tie-dye jersey from the 90s during the 2020-21 season.
The next season, the Nets followed it up with uniforms commemorating their run in the 2000s, when the team got to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 and endlessly broke the ESPN top 10 with each crazy Jason Kidd assist and Vince Carter dunk.
It’s fitting that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the latter of whom grew up in New Jersey as a Nets fan, got to rock these uniforms, helping boost the popularity of the New Jersey brand to a wide array of fans.
True Nets fans embraced the Continental Airlines Arena/Izod Center and the swamps of East Rutherford, getting to witness a winning basketball team for a fraction of the cost of the team mired in dysfunction that happened to play their home games at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
Not many marquee free agents would have signed up to play in New Jersey, but real fans remember the good times in the swamps, especially with Sly the Fox as the team’s mascot. Those times deserve to be remembered properly.
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ATLANTIC COUNTY, N.J. (WPVI) — Drivers heading to the shore on Friday afternoon saw slow-moving traffic for several miles coming off the Walt Whitman bridge, but many travelers said the start of the holiday weekend was smoother than they anticipated.
Aldara Madden, who was traveling with her friend Elana Maser, said the trip moved faster than she expected.
“I was expecting it to take a lot longer,” she said.
Maser added that they left school early to avoid delays.
“My mom and I do that every year and then we always stop here as our little pre-down the shore,” she said.
Others shared similar experiences.
“I’m coming from Bucks County, so I was worried there was gonna be some traffic but it really wasn’t bad at all,” said Erin McFadden of Churchville, who was headed to Ocean City.
AAA reported that while slightly more people are traveling by car this year compared to last, 2026 is projected to have the lowest year-over-year travel growth rate in more than a decade, excluding the steep drop seen in 2020 during the pandemic.
The organization attributes the slowdown largely to concerns over rising prices.
“Gas is ridiculously expensive and I think all the time before going anywhere these days,” said Debbie Maser of Philadelphia. “But this is our happy place and nothing can keep us away.”
A dreary weekend forecast may also be influencing travel patterns.
“I was thinking that, I wonder if there’ll be less congestion on the roads because of the weather,” said Kyra Wolin of Massachusetts. “It’s not looking to be too good this weekend with the rain.”
Still, many shore-bound travelers said tradition outweighs any concerns about rain or crowds.
“No not at all. You go down. You get it done,” said George Miller of Lansdale.
Eric Wolin of Massachusetts agreed: “Never, never. Margate’s a special place for us.”
As the unofficial start of summer begins, travelers said they remain committed to kicking off the season in their favorite spots, not letting rain, traffic, or high prices keep them away.
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