Local Conservation Initiatives
EEF interns are involved in various conservation efforts. Weekly volunteering at Ridgeview Conservancy helps students connect with nature while planting native species, removing invasives, and clearing hiking trails. Under the guidance of experts and fellow volunteers, they remove invasive species and learn the significance, purpose, and identity of native species. Ridgeview works to conserve forests in the central New Jersey area, restore them through efforts to create trails and remove invasive species, and provide equitable access for everyone to experience the health benefits of being in nature. Along with these initiatives, the Conservancy works to educate youth about the importance of forests and foster their profound connection with the outdoors.
EEF Interns Contribute to Conservation at Ridgeview Conservation
Defending Drew Forest
By Erica Cowper:
Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, has faced financial difficulties, leading to the appointment of interim President Schwarz in 2020. A controversial proposal emerged to sell part of the university's forested land for high-density housing, threatening the campus's character. Many students, including Erica Cowper, Program Manager of Environmental Education Fund (EEF), chose Drew for its forest, and the proposal sparked significant opposition. The Drew Forest is comprised of 53 intact acres with mature trees and glacial ponds on Drew University’s 168-acre campus in Madison, NJ. It provides regional environmental and public benefits that would be lost if cleared for development. These benefits include: 22 acres of public trails, critical aquifer recharge, carbon sequestration, and opportunities for education.
With support from EEF and the Friends of the Drew Forest, students launched the Save the Drew Forest movement in 2020. Rachel Papa, a past EEF intern, helped draft a resolution for Student Government urging President Schwarz to be transparent about the land sale. Students also prepared a petition advocating for a conservation sale to protect the forest while providing the university with needed funds, garnering over 150 signatures from students and alumni.
Skyler Colarusso & Morgan Zielinski, past EEF interns, and Erica Cowper promoted the cause by distributing t-shirts and stickers in the dining hall. Despite their efforts, President Schwarz was dismissive at a town hall meeting, although he promised future transparency and a map of the potential sale areas. President Schwarz's commentary and the students' response letter in the Madison Eagle, the Drew University newsletter, highlighted the ongoing debate, with the letter receiving positive feedback.
Currently, as of May 2024, Drew University has a new President that seems more environmentally conscious, yet this conflict is still ongoing and there is a trial in progress.
-by Erica Cowper, 24, Bachelor’s degree from Drew university, Master’s from Lehigh University
Sparta Mountain in Sussex County, New Jersey, part of the Highlands region, has been extensively logged to create young forest habitats aimed at supporting species like the golden-winged warbler, New England cottontail, ruffed grouse, and massasauga rattlesnake. This logging is part of the Young Forest Initiative, which promotes habitat for species that thrive in young forests.
However, this has sparked controversy as mainly mature trees are removed. The ecological benefits of old-growth forests, which include carbon sequestration and providing habitats for various species, are being weighed against the needs of specific young forest-dependent species.
There is a call for updated research to assess the impacts of logging on the ecosystem and to evaluate whether the creation of young forests has genuinely benefited the golden-winged warbler population or if the logging might be unnecessary.
Defending Sparta Mountain
A New Jersey Forest Task Force was convened in 2022 to discuss threats facing NJ forests, including climate change and invasive species. Several Environmental Education Fund representatives, including Lindsey Kayman, President, Erica Cowper, Program Manager, and Ally Karanikas, EEF intern, were involved. Throughout this process, we tried to discuss the Young Forest Initiative and the threats this brings to NJ forests, but in the end, this was not seriously considered by the framework proposed by the leaders of the taskforce. Several letters were sent to the leaders discussing this conflict. The full Forest Task Force Report can be found here: NJ Forest Stewardship Task Force Report.pdf
In addition to the Forest Task Force, Ally wrote a petition detailing the logging in Sparta Mountain, attracted interested parties to Sparta Mountain to become more aware of these issues, volunteered at Sparta Day, and presented this issue to the Service Corps. As far as I know, as of May 2024, this issue is still ongoing, and areas of land are still being logged to make room for the Young Forest Initiative. To stay up to date on this, refer to this website.
- Erica Cowper, 24 recent graduate from Lehigh University