New Jersey Conservation Foundation

06/12/2026

They’re loud 🔊
They’re synchronized ⏱️
And they’re leaving their exoskeletons behind 👋

We’re talking about cicadas! Despite all the noise, these fascinating insects are not harmful to humans, pets, household gardens, or crops. In fact, cicadas do a lot of good for the natural world. They aerate the ground (helping plants grow), and serve as a valuable food source for many different animals.

Hear more about cicadas from our Development Manager Geo Fellema.

06/11/2026

New Jersey lighthouses truly shine! And without the parks and preserved open space surrounding these monuments, many might not be standing.

Explore our state's unique maritime and ecological history in the recent State We're In column by New Jersey Conservation Foundation Executive Director Alison Mitchell: https://www.njconservation.org/lighthouses/

06/09/2026

ICYMI: We recently celebrated the grand opening of Blacksmith Triangle — a vacant lot in Trenton's North Ward that has taken on a new life as the city's latest green space! 🎉

In partnership with City of Trenton NJ - City Hall and other environmental and community organizations, we worked to transform the site into a forested park addition over the last two years. Improvements included site clearing and grading, seeding, new sidewalks, bollards, a brick-paved entry plaza, and 14 honey locust trees.🌳

A big THANK YOU to our partners and supporters who make this work possible!

Read more about the project👇
njconservation.org/press_release/vacant-lot-in-trentons-north-ward-transformed-into-city-park/

06/08/2026

06/05/2026

It’s National Trails Day tomorrow! 🎉

National Trails Day, an annual celebration on the first Saturday of June, is dedicated to discovering, giving back to, and advocating for trails across the country. Here in New Jersey, we maintain miles of trails at our preserves throughout the state.

At Apshawa Preserve in West Milford, we recently partnered with Passaic County to make significant improvements to the trail network. Members of our stewardship team worked with County park rangers to upgrade existing trails, relocate sections affected by flooding, and add new pathways designed to better serve hikers of varying abilities while protecting the nearly 600-acre preserve’s sensitive natural areas. 🌱

Hear more about the trail improvements from our North Jersey Project Manager Rebekah Buczynski and Passaic County Park Ranger Scott Campbell.

06/04/2026

It’s time we appreciate the opossum. They’re not pests. They don’t ask for much and they give us a lot in return. They’re peaceful, fascinating members of our wild cast of characters.

In short: opossums are delightful!

Read more about New Jersey's misunderstood marsupial in the recent State We're In column by New Jersey Conservation Foundation Executive Director Alison Mitchell: https://www.njconservation.org/opossums/

06/03/2026

🚨Reminder🚨

The rescheduled date for the Cooper River Water Trail Summer Kickoff is THIS Saturday! ☀️🎉

Join us at Cramer Hill Waterfront Park in Camden on June 6 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. for free kayaking, fishing, food, music, and so much more! No registration required.

We're excited to be co-hosting the event with:
Upstream Alliance
Camden Community Partnership
Camden County Government
Center for Aquatic Sciences
City of Camden Government
Camden County Police Department
Connect the Lots - Camden

06/02/2026

Our Policy Manager Amy Hansen (top left in the first photo) joined advocates at the State House last week to hold data centers accountable.

"New Jersey Conservation Foundation supports S3379/A4096, which requires data center developers and operators to submit semi-annual water and energy usage reports to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities," Amy said. "Additionally, we urge the legislature to go a step further to mandate that water hungry data centers utilize advanced technologies to capture and recycle their water in order to minimize water consumption. Our clean drinking water supply is already strained with aging infrastructure, increased development and current drought conditions."

Here's to policies that put people first!

05/29/2026

Our Manager of Science & Stewardship Emile DeVito recently spoke with New Jersey 101.5 about invasive jumping worms, which destroy healthy soil and are dangerous to NJ's ecosystems:

"The worms are harmless to people and our gardens because we can do things to fertilize and make our plants and vegetables grow. But, unfortunately, we can’t fertilize a forest or put organic matter back onto the forest floor, DeVito said."

Read more 👉 nj1015.com/asian-jumping-worms-new-jersey/

Invasive worms that can leap a foot in the air are spreading across New Jersey and dozens of other states.