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Posts Tagged 'd&r greenway land trust'
Tags: d&r greenway land trust, wma 10
Posted in biological diversity, climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, ecological restoration project, projects funded by conservation resources
In 2011, this project received a $7,500 grant through CRI’s Carbon Sequestration and Restoration Grant Program.
The J. Seward Johnson Sr. Woodland Preserve is a 14-acre nature preserve located in Princeton, NJ. While the Preserve’s canopy trees are notably diverse, the shrub and herbaceous layers have been degraded by Princeton’s historic overpopulation of deer, and a resulting invasion of non-native plant species, including large populations of several emerging-invasive shade-tolerant shrubs, most notably Oriental Photinia. Through a 3-acre fenced exclosure, and planting of a native shrub understory comprised of 1800 shrubs, grasses, sedges, and wildflowers, D&R Greenway intends to guarantee the future carbon-sequestering capacity of the preserve. These plants will be sourced in large part from D&R Greenway’s own Native Plant Nursery, and will be custom grown for the site from local-ecotypic wild seed collections. 
D&R Greenway will also conduct Early Detection/Rapid Response surveys and eradications across the entire 14-acre preserve, removing thousands of stems of Oriental photinia and other emerging invasive plants, in partnership with the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team. The innovative nature of this restoration, in a fragmented suburban woods burdened by emerging invasive species and a high deer population, suggests this project as an ideal model for future restorations in similar contexts region-wide.
Effectiveness of carbon sequestration will be measured by comparing a stem count of native saplings within the deer-excluded area to a similar three-acre area of the preserve, which will remain unfenced and unplanted, five years after planting. Saplings will be defined as tree species at breast height or above, less than 3” dbh. Amount of carbon sequestered will be based on biomass extrapolations for these saplings; the true carbon sequestration impact of these trees will be in the long-term, as they replace the existing canopy trees over time.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- reforestation
Biological Diversity: Ecosystem restoration- invasive plant removal and ecosystem management
Total Project Cost: $25,350
Status: D&R Greenway will be erecting fencing and controlling for invasives this winter, and planting during the 2012 growing season.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: d&r greenway land trust, wma 10
Posted in biological diversity, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics
In 2011, CRI awarded this project $3325 through its Franklin Parker Small Grant program.
The goal of this project is to promote native pollinators by the enhancement of nectaring and nesting habitat on a 7-acre portion of a 22-acre farm. The conservation value of the project is to reduce surrounding produce farmers’ reliance on European honeybees and to create early successional habitat to benefit species that rely upon this habitat type. After planting, interpretive signage along a trail through the created meadow will explain the importance of our native pollinators and providing habitat for them.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Biological Diversity: Habitat for native pollinators through the creation of a pollinator meadow
Outreach, Education, and Aesthetics: Environmental education- interpretive signage; Public access- hiking trail
Agricultural Production: Crop pollination
Total Project Cost: $7500
Status: Herbicide has been applied to an existing stand of overgrown shrub willows on the property, and dead stand has been cut down.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: d&r greenway land trust, franklin parker small grants program
Posted in agricultural production, biological diversity, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources
In 2010, CRI awarded this project $2500 through its Franklin Parker Small Grant program.
The Bulk Native Seed Production Project focuses on training small growers and other New Jersey-based land trusts in the technologies and practices necessary to produce native plant seed. This will be accomplished through an innovative, three-year collaboration between D&R Greenway and Greenbelt Native Plant Center (New York City’s native nursery) located on Staten Island.
D&R Greenway Land Trust will produce bulk seed of thirteen species of native plants at the St. Michaels Farm Preserve. The species include wildflowers such as New England aster and Joe Pye weed, and native grasses such as Indian grass and broomsedge. The project is an innovative blend of agricultural and conservation techniques and objectives. The 5.25 acres of growing fields produce seed for a blended native seed meadow mix that is genetically appropriate to the region. The seed mix is applicable to a range of wet, mesic, and dry conditions. The seed mix is the only native plant seed mix available derived from ecotypes local to New Jersey and metropolitan New York. Local ecotypes of native species are the most successfully adapted to conditions within their region.
The bulk seed production fields will be perennial-based, native, and utilize organic farming methods. The project will enhance soil tilth, increase rainwater infiltration, and support a diverse guild of native pollinators.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Biological Diversity: Habitat- restoration of native plants; support of wide variety of native pollinators
Agricultural Production: Local agricultural systems- working with farmers to produce native plant seed; agricultural education; organic farming
Total Project Cost: $185,000 D&R Greenway received a $75,000 Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in August 2010 – the only CIG award recommended by the NJ Office of NRCS. Matching funds have been provided by Bristol Myers Squibb, with further support from Conservation Resources.
Status: Since the project launch date on September 1, 2010, D&R Greenway has plowed and tilled six one-acre plots on which they will grow 13 species of native seeds. The Bulk Native Seed Production Project will be the first of several innovative projects and programs that are part of a stewardship strategy and management plan for the Farm Preserve.
At the St. Michaels Bulk Seed Project, they have completed harvest of Swamp Milkweed, New England Aster, Joe Pye weed, Old Field Aster and Smooth Aster. Small quantities of Panic Grass, Broom Sedge, Early Goldenrod, and Grey Goldenrod are also being harvested.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: d&r greenway land trust
Posted in biological diversity, climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, ecological restoration project, projects funded by conservation resources
CRI awarded this project $7,500 through its 2010 RPWHP Grant Program. This grant will cover 50% of the costs of the afforestation of two one-acre gaps in the Sourlands Mountains at the D&R Greenway’s Cat Tail and Sourlands Ecosystem Preserves.
D&R Greenway Land Trust is working to reforest two one-acre gaps: the Cat Tail Brook Gap, and the Sourlands Ecosystem Preserve Gap.
The Cat Tail Brook Gap is the only significant forest opening on the 117-acre Cat Tail Preserve. A remnant of a larger agricultural field now forested, this gap was kept open by hunters and planted with apple trees as a deer feedlot. It is now almost entirely vegetated with Multiflora rose and Autumn olive.
The Cat Tail Preserve is in the heart of RPWHP Forest Focal Area #4. Over 1,000 acres of this forest are contiguous, and without paved roads. The forest around this one-acre gap is of very high quality, with plants like Showy orchids, Dwarf ginseng, Indian cucumber root, Silvery glade fern, and a very diverse canopy. A PSI botanical susrvey of the adjacent forest yielded a notably high Native Mean C of 5.72 and a PSI score of 46.82.
The Sourlands Ecosystem Preserve contains more than 700 acres of core Sourlands forest, stretching between Forest Focal Areas #3 and 4. There is a one-acre gap that was historically largely vegetated with Ailanthus. Stewardship work over the last three years has resulted in the removal of the Ailanthus canopy, and of the Multiflora rose shrub layer.
D&R Greenway would like to continue the removal of invasive plants in these two 1-acre gaps, and plant canopy trees and native shrubs. The plantings would be protected by 2-ft. diameter, 4-ft. high metal mesh hoops. This should result in a fully native canopy within ten years.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- reforestation
Biological Diversity: Ecosystem restoration- invasive plant removal, establishment of contiguous forest habitat
Total Project Cost: $12,200
Status: Clearing of invasive plants will take place between April and September 2010, with planting and protection from deer taking place in September, October, and November of 2010.
Tags: carbon sequestration and restoration grant program, d&r greenway land trust
Posted in climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, ecological restoration project, projects funded by conservation resources
In 2009 this project was awarded $5000 from CRI and Elizabethtown Gas through CRI’s Carbon Sequestration and Restoration Grant Program.
This St. Michael’s site was used historically as a farm dump, dating back to the latter part of the nineteenth century. It was largely unmanaged during the last part of the 20th century. In order to facilitate cleanup in 2009, all vegetation was removed from the site, the dump was cleaned up, new soil was brought in, and the site was seeded.
When D&R Greenway received a grant from CRI’s Carbon Sequestration program in 2009, the site was fenced and planted with tree and shrub seedlings. It is now being used as a demonstration site for restoring landscapes and sequestering carbon.
Native shrubs and trees planted include:
- Shagbark hickory
- Ironwood
- Flowering dogwood
- Persimmon
- Beech
- Red cedar
- Tulip
- Virginia pine
- Chestnut oak, Red oak, White oak, Black oak, Pin oak, Swamp white oak
- Green ash
- Black gum
- Sycamore
- Shadbush
- Winterberry
- Spicebush
- Bayberry
- Arrowwood
- Elderberry
- Swamp rose
- Staghorn sumac
Tags: d&r greenway land trust
Posted in biological diversity, climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, land preservation project, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics, water protection, filtration, & control
CRI granted the D&R Greenway Land Trust $411,223 for this project from the 2009 RPWHP Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Re-grant Program.
In the heart of the Amwell Valley and the Natural Heritage Program Amwell Valley Grasslands Macrosite, this property adjoins some of the largest remaining contiguous tracts of farmland in the region and has received priority ranking as grassland bird habitat in the Raritan-Piedmont Wildlife Habitat Partnership (RPWHP) Grassland Conservation Plan produced by NJ Audubon. Known as the “Cider Mill Road” property, this farm and adjacent farms are well known by birders and naturalists as a current breeding location for bobolinks and other grassland birds in summer, and as winter habitat for grassland raptors including northern harriers and short-eared owls. The property is currently managed as open land in grasses and enrolled in the Federal Conservation Reserve Program.
D&R Greenway, in partnership with the State of New Jersey Green Acres Program, Conservation Resources, Natural Resources Damage Fund, East Amwell Township, and Hunterdon County, purchased the property in fee to ensure that it will be managed long-term in an optimal manner for grassland habitat and passive recreation. Another intent of this acquisition is to demonstrate the compatibility of grassland habitat for wildlife and agriculture. Management will include the involvement of local farmers and the use of Federal Farm Bill Programs.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- grassland restoration
Water Protection, Filtration, and Control: Water quality and quantity- protection of headwaters of the Neshanic River
Biological Diversity: Habitat- Federal Conservation Reserve Program, breeding habitat for early successional species
Recreation & Aesthetics: Public access- passive recreation, views
Total Project Cost: $2,054, 176
Status: The property has been acquired. D&R Greenway is now working with the Farm Service Agency on an updated Conservation Plan and renewed contract. They are planning for management of early successional species.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources Inc.
Tags: d&r greenway land trust
Posted in completed projects, projects funded by conservation resources
In 2009, CRI granted the D&R Greenway Land Trust $199,500 towards this project through the RPWHP Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Re-grant Program.
The 57-acre Maple Lane Farm property in Hillsborough, New Jersey is located in Focal Area 9 as identified in the Raritan-Piedmont Wildlife Habitat Partnership (RPWHP) Grassland Conservation Plan as a high priority property for protection. Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, a state threatened species, has been observed on a portion of the property, which exhibits suitable habitat – old hay field or fallow pasture. Additionally, the property is located next to more than 250 acres of additional suitable habitat and thus holds great potential for fulfilling conservation targets outlined in the RPWHP Grassland Conservation Plan.
This property is east of the largest expanse of open space in the area – the Sourland Mountain Preserve.
NJCF provided the funds for the easement through a grant they received from the NRCS Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and then D&R Greenway purchased the remaining fee interest. D&R Greenway now owns and manages the property, and leases it to an area farmer with provisions for grassland bird habitat management. D&R Greenway plans to manage the tract for grassland conservation.
Environmental Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- avoided deforestation
Biological Diversity: Habitat- state threatened/endangered species habitat protection
Total Project Cost: $1,314,500
Status: This project was purchased and preserved in the Summer of 2010.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: d&r greenway land trust
Posted in biological diversity, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources
This project will create a holistic management plan based on the habitat needs of rare and threatened species present at the exceptionally diverse Plum Brook Preserve. The 160.9-acre Preserve, consisting of the Jones and Howery properties, hosts a high concentration of rare plants and animals across taxa. The habitats include upland cedar glades, mature mesic forest, a Category One stream, wet and upland meadows, and adjacent scrub-shrub habitats.
The D&R Greenway Land Trust will provide stewardship of this newly-acquired preserve. They are seeking to develop a thorough understanding of the habitat dynamics which successfully maintain an abundance of rare species. By locating, GPS mapping, and investigating the landscape context of these species, they intend to develop an adaptive management plan for the Preserve and target priorities accordingly.
Preliminary surveys have established the presence of numerous species listed by the NJ Natural Heritage Program. In partnership with Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Plant Stewardship Indices (PSI) were compiled for ten plots and transects at Plum Brook Preserve. Exceptionally high PSI values were determined and six state-listed plant species were discovered. A preliminary avian survey found numerous woodland birds of concern plus a state-listed dragonfly, the Mocha Emerald. The goal is to complete and enlarge these studies, plot the locations of the species of concern and use the data to prepare a management plan. This process will become a model for all future management plans.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Biological Diversity: Habitat- state and federal threatened/endangered species, ecosystem-level management, NJ Natural Heritage Program
Total Project Cost: $5,000
In 2009, CRI awarded a $2,000 grant to D&R Greenway Land Trust for this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program.
Status: This project is ready to begin. Once funding is secured, the mapping will start.
If you would like further information about this project, contact Conservation Resources Inc.
Tags: d&r greenway land trust
Posted in climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, land preservation project, NRD settlement candidate project, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics, water protection, filtration, & control
In 2009, CRI facilitated a $25,000 payment towards this project from a previously collected NRD settlement.
D&R Greenway Land Trust is seeking $25,000 to enable acquisition of the last parcel needed to create Lime Kiln Alley Park in the City of Bordentown. Lime Kiln Alley Park is on the waterfront of Blacks Creek, a tidal tributary to the Delaware River.
Bordentown is a densely populated community just below Trenton. The site of Lime Kiln Alley Park is easily accessible to walkers from all over town. It can also be accessed from the light rail line parking lot which is directly adjacent.
A total of 6 properties have been acquired by D&R Greenway and transferred to city ownership to create a greenway along Blacks Creek. A seventh property was recently donated to the city by the adjacent church that sits atop the hill overlooking the creek. These properties total approximately 5.5 acres.
A final property is currently under contract to be acquired by D&R Greenway Land Trust as the last addition to the park. This is a critical acquisition, as the property is central to the park at the entrance from Lime Kiln Alley. The property totals .263 of an acre and has two buildings on site. The buildings are being evaluated for possible use as a nature center and/or caretakers’ residence.
The park will provide for fishing, canoe launch, picnicking and will include nature trails and restored habitat along Blacks Creek. These efforts will also serve to protect the health of the Upper Estuary of the Delaware River, where the majority of buffer habitat has been lost to development.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Biodiversity: Reduction of invasive species, increase in native communities
Recreation & Aesthetics: Public access- hiking, access to waterfront
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- avoided deforestation
Water Protection, Filtration & Control: Water quality- buffers to streams
Total Project Cost: $125,000.00
Status: The acquisition is scheduled to close by the end of June 2010.
If you would like further information about this project, contact Conservation Resources Inc.
Tags: d&r greenway land trust, wma 10 (millstone)
Posted in biological diversity, ecological restoration project, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics, supplemental environmental project
In 2008, CRI granted this project $3,000 through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program.
Native plants in New Jersey are deeply imperiled. Roughly 40% of New Jersey’s indigenous flora is listed as rare, threatened or endangered. Four primary factors are causing the collapse in plant diversity and abundance: development, habitat destruction, the deer overpopulation crisis, and exotic invasive plants.
The D&R Greenway Native Plant Nursery aims to re-establish indigenous plants in their native habitats, by supplying a diverse array of plants to those engaged in stewardship of New Jersey’s remaining wild places. Moreover, the Nursery recognizes that the human landscape needs to function in harmony with the natural landscape. Providing residents of Central New Jersey with locally native plants is central to D&R Greenway’s mission. At present, ornamental plantings in residential areas not only deprive wildlife of traditional food sources, they supply much of the exotic plant material that continually invades natural areas.
D&R Greenway Native Plant Nursery is dedicated to restoring a rich diversity of native flora to the local landscape. It supplies local genotypes of indigenous plants to conservation groups for ecological restoration, and to the general public, so that the residential landscape might be re-knit with the natural landscape.
The fundamental goals of the Nursery are: 1) To provide a crucial tool for D&R Greenway’s stewardship staff for ecological restoration work; 2) To provide the general public with a source of native plants with clear and local provenance; 3) To educate the general public about the ecological benefits of native plants; and 4) To provide a nexus for involving the local community in the restoration of its surrounding environment.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Biological Diversity: Habitat- restoring native vegetation
Outreach & Education: Environmental education about the benefits of native plants
Total Project Cost: $23,000
Status: D&R Greenway’s Native Plant Nursery wrapped up its third growing season on a high note. They raised over 12,000 plants of over 50 species in 2011, and met their goals for continued funding of the project. In 2012 they anticipate using up to 5,000 nursery plants on grant-funded stewardship projects, at Cedar Ridge, the J Seward Johnson, Jr. Woodland Preserve, the Sourlands Ecosystem Preserve, and Cider Mill – three flagship preserves and one other highly visible property. Their goal going forward is to insure that they have adequate capacity in the Nursery to meet internal stewardship needs, while still offering adequate quantities of a quality product to plant sale customers and to conservation partners.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
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