There’s an urgent need to preserve our state’s land, protect our environment and ensure equitable access to nature
This is a clarion call to New Jersey’s next governor: Regardless of who wins the election in November, the urgent need to preserve our state’s land, protect our environment and ensure equitable access to nature must be a top priority.
New Jersey has long been a national leader in conservation, preserving over 1.5 million acres of open space, farmland and historic sites — more than one-third of our land area. It’s an incredible accomplishment for the most densely populated state in the nation. But we are nearing full build-out within the next 25 years, and our remaining natural landscapes are under unprecedented threat from warehouse sprawl, climate change and chronic underfunding.
Our natural resources — whether in the Highlands forests, Pinelands aquifer or Delaware Bayshore — are essential for clean drinking water, flood protection, fighting climate change and as habitat for wildlife. They also provide vital benefits to people, from recreation and mental health to economic resilience. Studies show preserved lands return $10 in public benefits for every $1 invested. Yet these benefits are increasingly at risk.
Unchecked development, particularly the explosion of warehouse construction, is rapidly consuming forests, farmlands and wetlands. This trend not only jeopardizes wildlife habitat and drinking water sources but also erodes the character of our rural communities and threatens local food security. While the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program has protected 250,000 acres, we remain far short of the 550,000-acre goal that will help us maintain a viable agricultural industry. E-commerce-driven development must be reined in, with strong policies to prohibit warehouses on prime agricultural soils and encourage solar development on rooftops and already developed sites, not farmland.
Climate change further heightens the urgency. From degraded forests and polluted waterways to invasive species and extreme weather, New Jersey’s ecosystems are under stress. Yet our capacity to manage these challenges is severely constrained. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and our state parks system remain chronically underfunded, and a $600 million backlog in park maintenance threatens public access and enjoyment. New Jersey’s state parks have seen a 28% staff reduction since 2006, even as park acreage grew by 13%, resulting in fewer park superintendents, seasonally staffed or closed nature centers, and early swim area closures. With a staff-to-visitor ratio of 1 to 35,947 and an operating budget far below neighboring states, the system is severely under-resourced.
Meanwhile, the benefits of preserved land are not equitably shared. Many urban communities, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color lack safe and accessible green space, exacerbating public health disparities. It’s unacceptable that so many New Jersey residents live without a park or trail within walking distance. We must fully fund the state parks system and invest in infrastructure that ensures every resident — no matter their ZIP code — can enjoy the health and wellness benefits of nature.
We should also support urban agriculture as a tool for food justice, economic empowerment and community health. With greater access to land, technical support and public investment, cities across New Jersey could turn vacant lots into food parks, community gardens and neighborhood resilience hubs.
New Jersey has led before, and we can lead again. But we must act decisively, guided by science, equity and long-term vision. The next governor will have an opportunity and a responsibility to protect New Jersey’s natural legacy while building healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come.
Let us not squander that opportunity.