Nature Conservancy Staff Member Named to New Jersey Invasive Species Council

Newton, NJ—November 29, 2004—Mike Van Clef, Ph.D., director of science and stewardship for The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey’s Skylands program, was recently named to the New Jersey Invasive Species Council, a consortium of individuals that recognize the need to address the introduction and spread of invasive species in New Jersey. Dr. Van Clef joins noted figures from the state, including the Commissioners of the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the CEO and Secretary of the Commerce and Economic Growth. Representatives from the conservation, agriculture, nursery and landscaping communities, academia, as well as the general public round out the Council membership.

“The purpose of this Council is to develop uniform policies and coordinate a response to the threat of invasive plant and animal species in our state,” Dr. Van Clef explained. “There have been numerous studies completed and groups working independently on this problem. By forming a council and coordinating our activities, we can work to abate this threat to our state’s natural lands and waters.”

Most recently, the Council adopted an outline for a statewide management plan. The study, which will serve as a blueprint for managing invasives, examines the scope of the problem and examines ways to address it.

In northern New Jersey, the Conservancy has worked cooperatively with numerous groups, including the Ridge and Valley Conservancy and the Sussex and Warren County Agriculture Development Boards. Recently, the Conservancy partnered with public and private groups to protect almost 500 acres of matrix forest at Blair Creek Preserve, located in Sussex County.

Spanning the state’s northern and central counties (Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union, Morris, Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer), the Conservancy’s Skylands Program area includes the state’s Highlands, Great Limestone Valley and Piedmont geographic regions. In this portion of the state, limestone rock outcroppings, pinnacles, sinkholes, cold springs and caves distinguish the northwestern counties. This unique topography is a byproduct of the Wisconsin glacier’s retreat almost 15,000 years ago from the northeast corner of what is now the United States. The Conservancy’s Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve with its limestone-rich forest, and Muckshaw Ponds Preserve,with its sinkhole ponds, are both excellent examples of this landscape. Several ridge formations are also evident—from the Kittatinny Ridge to the Watchungs and Palisades.

Variable terrain and soil drainage are also indicative of this region. The more centrally located counties in this area are near sea level and are considered lowland, characterized by gentle slopes and flat-lying terrain. The low-lying successional fields and old-growth forest at William L. Hutcheson Memorial Forest, located only 15 minutes from downtown New Brunswick, are prime examples of this geographic pattern.