Act now to stay in open space race

RELEASE: June 20, 2008 – Volume XL, No. 25

New Jersey voters have repeatedly raised their own taxes to preserve the state’s dwindling open spaces and natural lands. But New Jersey is now in danger of running out of preservation funding for the first time in decades. The Legislature must act before mid-August to place an open space ballot question before voters this November.

Even as government budgets tighten in New Jersey and across the nation, some states are spending more money for open space and parks. Recently, Florida expanded its open space funding and Minnesota committed to create its first major new state park in 30 years. Voters in Phoenix, Arizona, overwhelmingly approved a new sales tax to fund land preservation. Will New Jersey be part of this conservation trend?

At the federal level, the new Farm Bill more than doubles the amount of preservation funding. The Farmland Protection Program (formerly known as the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program), for example, was increased to $733 million, which will help preserve more land in New Jersey. The Farm Bill also extended the tax incentive for donating conservation easements for two more years.

New Jersey has long been in the forefront of preservation efforts. The Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) is one of the most successful programs of its kind, preserving open space, protecting historical sites, maintaining the state’s agricultural heritage, and expanding urban parks and recreational opportunities. The Garden State Preservation Trust catalyzed hundreds of New Jersey communities and all 21 counties to pass open space funds to match the state money. But the Trust is almost empty.

In November 2007, voters approved a $200 million bond issue to fund open space, farmland and historic preservation through the Garden State Preservation Trust for one year. Much of that funding is now allocated. If the Legislature does not act soon, we’ll be caught without cash at a time when the soft real estate market means many environmentally important lands are available.

New Jersey voters understand what’s at stake, as evidenced by the fact that they have historically supported open space and farmland preservation. Voters understand that without more funding, irreplaceable open space treasures will be paved and converted to more sprawl – treasures like the 107-acre forested tract recently preserved in Mendham Borough, Morris County; the 350-acre St. Michael’s property in Hopewell Township, Mercer County; and a 180-acre farm in the scenic Rosemont area of Hunterdon County.

Let’s keep in mind that open space pays in many ways. Preserved forests and wetlands “sequester” carbon, helping mitigate global climate change. Natural ecosystems control flooding, filter impurities out of water, and provide soil retention and crop pollination - better and more cheaply than man-made alternatives.

For the first time in years, New Jersey is experiencing a buyer’s market. This presents an unprecedented opportunity to preserve the state’s remaining open spaces, natural lands and farmland. Please call your legislators and the Governor and ask them to place an $800 million bond question on this November's ballot to make sure New Jerseyans continue to enjoy the benefits of beautiful parks, clean water and healthy, locally-grown foods.

I hope you’ll contact me at info@njconservation.org, or visit New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s website at www.njconservation.org, for more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources.

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