23740_Layout 1 8/14/17 2:10 PM Page 1 2016 ANNUAL REPORT NEW JERSEY’S biodiversity protecting protecting 23740_Layout 1 8/14/17 3:02 PM Page 2 2016 TRUSTEES ABOUT THE COVER FROM NEW JERSEY CO Kenneth H. Klipstein II HONORARY TRUSTEES Our cover collage illustrates the beauty and PRESIDENT Hon. Brendan T. Byrne diversity of New Jersey’s rare animals and plants. Wendy Mager Catherine M. Cavanaugh MEMBER FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Hon. James Florio Clockwise from upper left are red-headed Hon. Thomas H. Kean Catherine Bacon Winslow Hon.Christine Todd Whitman SECOND VICE PRESIDENT woodpecker, Io moth, Indiana bats, Pickering’s morning glory, long-tailed salamander, bobcat Robert J. Wolfe ADVISORY COUNCIL TREASURER Edward F. Babbott and Pine Barrens tree frog. In the center are Pamela P. Hirsch Nancy Becker dear SECRETARY C. Austin Buck* Hessel’s hairstreak butterfly, left, and American Penelope Ayers Bradley M. Campbell kestrel. Many thanks to the contributing ASSISTANT SECRETARY Christopher J. Daggett John D. Hatch photographers, including Blaine Rothauser, H.R. Hegener Cecilia Birge Hon. Rush Holt Stephen Mason, Neha Savant, Tom Halliwell Roger Byrom Susan J. Hullin Theodore Chase, Jr. Cynthia Kellogg and Ashley Tubbs. Jack R. Cimprich Blair MacInnes Rosina B. Dixon, M.D. Thomas J. Maher Clement Fiori Scott McVay Chad Goerner David F. Moore Neil Grossman Mary W. Moore Douglas Haynes John Parker Joseph Lemond Ingrid W. Reed MISSION Michael S. Maglio L. Keith Reed Gordon A. Millspaugh, Jr. Jamie Kyte Sapoch Hon. Maureen Ogden Leslie Sauer Stephen W. Parker New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a Tama Matsuoka Wong Kathryn Porter Fran Raymond Price private, nonprofit organization whose mission Samantha Rothman is to preserve land and natural resources Susan Swayne EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Louise Currey Wilson Michele S. Byers throughout New Jersey for the benefit of all. * DENOTES DECEASED MEMBER Through acquisition and stewardship, we protect strategic lands from the Highlands to JOIN US the Pine Barrens to the Delaware Bayshore. We promote strong land conservation policies at the local, state and federal levels, forge part- For membership information, please visit our website at www.njconservation.org or call us at 1-888-LANDSAVE. nerships to achieve conservation goals, and Our mailing address is provide support and technical assistance to 170 Longview Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931. partner groups. Since 1960, we have helped Follow us on Facebook! @njconservation protect more than 125,000 acres of natural areas, farms, parks and water resources. 23740_Layout 1 8/14/17 2:10 PM Page 3 CONSERVATION FOUNDATION’S LEADERSHIP ERS AND FRIENDS New Jersey has amazing biological diversity. Our distinct geological regions – everything from mountains to beaches – provide a richness of native animal and plant species exceeding many states much larger in size. But some of these species are struggling. Due to habitat loss, climate change, forest fragmentation, competition from invasive species, diseases, and other factors, many species have slipped from common to rare. Those listed by the state as “endangered” are in jeopardy of vanishing from New Jersey. But there’s hope. That hope lies in preserving lands that support wildlife habitat, restoring damaged habitats and adopting policies that include strong protections for endangered and threatened species. For nearly 60 years, New Jersey Conservation Foundation has preserved lands throughout New Jersey, stewarding land wisely, and advocating for policies at all levels of government that protect wildlife and rare species. At the 11,500 acre Franklin Parker Preserve in the heart of the Pine Barrens – a former cranberry farm – we restored 1,100 acres of Atlantic white cedar forest. Why is this important? One reason is Hessel’s hairstreak, a tiny, beautiful butterfly whose caterpillars feed exclusively on Atlantic white cedar. Hessel’s hairstreak butterflies have disappeared in many places. But they’re thriving at the Franklin Parker Preserve and on other preserved lands in the Pine Barrens. We’ll introduce you to a sampling of the animals and plants considered endangered, threatened or special concern species in our state. With your help, New Jersey Conservation will continue to preserve and restore habitats for these rare animals and plants. Thank you so much for your generosity over the years! Without our members, friends and partners, our work saving land and protecting native species would not be possible. MICHELE S. BYERS KENNETH H. KLIPSTEIN II EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRESIDENT 23740_Layout 1 8/14/17 2:10 PM Page 4 NEW JERSEY’S biodiversity protecting Photo by Blaine Rothauser Blaine by Photo 23740_Layout 1 8/14/17 2:10 PM Page 5 2016 Annual Report 5 New Jersey is a small state that packs a big biological diversity punch. Thanks to a remarkably varied landscape and temperate climate, plant and animal diversity rivals states many times our size. From the rugged Highlands to sandy ocean beaches, from Pine “Conservation blueprint will help us preserve as much biodiversity barrens forests to Delaware bay tidal marshes, thousands of plant as we can, while we can,” said Dr. Emile DeVito, our staff biologist. and animal species call New Jersey home. “One thing we can do is save large ecosystems from fragmenta- They include 415 mammals, breeding birds, reptiles, amphibians tion,” DeVito added. “We need to preserve large, intact pieces of and freshwater fish; 500 migratory birds, marine mammals, and land that are the most pristine.” saltwater fish; and tens of thousands of invertebrates. more than Preserving and protecting large swaths of open land will also help 2,100 native plants grow here, including several species found New Jersey adapt as much as possible to a warming climate. nowhere else in the world. Northern New Jersey is most at risk because species cannot adapt New Jersey’s native plants and animals face many threats, including or move as quickly as the climate changes. Conversely, the New loss of habitat, competition from invasive species, degradation to Jersey Pine barren uplands are less susceptible to the impacts to overabundant deer, land disturbance, contamination and of climate change because they lie at the northern end of the climate change. country’s southern ecosystems. Eighty-six New Jersey animals are considered endan- In the following pages, read about some of New Jersey’s rare gered or threatened. Endangered species are those animals and plants – and what New Jersey Conservation Foundation From the rugged Highlands whose prospects for survival in New Jersey are and our partners are doing to help ensure their survival. to sandy ocean beaches, in immediate jeopardy, while threatened species are those that could become endangered if Two of the state’s rarest plants, bog asphodel and Pickering’s from Pine Barrens forests to populations continue to decline. morning glory, are both found in the Pine barrens where our largest preserve – the Franklin Parker Preserve – is located. You’ll also learn Delaware Bay tidal marshes, A total 818 plants are either endangered or “species of concern.” The species of concern about butterfly and moth research in the Pine barrens, as well as thousands of plant designation means these plants need monitor- the region’s unofficial mascot, the Pine barrens tree frog. and animal species call ing because they are declining and could become Two of the state’s rare birds highlighted in this report are kestrels, endangered. which are nesting on preserved land in western Hunterdon County, New Jersey home. New Jersey Conservation Foundation protects New and red-headed woodpeckers, which have established a large Jersey’s biodiversity – especially endangered and threat- breeding population at the michael Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve ened species –by preserving land with outstanding wildlife in the Pine barrens. habitat, restoring damaged habitat, and advocating for the Some species are faring better than others. Encouraging news responsible stewardship of natural lands throughout the state. includes bobcats, which are making a comeback after being In 2016, we and our partners – the New Jersey chapter of The effectively wiped out in New Jersey. bats, however, are still Nature Conservancy, Rowan University and the William Penn struggling to rebound after being devastated by a disease known Foundation – introduced Conservation blueprint, an innovative as White-nose Syndrome. A bog turtle, considered endangered in digital mapping tool to help pinpoint the most important For more information, visit www.njconservation.org New Jersey, climbs over pitcher plants conservation lands to preserve. in the northwest corner of the state. 23740_Layout 1 8/14/17 2:10 PM Page 6 6 2016 Annual Report 2016 donors OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON OUR DONORS Thank you to all who contributed in 2016. C Ernest Christian Klipstein Foundation Ellerslie Fund of the James and Virginia Welch Foundation FOUNDATION SUPPORT $10,000 - $24,999 C C bunbury Fund at the The Curtis W. mcGraw Foundation Princeton Area Community Foundation The Winslow Foundation Princeton Area Community Foundation Hella and Scott mcVay Fund of the The merrill G. & Emita Hastings Foundation The Homestead Foundation, Inc. Princeton Area Community Foundation Healey Family Foundation $500 - $999 $100,000 and above C The 1772 Foundation, Inc. The Koven Foundation mKm Foundation Rush Holt & margaret Lancefield Fund of the The Halpern Family Foundation C The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Harris Family Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation William and Nancy Lifland Fund C Peter R. and Cynthia K. Kellogg Foundation Princeton Area Community Foundation The Kane Family Foundation of the Princeton Area Community Foundation C C $2,500 - $4,999 F. m. Kirby Foundation Helen & William mazer Foundation The Kirk Kellogg Foundation Gordon and Llura Gund Fund of the C C The Charles E. and Pheasant Hill Foundation C Losam Fund Princeton Area Community Foundation The William Penn Foundation Edna T. brundage Foundation mary Reinhart Stackhouse Foundation Wilhelmina b. moyer-Ross Foundation Fund margaret Parker Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation The Gelfand Family Foundation, Inc.