April 21, 2008
Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, 703.908.5809
Oceanville, NJ – Representatives from New Jersey Resources, The Conservation Fund and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced today the restoration of nine acres of forestland and sensitive wildlife habitat across public recreation areas at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge near Oceanville, New Jersey.
“The American public and the nation’s wildlife are the true beneficiaries of this partnership,” said Steve Atzert of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The efforts of New Jersey Resources, The Conservation Fund and all others involved, will improve lands held for the American public and benefit the global environment for both people and wildlife.”
Located 10 miles north of Atlantic City, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge spans nearly 47,000 acres and three counties: Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean. The refuge was established to provide important wintering habitat for waterfowl, especially Atlantic brant and the American black duck – a species which has suffered dramatic population decline in recent years.
“We are extremely proud of the commitment we have made to restoring wildlife refuges across the country through our partnership with The Conservation Fund,” said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of New Jersey Resources. “It has always been important to us that our efforts benefit areas within our service territory, especially after fires last year destroyed thousands of acres in the Pinelands. Through this donation, we are pleased to play an important role in the restoration of the Forsythe Refuge.”
Renowned for its winged migrations, the Forsythe refuge is almost 80 percent tidal salt meadow and marsh, interspersed with shallow coves and bays. Each spring and fall, thousands of ducks and geese, wading birds and shorebirds converge on the refuge to rest and feed, making the site a haven for birdwatchers. More than 5,000 acres at the refuge are covered with woodlands which provide vital habitat for a variety of upland species such as songbirds, woodcock, white-tailed deer and box turtles.
“Protecting and restoring these fragile habitats often requires a mix of public and private financing,” said The Conservation Fund’s mid-Atlantic vice president, Blaine Phillips. “Thanks to the generosity of leaders in the private sector and the commitment of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we are restoring extraordinary forestlands that will clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, enhance habitat for wildlife and create new public recreation areas that we can all enjoy.”
The nine acres restored this spring were planted by Virginia-based Conservation Services Inc. and will be managed by the USFWS for habitat and public recreation. To date, New Jersey Resources, the Coca Cola Company, Khronos LLC and Pictorial Offsets, among others, have provided support for forestland restoration at Forsythe.
In addition to the grant provided by New Jersey Resources for the recent restoration effort, the company and its customers partner with The Conservation Fund via NJR’s “Planting for Our Future” program. Already the program has helped to support the restoration of more than 13,000 trees at four national wildlife refuges across the U.S. Over their lifetime, these newly planted trees will trap an estimated 12,700 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
From Delaware to Pennsylvania to West Virginia, the Fund has protected more than 300,000 acres in the Mid-Atlantic, including nearly 3,000 acres in New Jersey. To learn more about how you can help protect land in your neck of the woods, visit: www.conservationfund.org/where_we_work.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR), a Fortune 1000 company, provides reliable retail and wholesale energy services to customers in New Jersey and in states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. Its principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas, is one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the United States, serving more than 480,000 customers in central and northern New Jersey. Other major NJR subsidiaries include NJR Energy Services and NJR Home Services. NJR Energy Services is a leader in the wholesale energy services market, providing customer service and management of natural gas storage and capacity assets. NJR Home Services offers retail customers heating, air conditioning and appliance services. NJR’s progress is a tribute to the more than 5,000 dedicated employees who have shared their expertise and focus on quality through more than 50 years of serving customers and the community to make NJR a leader in the competitive energy marketplace. For more information, visit NJR’s Web site at njliving.com.
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