It’s been over 11 years since New Jersey Audubon began conducting successful forest stewardship projects at Sparta Mountain. These science-based efforts have produced critical forest habitats that are providing resources for numerous wildlife of conservation concern.  Simultaneously, the projects have protected water resources, sequestered carbon, contributed to improving forest resiliency in the face of climate change, increased biodiversity and enhanced passive recreational opportunities for current and future New Jersey residents. To help others gain a better understanding of the methods, implementation, monitoring and results to date of the work at Sparta Mountain over the last decade, NJ Audubon has produced a 3-part video series that explains the key elements and take aways from this important work.   

Forest Stewardship Part 1

A Forest Stewardship Plan is a tool that guides management of a variety of natural resources on forestland. While a Forest Stewardship Plan CAN focus on marketable forest products, it must also consider and address other issues such as wildlife, water resources, carbon, and/or historic and cultural resources found on the property. This emphasis on protection and management of noncommercial forest resources is a key difference between a Forest Stewardship Plan and a traditional Forest Management Plan. The USDA Forest Service first began encouraging landowners across the country to develop Forest Stewardship Plans for their woodlands in 1991 under the emerging USDA Forest Stewardship Program. Check out this video taken at Sparta Mountain to learn more about what goes into a Forest Stewardship Plan, why New Jersey is actively managing forests, and how ecological forest stewardship can protect and mitigate against climate change, increase resiliency, enhance critical habitat, and provide natural resources to future generations.

Forest Stewardship Part 2

Forest Stewardship Planning is not enough, it takes actions and proper implementation of the plan to provide healthy, resilient, diverse future forests for New Jersey. Using Sparta Mountain as a demonstration model of ecological forest stewardship planning and practices over the past 11 years, see what it looks like now and how we can protect and mitigate against climate change, address threats, increase resiliency, enhance critical habitat, and provide natural resources to future generations.

Forest Stewardship Part 3

After Forest Stewardship Planning and proper implementation what does one do? Monitor of course, collect, and interpret data for adaptable management purposes! Using Sparta Mountain as a demonstration model of ecological forest stewardship planning and practices over the past 11 years, NJA along with the NJDFW, have collected years of data on bird diversity use of the treatment areas at the site. See just how implementing ecological forest practices can enhance critical habitat, benefit wildlife, and provide natural resources to future generations!