New Jersey Highlands Coalition

New Jersey Highlands Coalition
Name	New Jersey Highlands Coalition
Formation	1988
Type	Nonprofit advocacy organization
Headquarters	Morristown, New Jersey
Region served	Highlands Region, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York
Leaders	Board of Directors

New Jersey Highlands Coalition is a nonprofit conservation organization focused on protecting the natural, cultural, and water resources of the Highlands Region in northern New Jersey. Founded in 1988, the group engages in advocacy, land protection, stewardship, and public education across municipal, county, and state levels. The Coalition works alongside federal and regional entities to influence planning, regulation, and funding affecting the Highlands watershed, open space, and rural communities.

History

The organization emerged amid environmental debates involving Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Pinelands National Reserve, Appalachian Mountains, and local land trusts such as The Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club. Early campaigns intersected with actions by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, New Jersey Office of Smart Growth, and county governments including Morris County and Sussex County. The Coalition responded to development pressures exemplified by disputes near Musconetcong River, Pequest Wildlife Management Area, Round Valley Reservoir, and proposals connected to New Jersey Transit corridors. Key historical moments involved partnerships with legal advocates at Environment New Jersey, litigators from Conservation Law Foundation, and planning stakeholders like American Planning Association affiliates in the region.

Mission and Goals

The Coalition’s mission emphasizes freshwater protection of sources feeding Delaware River, Raritan River, and Passaic River, preservation of forests and Highlands ridgelines near Kittatinny Ridge, and safeguarding habitat corridors used by species listed under Endangered Species Act. Strategic goals align with state policy instruments including the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, land use tools employed by New Jersey Pinelands Commission parallels, and municipal master plans guided by the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law. Conservation objectives reference models from Land Trust Alliance, watershed plans like those for the Hackensack River, and regional greenway visions such as the East Coast Greenway.

Programs and Activities

The Coalition organizes programs in land protection, conservation easements coordinated with organizations like Open Space Institute, community outreach similar to initiatives by New Jersey Audubon Society, and science-driven stewardship using protocols employed by U.S. Geological Survey and New Jersey Geological Survey. Activities include mapping projects using geographic data sources like USGS Topo, participation in municipal ordinance drafting with examples from Montgomery Township, New Jersey and Boonton Township, New Jersey, and volunteer restoration events modeled after those run by American Rivers and Riverkeeper. Education programs reference curriculum partnerships with institutions such as Rutgers University, Princeton University, and Montclair State University, while monitoring programs echo techniques from National Hydrography Dataset and The Nature Conservancy science teams.

Advocacy and Policy Impact

Advocacy efforts have influenced implementation of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act and related rulemaking by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The Coalition has engaged in public comments on drafts from New Jersey Highlands Council, testified before state bodies including the New Jersey Legislature committees, and coordinated campaigns with Environment New Jersey and Clean Water Action. Policy impacts include contributing to municipal Highlands ordinances, influencing open space bond measures endorsed by governors such as Chris Christie and Jon Corzine, and litigative collaborations with Conservation Law Foundation and county prosecutors during enforcement actions. The organization monitors federal funding streams through agencies like U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and participates in regional planning with entities such as Northeast Regional Planning Board.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The Coalition is governed by a board of directors and staffed by an executive director, policy directors, field coordinators, and volunteer coordinators, structured in a manner similar to organizations such as Trust for Public Land and The Conservation Fund. Funding sources include private foundations such as William Penn Foundation, member contributions modeled after Sierra Club chapters, grants from state programs like the Green Acres Program (New Jersey), federal grants from EPA environmental programs, and philanthropic support from families akin to Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Financial oversight follows best practices promoted by Independent Sector and reporting frameworks used by GuideStar-listed nonprofits.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The Coalition collaborates with a wide network including local land trusts like Kittatinny Valley State Park affiliates, regional nonprofits such as New Jersey Conservation Foundation, municipal governments including Boonton Township, academic partners at Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and national organizations like The Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club. It participates in multi-stakeholder forums with New Jersey Highlands Council, watershed alliances like the Raritan Headwaters Association, and inter-state initiatives connected to Delaware River Basin Commission and NY-NJ Trail Conference. Collaborative projects often involve grant partners including William Penn Foundation and technical assistance from U.S. Forest Service and USGS programs.

Category:Environmental organizations based in New Jersey