Yvonne Kunz
The Sourland Conservancy hosted a celebration today at the Ted Stiles Preserve on Baldpate Mountain, marking the successful planting of 50,000 native trees and shrubs in the Sourland Mountain Region. The effort, undertaken in collaboration with numerous partners, underscores the community’s commitment to restoring the Region's vital forest.
“We’re here today to celebrate not just the forest, but the incredible community of people working to restore it—nonprofits, land trusts, municipalities, counties, grantors, donors, businesses, volunteers, and residents,” said Laurie Cleveland, Sourland Conservancy’s Executive Director.
The region has faced significant ecological challenges in recent years. Since 2020, over one million trees—nearly 20% of the region’s total—have been lost to the emerald ash borer, a destructive invasive insect. This loss has had far-reaching effects on the forest's ability to provide essential ecosystem services, including filtering air and water, reducing stormwater runoff, sequestering carbon, and offering critical habitat for wildlife. Among the species affected are 57 state-listed threatened and endangered species that rely on the Sourland region for survival.
The Conservancy partners with land trusts, municipalities, and counties to restore public lands by planting native trees and shrubs as well as installing deer exclosures to protect rare plants and encourage natural regeneration. The project is largely funded by individual donors, reflecting the deep community investment in preserving the Sourlands.
The Sourland Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Skillman, NJ, whose mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the unique character of the Sourland Mountain Region. To learn more, volunteer, or support their work, visit www.sourland.org.