Pinelands Preservation Alliance says funding to parks, forests is at 'critical' low

The New Jersey Pinelands are facing multiple threats – from climate change, neglect and a lack of staff, according to a new report from the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, an organization that advocates on behalf of this more-than 1-million-acre evergreen forest.

The Pinelands Preservation Alliance called on New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this month to boost funding for resources within the Pinelands and released its 2024 State of the Pinelands Report. The organization said New Jersey's financial support of Pinelands parks had dropped to "critical" levels.

Jaclyn Rhoads, assistant executive director of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, said Murphy failed to increase the budget of the Pinelands Commission last year, the state agency charged with protecting this ecologically sensitive region.

"We hope Gov. Murphy will do more for the Pinelands in the next year," Rhoads said during a virtual news conference in January.

Rhoads was also critical of the governor's decision to allow the Corporate Business Tax surcharge – which helps fund open space and environmental programs – to expire at the end of 2023. The Pinelands Preservation Alliance estimates that the expiration of the surcharge will lead to $480 million in funding losses over 10 years for New Jersey's programs that preserve open space, farmland and historic sites.

The surcharge – a 2.5% rate on corporations that net more than $1 million a year – had divided environmentalists and business advocates. Even with the expiration of the surcharge, the state's wealthiest companies still pay a 9% corporate business tax rate, the fourth highest in the nation, according to the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

Instead of temporary measures like tax surcharges, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance called for more reliable funding mechanisms, either through higher budget appropriations from the governor's office or through state legislative action. Otherwise, the alliance said Pineland's visitor areas will remain in trouble. Many have trails that are inaccessible to nature lovers with disabilities, while others have deteriorating facilities, according to the alliance.

In addition, progress on important environmental initiatives has slowed or stalled, because New Jersey officials failed to adequately fund the Pinelands Commission or appoint commissioners to fill vacancies in a timely manner, the alliance said.

"The governor and Legislature need to provide adequate funding in the next budget so (Pinelands) Commission staff can accelerate their work on climate change issues," Pinelands Preservation Alliance Policy Director Heidi Yeh said in a news release.

In response to the Pinelands Preservation Alliance's report, the state Department of Environmental Protection said Murphy is giving substantial support to state forests and public lands, with $1.45 billion set aside for capital and maintenance projects across New Jersey's 800,000 acres of public land.

The Preserve NJ Act also diverts a portion of the Corporate Business Tax toward supporting state-managed natural lands, according to the state department.

A new law could also bring some additional funding to the Pinelands. Murphy signed a bill on Jan. 12 creating the NJ State Parks and Open Space Foundation within the Department of Environmental Protection. The new foundation will raise money for maintenance and development of state parks and forests as well as county and municipally-owned parks and open space.

"For years, many of our public places have been in dire need of additional funding to provide for both maintenance and the creation of additional recreational opportunities," former New Jersey Gov. Richard Codey said in a news release. Before he retired from the state Senate, Codey was among the primary sponsors of the legislation. "This new law is a key part of addressing that need and providing the resources… for our public places to best serve the public."

Rhoads, of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, applauded the creation of the foundation, but said it will not be enough to fund salaries for sorely needed state park workers. That funding needs to come from the governor's office or state Legislature, she said.

Threats to the Pinelands

The Pinelands Preservation Alliance wants more staff and programs to help the Pinelands plan for threats from climate change. Already, this forest is under attack from flooding as annual rainfall totals increase over time. Precipitation in New Jersey rose between 5% and 10% over the past century, according to a 2016 report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Heavy downpours are also increasing, according to the agency.

That flooding can damage the delicate Pinelands environment, spread pollution from nearby neighborhoods, or threaten the drinking water of an area, according to the alliance.

The warming climate is also bringing invasive species into the Pinelands. For example, southern pine beetles infest and destroy about 1,000 new acres of trees in New Jersey each year and raise the risk of wildfire in the region, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Managing and protecting the Pinelands in the face of these obstacles is a monumental task. The unique ecosystem spans seven New Jersey counties and more than 50 municipalities.

Yet, there is some good news for the Pinelands, according to the alliance. The State of the Pinelands' report applauded the Department of Environmental Protection for releasing visitor maps of Wharton State Forest and strengthening inland flood rules. The report also commended the Pinelands Commission for its adoption of stronger protections for the aquifer beneath the Pinelands, the Kirkwood-Cohansey, which supplies drinking water to roughly 1 million New Jersey residents.

Nature in winter: Snow day for the birds

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Pinelands funding 'critical' low, advocates say, seek state funds