In southern New Jersey, the DelAtlantic Soil Conservation District (SCD), formerly Cape Atlantic Conservation District, began its forestry work with limited capacity to meet a growing local need. After a Northeast Mid-Atlantic Partnership for Forests and Water meeting, District Manager Michael Kent met Annica McGuirk, then NACD’s Northeast Representative, who encouraged him to utilize NACD’s Technical Assistance (TA) grant program to support their needs.

“I tailored the TA grant toward forestry,” said Kent. “A lot of it was outreach and capacity building, working with NRCS, helping their forester write plans, and seeing how the district could fill the gap.”

DelAtlantic received the grant and brought a forester onto staff to help build the program. That early investment laid the foundation for lasting growth.

“In the beginning, it was building capacity,” explained Kent. “Now we can write forest management plans ourselves with a NJ approved forester on staff, and the next step is helping landowners implement what’s in those plans.”

Later, a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant expanded that momentum, allowing the district to continue growing its forestry services.

More than meets the eye

Though often stereotyped as industrial and urban, New Jersey is surprisingly forested.

“We’re 41% canopy cover in the state,” said District Forester John Hooven.

Some communities they’ve worked with reach nearly 48% canopy coverage—remarkable for a state of nine million people. The New Jersey pine barrens, a 1.1-million-acre fire-dependent ecosystem situated atop one of the world’s largest freshwater aquifers, dominate the southern region.

“We have the largest area of pitch pine–dominated forest on the East Coast,” said Hooven.

Further north, the Highlands protects drinking water resources with stands of northern hardwoods—sugar maple, oak, and hickory. New Jersey has 1.94 million acres of forest land, of which 42% is privately owned.

“People think New Jersey is just the Jersey Shore and the Sopranos,” Kent joked. “But we’re in the middle of nearly 2 million acres of forest that needs to be managed.”

Local planning to address local needs

New Jersey offers woodland owners tax relief through its Farmland Assessment Program, including the Forest Stewardship Program, which eliminates income requirements and reduces pressure to over-harvest small parcels.

“The majority of plans I write are stewardship plans,” explained Hooven.

Every plan also requires a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Natural Heritage Program review for rare species.

“We check for threatened and endangered species, so we can adjust management to improve conditions or buffer sensitive areas,” he said.

Current work includes restoring bog turtle habitat and supporting recovery of Atlantic white-cedar, benefiting species like swamp pink and Hessel’s Hairstreak. Wildfire, climate change, and invasive species add urgency.

“For us, if we have a fire, several thousand acres is not unheard of,” noted Hooven.

Spongy moth, multiflora rose, phragmites, and other invasives create constant pressure—and constant work. Southern pine beetle occurrence is also increasing in the region as climate change expands its northern range.

Getting the message out

Outreach ranges from tree-ID workshops to partnerships with Rutgers Extension, New Jersey Forest Service, New Jersey Audubon, and woodland owner groups.

“We want people to know what’s possible and what resources are available,” said Hooven.

The district also assists communities with community forestry plans, heat-island assessments, and urban canopy evaluations.

Tips for other districts

Hooven emphasized pacing and long-term thinking, “we’re managing future forests we’ll never see. You have to dream big but temper yourself with reality.”

Kent adds that success hinges on clear communication and education.

“The technical part’s the easy part. You need staff who can explain—in layman’s terms—why we cut trees or burn and how that makes forests healthier,” said Kent. “A lot of people think managing a forest means just letting it be. We need to educate people on why we do what we do.”