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Current Rationale for Logging Contradicts Prior Basis For Forest Preservation

Fragmentation, tree cuts, and opening forest canopy brings in sunlight, which fuels explosive growth of invasive plants, which out compete native plants. Source: scene from “The Highlands Rediscovered” NJN TV documentary – at time 22:40

The more cuts that one gets, the more fragmentation in this forest mosaic, the more it gets degraded. ~~~ Eric Stiles, NJ Audubon “The Highlands Rediscovered” (NJN TV, 2004)

Sportscaster Warner Wolf was famous for his line “Let’s go to the video tape!” – so, let’s do just that for a moment to shed some light (pun intended) on the current debate about logging in Highlands forests.

I’ve written thousands of words and posted numerous photos about that – particularly on how the current rationale for logging Highlands forests contradicts the science relied upon to preserve the Highlands. I’ve even used the published work of NJ Audubon CEO Eric Stiles to make the point:

Forest wildlife diversity depends on large contiguous forest patches, connections to other habitats, structurally complex vegetation, intact seasonal wetlands, and the presence of native vegetation. Disruption of any of these components can dramatically reduce wildlife diversity. ~~~ Eric Stiles, NJ Audubon (“State of the Forest” Symposium (2002)

But NJN’s documentary video does that far better, and brings in other expert voices to confirm my point (including Mr. Stiles himself!).

The 2004 NJN TV documentary “The Highlands Rediscovered” – funded by the Dodge Foundation – provides spectacular visual imagery supported by science to make a powerful argument for preserving the Highlands region, particularly the remaining forests.

Let’s go to the video tape to make our point – watch starting at time 22:00 minutes, where the impacts of development and fragmentation of forests are discussed. Pay special attention to the effects of disturbance of the forest (transcript below, emphases mine):

Richard Lathrop, PhD (Rutgers) – We are at a critical juncture, in that the Highlands still are predominantly forested. But, we are starting to see the balance shift towards greater development and less forest cover.

Narrator – a forest’s only defense is its magnitude. Even modest cuts – known as forest fragmentation – threaten its future. 

Lathrop – Forest fragmentation has a whole cascading series of impacts. So, ecologists and land use planners have really started to appreciate the importance of conserving the integrity of large unbroken tracts of forest.

As we begin to open up the forest, as we put in roads, we change the microclimate.

Ted Stiles (PhD) (Rutgers) – Plant species that normally can’t live under shade in the forest are able to to be successful, so that you have different species of plants that penetrate the forest, which changes the habitat. (In Memoriam)

Lathrop–  Some of those species can get in, take over, and out-compete the native species, and that’s what we’re seeing all across our forests. …

Heather Gracie – Consulting forester – We’re breaking down the infrastructure of the forest. We’re segmenting things off to a point where it lessens the value that these forest lands provide.

Eric Stiles, NJ Audubon – The more cuts that one gets, the more fragmentation in this forest mosaic, the more it gets degraded. If one is looking at a fragmented portion of the Highlands, you would see a simplified or dumbed down forest. You don’t have the rich structural stratification in the forest. You will see light gaps in the canopy that are not being replaced. There is no duff, there is no leaf litter. Just bare dirt.

Yes Mr. Stiles – One destroys the forest with those cuts –

Kind of like one sees here, after NJ Audubon cuts at Sparta Mountain:

Sparta Mountain WMA

Saw two box turtles on our walk this morning!

Hey you don’t help them to bury the light
Don’t give in without a fight. ~~~ Pink Floyd (listen)

Now that I’ve got your attention, consider this argument:

Anderson complains that scientists self-censor because they cannot fund bad news and don’t want to be its messenger. But it seems to me that he is guilty of the same fault when he offers hopeful answers that affect our lives little.

Only someone who knows the danger and cares about the future of humankind could make the last ditch effort to try and keep global average temperature rise to 2°C. For that effort cannot be made without total upheaval in how we live. We are not going to do this with a simple painless adjustment of the knob. We cannot use hydrocarbon fuels for energy, period.

Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for president, arriving at his Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland on Friday. Credit Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The above photo may come to be known as part of a 21st Century Arch Duke Ferdinand like moment. 

(I used that metaphor in a limited sense as an event that catalyzes chaos, but a Weimar moment is the far more apt analogy to describe the descent into barbarism and climate collapse we seemed locked into.)

Given Trump’s incredibly opportunistic self promotion of the disastrous right wing driven exit from the European Union from his golf course in Scotland – and the dangerous reactionary and fascist politics that is feeding in the US – we renew our call for NJ Audubon to repudiate Trump money and (very publicly) sever their partnership with Trump at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ.

For those who find it hard to believe that a group like NJ Audubon would partner with the likes of Mr. Trump – at an environmentally destructive golf course no less –  please see the facts here:

• NJ Audubon Partners With Donald Trump

In a nutshell, NJA partners with and is funded by Trump.

On top of all that, Trump already is building as wall – at his Irish golf course to adapt to climate change driven sea level rise, see:

• Donald Trump calls global warming a hoax, until it threatens his golf course

Memo to Eric Stiles, CEO of NJ Audubon – have you no shame?

Sweeney Yet to Post Veto of Christie DEP Flood Rules for Senate Vote

Is Sweeney carrying the Builders’ water or saving the best for last?

“We as a legislature have consistently supported the sanctity of buffers for our C1 streams. These are the purest waters we have in the State of NJ.” ~~~ Senate Environment Committee Chairman Bob Smith (June 16, 2016)

Senate President Sweeney has yet to post SCR 66, the veto of Governor Christie’s DEP flood hazard, stormwater management, and coastal rules.

The Assembly passed the Assembly version (ACR 160) and the Senate Environment Committee approved SCR66 and released it to the full Senate on June 16.

The case for a veto is strong.

At a State House rally later that day, Senator Lesniak (co-sponsor) promised that the Resolution would be passed during the Senate’s June 23 session. That did not happen. I really hope he was not just blowing the same smoke he did on Exxon NRD.

And I really hope Sweeney has changed his mind now that he is Senate President – and running for Governor – and is not attacking clean water and promoting inappropriate development again, like he did back in 2007 when the Category One waters buffers were incorporated in the stream encroachment permit program. Back in 2007, then Senator Sweeney joined then Republican Senate President Bob Littell in attacking the C1 program:

404. COMMENT: The proposed Category One designations would appear to be more about curbing development than enhancing water quality standards. Unfortunately, this new regulatory proposal tips the balance even more against the economic prosperity of the areas, district 24 and 3. (127, 221)  (source: DEP regulatory document)

Both houses previously passed the Resolution, but the Constitution requires that DEP be provided a chance to respond and that the Resolution be passed by both houses twice to finally veto the rule.

There are just two sessions left before the Legislature adjourns for summer recess – June 27 and June 30 – the Board list for June 27 has been posted and the Resolution is not on it.

We urge readers to call Senate President Sweeney at (856) 251-9801 and urge him to post SCR 66 to protect clean water and not make flooding worse.

Here is my letter to key Senators urging that they do the same:

Dear Chairman Smith and members of the Environment Committee:

I am writing to urge you to contact Senate President Sweeney and ask him to post SCR 66, the legislative veto of DEP flood hazard, storm water management, and coastal rules DEP recently adopted, despite prior passage of the Resolution by both Houses and legislative requests urging DEP not to do so.

As members of the Environment Committee, you heard the testimony and fully understand the implications of allowing the DEP regulations to stand:, i.e. there will be increased flood risks and further degradation of water quality in NJ’s “exceptional value” Category One waters due to allowance of additional destruction of stream buffers and more development closer to the water.

You have a serious responsibility to convey these implications to Senate President Sweeney and convince him to post SCR 66 for Senate vote, particularly given the Senate’s prior passage of the Resolution.

The DEP rules roll back water quality protections long supported by the Legislature and violate legislative intent and the regulatory policy in NJ’s Surface Water Quality Standards (NJAC 7:9B-1 et seq.).

As Chairman Smith noted on June 16 when the Resolution was released from the Environment Committee:

“We as a legislature have consistently supported the sanctity of buffers for our C1 streams. These are the purest waters we have in the State of NJ.”

It is time to affirm that support.

Respectfully,

Sham downtown New Egypt revitalization plan cover for same old sprawl

Real downtown and community investment needs neglected

Does this look like downtown revitalization to you?

We warned that a new sewage treatment plant would not only harm water quality in the Crosswicks Creek, but promote massive sprawl development and destruction of prime farmland, open space and community character, see:

• Sewers Create Sprawl That Will Not Save Downtown New Egypt or Improve Water Quality of Crosswicks Creek

Those warnings were ignored and back on January 8, 2016, the Christie DEP approved the permits for a new sewage treatment plant on Crosswicks Creek.

Now, Plumsted Township will hold a hearing on Tuesday June 21 at 7:30 pm on the massive development that was  the real reason for the new sewage plant, which was sold to local residents as an effort to promote downtown revitalization and replace failing cesspools and septic systems.

illegal cesspool discharges to street in downtown New Egypt – that’s a park in background

cesspool discharge flowing towards downtown New Egypt

We called bullshit on that – multiple times and for multiple reasons, including a corrupt permitting process at DEP.

Sorry, I have not been involved in the issue since January when DEP issued the permit, so I don’t have any current information or analysis to provide on the development, which I think is called “Greenbrier”.

Just posting this as a heads up and to urge folks to attend the meeting.

Here’s some more shots of downtown New Egypt to show the needs for investment and revitalization the are being neglected, while investment goes to build new sprawl (and there’s small pocket of dilapidated homes of mostly immigrant farm workers that no one is even talking about, never mind providing resources to): (all photos shot 1/1/15)

illegal discharge

stormwater discharge