TRENTON – The Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senator John Burzichelli that will assist in preserving and protecting New Jersey’s privately owned forests by creating a specialized program within the State Agricultural Development Committee.
The bill, S-699, offers a vehicle for purchasing development easements on privately owned forestland, ensuring the long-term preservation and stewardship of the state’s valuable forested resources.
“New Jersey is fortunate to have a lot of privately owned woodland space, and we must protect these lands from overdevelopment and environmental degradation,” said Senator Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “This bill provides a structured way of ensuring that woodlands are being managed in a way that is in the best interests of the environment and the long-term prosperity of the state in agriculture and forestry.”
Through this program, the state, local governments, or qualified nonprofit organizations can buy development easements that restrict the development of the land forever. The easements would forever safeguard woodlands for agricultural, silvicultural, and horticultural uses and prevent future development that could compromise the integrity of these critical ecosystems.
In addition to providing safeguards for New Jersey’s woodlands, the legislation also ensures that any easements purchased will be permanently recorded and filed with the applicable municipal tax assessor and county clerk, providing long-term legal certainty.
The vote was 39-0.