New Jersey Highlands Coalition

As the only non-profit organization whose entire focus is on protecting the aquifers and open waters, forests, sensitive habitats, farmlands, wildlife, open space, cultural resources and diverse recreational opportunities found in the New Jersey Highlands, the New Jersey Highlands Coalition's programs are multifaceted and comprehensive. We continue to maintain a presence state-wide through our trenton initiative, through which our policy director focuses on state regulations and rules that impact Highlands resources; to work with partners including the pinelands preservation alliance, anjec, nj league of conservation voters, raritan headwaters association, musconetcong watershed association, great swamp watershed association, nj conservation foundation, and member organizations of the Delaware river watershed initiative (drwi); to grow our education and outreach activities, including through our policy committee, our drwi work, our forestry work, and our natural heritage and forever wild, nj committees; as well as to persist with our traditional pursuits commenting on proposed rules, regulations and proposals, fostering strong regional master plan conformance, supporting grassroots member groups (over 100), opposing projects damaging to Highlands resources, and supporting our governance committees. Additionally, board and staff members are focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and are working to strengthen our internal deij committee and book group to advise on this work. Understanding that we are a primarily and historically white-led organization, this committee is dedicated to expanding our internal deij competence and facilitating a cultural shift internally to increase our inclusivity (primarily through readings, analysis, discussion, workshops, and trainings) and externally, to allow for the opportunity to build meaningful partnerships. We funded another year of our small grants program which includes cultural resources as well as environmental projects, sought additional funding sources for Coalition programs, and promoted increasing our individual and organizational membership. We also continued to present multiple educational webinars archived on our youtube channel, a conference (conducted in person and virtually), two car treks, a golf event, and three art shows, all fostering awareness about the extraordinarily varied resources and clean water provided by the Highlands, as well as raising funds for our small grants program.