NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS COALITION

THE NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS COALITION IS THE ONLY NONPROFIT DEDICATED SOLELY TO PROTECTING THE AQUIFERS, WATERS, FORESTS, HABITATS, FARMLANDS, WILDLIFE, CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF THE NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE MULTIFACETED AND STATEWIDE IN SCOPE. THROUGH OUR TRENTON INITIATIVE, WE INFLUENCE STATE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING HIGHLANDS RESOURCES, WHILE COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS THE PINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCE, ANJEC, NJ LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, RARITAN HEADWATERS ASSOCIATION, MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION, GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED ASSOCIATION, NJ CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, PASSAIC RIVER COALITION, SOURLANDS CONSERVANCY, AND HACKENSACK RIVERKEEPER. TOGETHER, WE EXPAND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THROUGH FORESTRY AND VERNAL POOL PROJECTS, OUR POLICY AND NATURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEES, AND GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR MORE THAN 100 MEMBER AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR STRONG REGIONAL MASTER PLAN CONFORMANCE, OPPOSE HARMFUL PROJECTS, AND PROVIDE COMMENTS ON RULES AND PROPOSALS IMPACTING THE REGION. INTERNALLY, OUR BOARD AND STAFF ARE STRENGTHENING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE (DEIJ) THROUGH DEDICATED COMMITTEES, TRAINING, AND CULTURAL CHANGE, WHILE EXTERNALLY FOSTERING MORE INCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIPS. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RAMAPOUGH LENAPE TURTLE CLAN, NYU LANGONE HEALTH, AND OTHER PARTNERS, WE ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE TURTLE CLAN HEALTH STUDY, FEDERAL RECOGNITION, AND PERMANENT RELOCATION FROM A SUPERFUND SITE.THE COALITION ALSO FUNDS CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS THROUGH OUR SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM, SUPPORTS HIGHLANDS ADVOCATES, FOSTERS A ROBUST COALITION OF INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS, AND INCREASES AWARENESS OF HIGHLANDS RESOURCES AND CLEAN WATER THROUGH EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS, OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, CAR TREKS, A GOLF OUTING, ART SHOWS, AND OUR OVER THE EDGE EVENT-ALL OF WHICH ALSO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS.