New Jersey

Fulfilling its legacy as the Garden State, New Jersey’s ecological history has been uniquely shaped by agriculture and the enduring influence of industrialization on its land. European discovery of abundant natural resources in the state rapidly led to trade booms in beaver pelts, oysters, and lumber, eclipsing early sustainable Lenape harvesting practices. Relentless hunting and deforestation inflicted irrevocable damage on predators and plant species, while the rise of urbanization shrunk habitats across the state. Nonetheless, New Jersey stands out for its remarkable diversity of landscapes, spanning the coastal estuary of the Delaware Bay, the wetland ecosystem of the NYC-adjacent Meadowlands, and the forested expanse of the Pine Barrens. With the gradual introduction of state environmental protections in the 20th century, previously threatened or extirpated species such as the bald eagle and bobcat made a successful return.

Despite making noteworthy strides in environmental conservation, New Jersey’s path to becoming the most densely populated state has been plagued by a history of waste production and pollution, earning it a second identity as the Garbage State. At its peak, New Jersey was home to over 400 landfills, many of which leached toxic chemicals into ecologically important wetlands and waterways, harming both wild and human life. Natural processes threaten the state’s biodiversity, primarily in the form of climate change, while rising water levels and increasingly destructive storms continue to erode the shoreline. Rapidly warming temperatures are further reducing the amount of available habitats for the state’s most endangered species, as seen with the bog turtle. Situated in the most metropolitan region of the U.S., efforts to conserve New Jersey’s distinctive environments and species become increasingly crucial as humanity continues to exploit the natural resources of our planet.