Currently the Morris County Parks Commission is accepting public comments on a proposed 10 year Stewardship Plan for the forests on Mahlon Dickerson Reservation (MDR). The plan proposes a number of activities including prescribed burns, and thinning of the forest.

 

On Saturday November 2, as a special offering in our series of Highlands Hikes, Dr Emile DeVito will accompany us to a site proposed for management. Dr DeVito will discuss the impacts of the proposed plan and what is at risk to the ecological values provided by New Jersey's most productive forests. See details for the hike below.

 

Individuals are strongly encouraged to submit their own comments on this plan. Talking points are provided below if you need guidance. The proposed Stewardship Plan is available here. 

The deadline for public comments is Nov 11, 2019.

 

Finally, we will be present at the regularly scheduled Morris County Parks Commission meetings on October 25 and November 28, ready to testify on this subject. Please join us there to tell the Commission that this ill-conceived plan will harm, not help, our remaining healthy forests. 

Use the "Add your voice!" button to send an email directly to David Helmer, Executive Director of the Morris County Parks Commission. Simply copy and paste the bullets below into the body of the email or use them as suggestions to write your own comments.

Principle concerns with the proposed Mahlon Dickerson Reservation Forest Assessment and Stewardship Plan.

 

• The plan claims the forests on Mahlon Dickerson are unhealthy and low in diversity of species and tree ages. However, that claim is contradicted by the plan itself and the MDR Botanical Survey (2015) provided as an appendix to the Plan. Additionally, on a number of the stands the treatment indicates a range of tree sizes to be cut. A close examination of inventories of those stands reveals those tree sizes are among the biggest and oldest trees in that area, particularly on the ridge tops where trees grow more slowly.

 

• A number of areas outlined for treatment within the stands have trails running through them, including the Highlands Trail, which the NJ Highlands Council and NY/NJ Trail Conference have just entered into a contract to enhance. It is unclear how the recreational experience in the Park will not be affected by thinning given the proximity of the work areas to popular trails.

 

• The current draft of the Plan offers no contingency for the introduction of invasive species to the forest interior. Some of the stands are relatively free of invasive species. It is concerning that the Plan suggests the Commission be responsible and use herbicide treatments after the stewardship is completed, when management activities are often the cause of non-native species invasions. This is not the result of successful forest stewardship.

 

• It would be very reassuring to see written into the plan the stipulation that no timber will be removed from the treatment sites. This will significantly reduce the amount of machinery travelling through the forest, limiting damage to the environment and the spread of invasive species, and maximizing the storage of carbon.

 

• The proposed Plan would have a negative impact on the carbon sequestration potential of the forest despite established evidence that mature forests, among other natural assets, are a critical component in mitigating global warming.

Hike details: We will walk 4 - 5 miles on well maintained trails. There is very little climbing on this itinerary, though the trail does have some up and down.

 

We will meet at 10AM, November 2nd the trailhead by the ball park between the campgrounds and Jefferson High School. Click here for a Google Map. 

 

It is recommended you wear appropriate footwear and clothing for a hike. A snack and plenty of water are always a good idea too! There will be some light refreshment at the end of the walk - feel free to bring something to share.

 

Please RSVP to Zac so we can plan accordingly.

www.njhighlandscoalition.org