A common environmental impact attributable to economic growth and development is the depletion of natural resources. However, where wetlands, floodplains, aquifers and soils are protected by New Jersey state agencies, trees do not receive the same attention that they deserve. After all, trees serve an important ecological purpose by mitigating air and noise pollution, providing storm water and soil erosion control, as well as energy conservation and wildlife habitats. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, is charged with the protection of forest resources. However, most of their funding is channeled to fight forest fires and their scope is limited to state parks and other publicly owned lands.
Public education is also a major emphasis of their program.
We must take this opportunity to prove to t he rest of the nation that an urban forestry project can work in New Jersey and provide a model that other states can copy and follow. The Middlesex County group has developed a well defined vision and goal statement, with verbs such as focus, revitalize, expand, foster, promote, and improve being used to implement our urban forestry plan. Each municipality wants to benefit from this program. Any worthwhile project would benefit the entire region. Many such projects have been proposed, capable of being duplicated in similar settings.