The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on the state's Wildlife Action Plan (
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/waphome.htm ), which identifies threats to wildlife populations and establishes a blueprint for protecting rare and imperiled wildlife in the Garden State.
Interested residents are invited to attend an open-house meeting on Thursday, July 10 at Cape May Bird Observatory, Cape May Courthouse from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Another meeting will be held on July 24 at Plainsboro Preserve, Plainsboro.
New Jersey's Wildlife Action Plan establishes long-term goals and conservation actions aimed at maintaining wildlife populations. It was developed by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife in partnership with the public, state conservation groups and other stakeholders.
Both meetings are intended to provide information about New Jersey's Wildlife Action Plan, show how partner groups are working with the DEP on wildlife issues and engage residents in thinking about ways everyone can participate in implementing the plan.
There will be no formal presentation of the plan during the meetings. Rather, conservation partners from state, federal and non-profit agencies will offer residents an opportunity to discuss wildlife and habitat conservation projects in a fair-like setting. Partners include the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, New Jersey Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service, New Jersey Conservation Foundation and others.
The public meetings is sponsored by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.