MCKEON STATEMENT ON BILL CREATING FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM:

(TRENTON) – Assemblyman John F. McKeon (D-Essex) released the following statement after legislation he’s sponsoring (A-3239) to establish a forest stewardship program was released today by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee:

“We may live in the nation’s most densely populated state, but forests are critical to the welfare of New Jersey.

“They help clean and refresh the air, reduce global warming, clean and protect the waters, promote replenishment of aquifers, stabilize soils and provide shade and habitat essential to sustaining New Jersey’s native biodiversity."

SMITH MEASURE TO PROTECT STATE FORESTS APPROVED BY SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Environment Committee Chair, Senator Bob Smith, which would establish a new forest stewardship program in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to protect privately-owned forests in the Garden State was approved today by the Senate, receiving a vote of 35-3.

“New Jersey has taken a bold step in pledging to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “However, if we’re going to meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals in the next two decades, we need to protect our biggest weapon in the carbon-sequestering arsenal – our State’s lush forest land. Through this legislation, we’re extending support and incentives to good-faith forest stewards and ensuring that forestland will be preserved from overdevelopment and suburban sprawl.”

SMITH MEASURE TO PROTECT STATE FORESTS APPROVED IN BUDGET COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Environment Committee Chair, Senator Bob Smith, which would establish a new forest stewardship program in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to protect privately-owned forests in the Garden State was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee by a vote of 9-0, with 4 abstentions.

“New Jersey’s forests are our most important tool in carbon sequestering and reversing global warming in the Garden State,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “We have a public interest in ensuring the continued vitality and sustainability of forest-land, not only in terms of public recreation, but also in terms of environmental protection. By tapping into existing preservation programs, we can ensure that New Jersey’s forests will survive over-development and suburban sprawl and continue to contribute to our efforts to reduce global warming in the State.”

SMITH MEASURE TO PROTECT STATE FORESTS APPROVED IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Environment Committee Chair, Senator Bob Smith, which would establish a new forest stewardship program in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to protect privately-owned forests in the Garden State was unanimously approved today.

“When you talk about carbon sequestering and reducing global warming, forests are the number one most important tool in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reversing the global warming trend,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “For that reason, the public has a major stake in privately-owned forest land. We need to protect and preserve our forests, and encourage owners of privately-owned forest land to make long-term plans to maintain and sustain our State’s canopy.”