1. Landowner Outreach and Negotiations - Many towns have asked The Land Conservancy of New Jersey to contact landowners to discuss conservation options for their properties. Some landowners feel more comfortable talking about their land with a nonprofit group than with government officials. Skilled in negotiation techniques, the Conservancy’s staff crafts win-win solutions for the landowner and the community. Some landowners realize as much economic gain by donating or selling their land for conservation as they would selling to a developer. The Conservancy has worked in partnership with communities to close 110 land deals, preserving nearly 6,000 acres throughout northern New Jersey.

2. Grant Writing - The Land Conservancy of New Jersey specializes in grant writing for federal, state, county land acquisition and planning grants. The Conservancy has assisted municipalities receive over $80 million.

3. Open Space Planning - One of the Conservancy’s services is an open space planning process that actively involves community leaders and motivates them to develop and accomplish open space goals for their community. All of the communities that have submitted Conservancy-produced plans to the state Green Acres program have received state grants to acquire open space land. All of these plans have motivated at least one active preservation project since their adoption by the municipality. The planning process is successful and works! The Conservancy has produced 31 Open Space and Recreation Plans in 8 counties.

Sample Sections from Open Space Plans:

Executive Summary
Natural Resources
Land Preservation Recommendations

4. Farmland Preservation Planning The Land Conservancy of New Jersey also works with communities to develop farmland preservation plans. The plans satisfy the state requirements for towns interested in applying to the Planning Incentive Grant (PIG) Program sponsored by the State Agriculture Development Committee. In addition to municipal plans, we have completed the Farmland Preservation Plan for Sussex County

5. Trail and Greenway Plans - Towns with active open space preservation programs want residents to enjoy their new parks and outdoor areas. A trails system invites people to explore natural areas in their community. Using the town’s open space plan and greenway map, the Conservancy will develop a plan with an accompanying map to guide the development of a trails system. The plan will suggest where multi-use trails are appropriate. The map will show connections and gaps. Community trails connecting with regional trails create a nationwide network of greenways, ribbons of green that promote the health of people and wildlife.

6. Open Space and Greenway Mapping - Maps are essential tools for preserving land. They show a vision of how a community’s open space works as a system, to connect existing parks, buffer neighborhoods, and protect waterways. Maps suggest acquisition and funding strategies. Towns use maps to show residents the progress being made in open space preservation.

7. Conservation Easement and Stewardship - A conservation easement is a recorded deed restriction that protects a community’s most vital natural features, such as wildlife habitat, open space, scenic views, wetlands, streambanks, and greenways that buffer local neighborhoods. Regular monitoring of conservation easements ensures that encroaching backyards, dumping and other negative land uses do not impact the value of conserved lands. The Land Conservancy has developed several tools to assist municipalities in meeting their responsibility for stewardship of these lands. This includes developing an inventory of conservation easements, mapping of municipally-owned conservation easements, and developing a guide for the monitoring and regular caring of these easements.

8. Landowner Education Workshops
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has run numerous landowner education workshops inviting state, county, and other funders to meet local landowners. These programs provide an informal, educational setting for landowners to learn about the types of conservation assistance and options available to them and have their questions answered. Each of these workshops has resulted in land being preserved.

9. Land Acquisition Assistance - The Land Conservancy of New Jersey will assist, and if requested by the municipality, manage all aspects of the land acquisition process, including the due diligence work. This includes coordinating environmental assessments, appraisals, surveys, and title work to ensure compliance with funding agency standards and timely delivery.

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