Closter Nature Center (CNC) is dedicated to preserving the long-term well-being of the 136-acre forested wetlands under our care and acting as responsible environmental stewards. At CNC, stewardship is a cornerstone of our organizational structure and guides the planning of all our initiatives. A definition of environmental stewardship that underpins our mission is:

The responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices to enhance ecosystem resilience and human well-being. (Ecosystem Stewardship: Sustainability Strategies for a Rapidly Changing Planet)

For CNC, fostering resilience is paramount in stewarding our forest.  Resilience is an integral feature of responding to and interacting with the environment in a constantly changing world.  A resilient system can effectively recover from disturbances, returning to its fundamental form and operation.  Our reforestation and restoration initiatives are informed by the goal of increasing and sustaining forest resilience.

In collaboration with New Jersey Audubon in 2017, the Closter Nature Center created a Forest Stewardship Plan, designed to tackle critical forest threats and establish a roadmap for reforestation. The threats of greatest concern are: 

1. Deer browse, which has destroyed natural regeneration of forest understory shrubs and canopy trees; 
2. Invasive plant species which begin to overwhelm critical native species. 

Following a reassessment of the plan in 2023, the Closter Nature Center has launched a series of projects aimed at mitigating these threats and restoring the health of the forest ecosystem.

Orange Trail Reforestation

Since 2022, our reforestation efforts have been concentrated in the western section of our reserve, which is traversed by the Orange Trail.  The hard work of dedicated volunteers and consultants, along with generous financial support, has led to significant progress.

In 2023, the CNC constructed a one-acre deer-proof exclosure using rot-resistant locust posts and heavy mesh fencing.  In the spring of 2024, over 200 native wetland plant species were planted by a combination of volunteers and professional forest managers; the species planted and their distribution was established in partnership with the Wild Woods Restoration Project.   

After our success with the first exclosure, a second one-acre exclosure was completed nearby in January 2025.  A collaborative effort in March 2025 saw 200 plants successfully established in the new exclosure. Staff, volunteers, and professionals from the CNC trail crew, Closter DPW, Veolia maintenance, the Cresskill High School Environmental Club, and the community at large joined forces for this project. We are particularly grateful to Todd Bradbury and Bradbury Landscaping, whose expertise in planting methodology and placement, along with a generous plant donation, were instrumental to the project's success.

Beyond offering essential consultation and planning, the Wild Woods Restoration Project made a direct, hands-on contribution to the ongoing reforestation efforts. Starting in Spring 2025, volunteers, guided by Wild Woods staff, potted and nurtured seedlings grown from native seeds collected at Closter Nature Center and nearby reserves. In the Fall, these seedlings were returned to our grounds and planted within our exclosures, adding an additional 1,000 native wildflowers to the restoration areas. Altogether, between 2024 and 2025, over 1,400 plants were planted, laying a solid foundation for a multi-year effort to restore a sustainable forest ecosystem.

To evaluate the effectiveness of our reforestation methods, both large exclosures will be carefully maintained and monitored. As these areas are observed, reforestation will shift to smaller-scale plantings within wire-fenced cages. This strategy enables continued forest restoration while optimizing resources and minimizing labor. Over time, these efforts support the growth of a robust understory and contribute to the gradual renewal of the forest canopy.

Looking Ahead

The journey of restoring and nurturing the Closter Nature Center's forest will be an ongoing commitment without a definitive endpoint. We remain dedicated to safeguarding the health of our forest, investigating other best practices to address ongoing issues and actively working to restore its ecological balance.

Building on lessons learned and past successes, reforestation will continue in the western area and expand to other sections of the reserve, starting with the Red/White trail area in the east. Funding for our reforestation efforts remains strong, thanks to the continued support of our partners, Veolia and the Borough of Closter. In 2025, Veolia awarded a $7,500 grant to support planting within existing exclosures, while the Borough generously provided $50,000 to extend efforts to additional areas of the reserve.

At the same time, we recognize the critical need to address the ongoing threat of invasive species, which compete with all the native plants necessary to a thriving ecosystem.  We are actively inventorying invasive species across the reserve and implementing management strategies to prevent them from overwhelming our newly planted vegetation.

The science of restoring severely damaged forest ecosystems in the northeastern U.S. is still in its early stages.  There is significant trial and error, and the sharing of information is crucial for determining effective restoration methods.  Flexibility in planning is important to take advantage of new information and unexpected availability of plant materials.  Recognizing the complexity of this undertaking, we continue to seek expert guidance as we move forward.