Stewardship

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. With the plan, which underwent reassessment two years ago, the Closter Nature Center has undertaken numerous projects to respond to these threats.

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 restoration efforts.

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 The exclosure and the plant life within it are subject to active and ongoing maintenance by a crew of volunteers, the aim being the re-establishment of a thriving understory and forest canopy.

After our success with the first exclosure, a second one-acre exclosure was completed nearby in January 2025. The installation of shrubs and trees in the new enclosure is scheduled for the spring of 2025. To allow time to assess the effectiveness of our reforestation methodology, both enclosures will be carefully maintained and evaluated. While the larger enclosures are monitored, reforestation will transition to smaller-scale plantings within fenced areas. This approach allows for continued restoration across the forest while optimizing resources and minimizing labor. These efforts contribute to the establishment of a thriving understory and, gradually, the replenishment 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.

With lessons learned and successes to build upon, reforestation will continue in the western area and expand to other sections of the reserve, beginning with the Red/White trail area in the east.

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.