New Jersey was predominantly forested for thousands of years until widespread clearcutting made way for agriculture and later, sprawling development. Currently, NJ has 40% forest cover from urban city shade trees to public parks, suburban canopies, small woodlots, and large preserves. About half of our current day forests are on public lands. The rest is […]
“It’s a bird.” “It’s a plane.” “No, it’s a glider!” “What’s a glider?!?” “An underwater robot!” Observing the ocean is inherently difficult whether it is close to shore or hundreds of miles from land. The ocean is so vast and it can cost more than $75,000 per day for an oceanographic vessel with a scientific […]
In December 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) report. This report presents the results of the 2018-2019 survey of rivers and streams in the 48 contiguous United States (Figure 1). It provides information on the extent of stream miles that support healthy biological communities and recreation […]
December Angelica Tree Aralia elata Japanese angelica tree (Aralia elata) is an extremely aggressive, fast growing, deciduous tree that invades forest canopy gaps, forest edges, and right of ways. It is a heavy seed producer and once this tree invades an area it takes over quickly, forming dense stands (Figure 1) and suppressing native vegetation […]
In this 10 minute feature we follow Bob, a local farmer, for an entire growing season as he loses half of his crop to deer damage. Ecologists tell us about forest research, restoration, and management efforts as they combat high deer numbers and extensive browsing of native plants that has led to invasive plants taking […]
(This article originally appeared in the December 2023 Gardener News) Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) has a wide range of volunteer programs whose common goal is to disseminate science-based information to the public. You may have heard about the Rutgers Master Gardeners and Rutgers New Jersey 4-H programs, as they are among the most established and […]
The Earth Day, Every Day Team wanted to pause and reflect on the environmental issues and events that that we are grateful for this year (and every year!). If you would like to learn more about any of the topics mentioned, you can review any of the ‘Earth Day, Every Day’ webinars on wildlife, rain […]
October English ivy (Hedera helix) Invasive vines such as English ivy can kill healthy, mature trees. Simple actions like controlling invasive vines can help save trees which are vital for capturing greenhouse gases and reducing the impact of climate change. Ecological threat: English ivy (Hedera helix) is an ornamental vine commonly planted in landscapes as a […]
There have been some topics in the news lately related to tickborne diseases. One is the apparent rise in alpha-gal syndrome cases in some parts of New Jersey. Another is the potential for a Lyme disease vaccine for humans. This article will briefly address these topics, along with a quick overview of tickborne diseases, where […]
Linden viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum) is an ornamental shrub commonly planted in landscapes, Linden viburnum invades the understory of forests and thrives in the shade. Be on the lookout for Linden viburnum’s bright red cluster of fruit in the fall persisting into December. This invasive shrub has creamy white flowers in clusters in the spring.
