This free event is scheduled for April 11 from 6to 8 pm at Atlantic Cape Community College, Cape May Courthouse campus, and will outline actions towns can take to preserve and protect our local environment.
Green Teams, Environmental Commissions, municipal staff and interested members of the public are invited to attend this free event sponsored by the Sustainable Jersey Atlantic-Cape May Hub. “Natural Resource Actions” will be the focus of the Thursday, April 11 event at the Cape May Court House campus of Atlantic Cape Community College, located at 341 Court House-South Dennis Road in Cape May Court House. The event will begin at 6 pm and end at 8 pm.
The April 11 forum offers an opportunity to learn from the New Jersey State Forestry Service’s Brian MacDonald about actions that can help towns to establish and grow local, self-sustaining urban and community forestry programs. Brian will explain how towns can develop and implement a management plan for trees and forests and gain accreditation through the New Jersey Urban & Community Forestry program (NJUCF). He will share information about available resources, including grants and training, to help achieve these goals.
Arborist Jerry Barberio will also share information on proper tree planting and maintenance programs and recent changes to the state’s requirements for municipal tree protection ordinances.
Attendees will also learn about the role of Environmental Commissions from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). Environmental Commissions support the work of elected officials and the public, by researching issues, developing educational programs and advocating for sound environmental policies related to open space preservation, wetlands and water resource protection, green infrastructure, recycling and litter, environmental cleanups, wildlife habitat, energy efficiency, and more. ANJEC presenters Cheryl Reardon and Randi Rothmel will also talk about Natural Resource Inventories and how these important documents support this work.
Attendance at this event can earn participants 2 CEU credits for the NJUCF accreditation program.
Launched in 2009, Sustainable Jersey has developed a comprehensive certification program that outlines specific actions that towns can take that help them to go green and sustain their quality of life over the long term. Sustainable Jersey provides tools, training, and grants to support and reward communities as they move along this path.
More than 466 towns have registered for the Sustainable Jersey program, and 198 are now certified. Grants and other resources have helped towns to reduce energy use, educate residents and implement a wide variety of green initiatives.
“The Atlantic-Cape May Hub brings together local green teams in the two counties to share resources and ideas on how to advance sustainability initiatives in their local communities,” said Ralph Cooper, co-chair for the Atlantic-Cape May Hub. “
The Hub is here to help support Green Teams and to promote collaboration. Many Green Teams and local volunteers are working on similar issues and face the same challenges. Hub events help people connect with each other and to identify resources that can help propel their efforts,” Hub chair Amy Menzel added.
The event is free and open to all.
Participants are asked to register at https://tinyurl.com/ ACMHub11AprilNatResources
More information is available on the Hub’s website: Natural Resources Actions | Atlantic – Cape May Regional Hub (wordpress.com).
