World News | New Jersey accuses itself of destroying land it was supposed to protect

NEW YORK, April 14 (AP) — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Conservation has accused itself of destroying the habitat of threatened and endangered birds it was supposed to protect.

The work was designed to create habitat for one species of bird, but it actually destroyed the habitat of two others.

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The department acknowledged that it conducted unauthorized work in the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in Clayton, Gloucester County in February and March, issued notices of violations and threatened sanctions against its own fish and wild animals. Penalties are imposed by the animal department.

Violation notices include threats of penalties, but it’s not clear how that would work when DEP is both a plaintiff and a defendant. It’s also unclear if any money actually changed hands. The department did not respond to questions about the possible fine.

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The work involved clearing vegetation and disturbing soil on nearly 3 acres of what the state calls a “freshwater wetland of exceptional resource value.” Until work is complete, the land is considered suitable habitat for the barred owl, which is listed as threatened, and the red-shouldered hawk, which is endangered.

The project also cleared and disturbed an additional 12 acres adjacent to the wetlands, known as transition zones, which are also protected.

The DEP declined Friday to discuss how the work was carried out without authorization.

The effort, the department wrote on its website Feb. 1, aims to create 21 acres of habitat for the woodcock, a member of the sandpiper family that uses its long, narrow beak to navigate wet soil. Foraging earthworms. The project aims to create “meadow habitats”.

But in doing so, the state destroyed mature oak and pine forests in and near the wetlands and filled some wetlands, an effort four conservation groups complained about in a letter to the department in early March. . The agency issued a notice of violation on April 6.

“Previously undisturbed wetland soils and flora have been destroyed, and mature forests that have been home to many rare plants and birds have been cleared,” the group wrote. “All the trees have been cut down, all the stumps have been bulldozed.”

“This should never have happened,” said Tom Gilbert, director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “They must also take steps to improve their internal review process, which is clearly inadequate, and effectively engage the public.”

Jaclyn Rhoads, assistant executive director of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, praised the state for acknowledging mistakes, but said DEP should make a list of current projects available on its website for public review.

“It is because of the public that we have been able to prevent further damage to this land,” she said.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Bureau of Land Management must implement appropriate soil protection measures within 10 days and submit a plan to restore the site within 30 days, agency spokesman Larry Hajna said. This must include removal of wood chips placed there.

At the end of April, the Ministry of Environmental Protection plans to issue a penalty assessment notice.

Fish and Wildlife will propose additional environmentally beneficial measures, which are subject to a public comment period, Hajna said. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)