Declares New Jersey's natural lands essential infrastructure; recognizes need for land conservation.

SR101

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 101

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 14, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� JOHN F. MCKEON

District 27 (Essex and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Declares New Jersey�s natural lands essential
infrastructure; recognizes need for land conservation.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Senate
Resolution
declaring New Jersey�s natural
lands essential infrastructure and recognizing the need for timely and
strategic land conservation.

Whereas,

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation and continues to
experience significant pressure to develop its remaining forests, farms,
wetlands, and open spaces; and

Whereas,

Forests, parks, farms, wetlands, and other undeveloped lands in New Jersey
function as essential infrastructure by providing services necessary for public
health, safety, and economic stability, including the protection of drinking
water supplies, management of stormwater, reduction of flood risk, moderation
of extreme heat, and improvement of air quality; and

Whereas,

These natural systems operate continuously and at scale, delivering benefits
that would otherwise require costly built infrastructure, ongoing maintenance,
or emergency response expenditures by State and local governments; and

Whereas,

Strategic investment in natural infrastructure has been shown to be a
cost-effective means of meeting the State�s infrastructure, public safety, and
resilience needs, while also supporting agriculture, recreation, and local
economies; and

Whereas,

Studies in New England have shown that every dollar invested in land
conservation returns between four and eleven dollars in natural goods and
services, demonstrating a strong return on investment for taxpayers; and

Whereas,

In New Jersey, approximately $660 million in annual conservation spending has
generated an estimated $955 million in economic output, supported more than
4,600 jobs, produced nearly $480 million in wages, and generated $47 million in
State and local tax revenue; and

Whereas,

Agriculture is a quintessential component of New Jersey�s culture as the �Garden
State� and is the state�s third largest industry, behind pharmaceuticals and
tourism, bringing in an average of over $1.5 billion annually from the state's
almost 10,000 farms; and

Whereas,

Conserved lands protect drinking water quality by filtering rainfall and
stormwater runoff, reducing treatment costs and safeguarding public health; and

Whereas,

Natural infrastructure also plays a critical role in stormwater management and
flood mitigation, as forests, wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas slow
and store floodwaters, reduce erosion, and lessen damage to homes, roads, and
other public infrastructure; and

Whereas,

Access to parks and natural areas supports healthier communities and has been
linked to improved physical and mental health outcomes, contributing to reduced
long-term healthcare costs; and

Whereas,

Timely and strategic land conservation is more cost-effective than delayed
response or post-disaster recovery; and

Whereas,

Investment in natural infrastructure protects taxpayers by reducing future
infrastructure costs, disaster recovery expenditures, and public health
impacts, while supporting jobs and economic activity; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey:

���� 1.��� This House declares
forests, farms, wetlands, and open space to be essential infrastructure that
provides measurable environmental, economic, and public health benefits to the
State.

���� 2.��� This House recognizes the
need to support policies, programs, and investments that advance coordinated
land conservation consistent with statewide economic, environmental, and
resilience goals.

���� 3.��� This House recognizes
that in order for New Jersey to achieve a thriving and connected landscape for
people and wildlife, the State must adopt a goal of conserving 500,000 acres by
2050.

���� 4.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Secretary of the Senate to the New Jersey State Director of the Nature
Conservancy.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution declares forests,
farms, wetlands, and open space as essential infrastructure and recognizes the need
for land conservation. �Forests, parks, farms, wetlands, and other undeveloped
lands in New Jersey function as essential infrastructure by providing services
necessary for public health, safety, and economic stability, including the
protection of drinking water supplies, management of stormwater, reduction of
flood risk, moderation of extreme heat, and improvement of air quality.� Natural
infrastructure also plays a critical role in stormwater management and flood
mitigation, as forests, wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas slow and
store floodwaters, reduce erosion, and lessen damage to homes, roads, and other
public infrastructure.

���� New Jersey has a long and
successful history protecting its open spaces, yet it lacks a unified vision
and clearly defined goals for land conservation. �Significant dedicated funding
exists to meet land preservation, yet obstacles are limiting our progress. �For
New Jersey to achieve a thriving and connected landscape for both people and
wildlife, the State must adopt a goal of conserving 500,000 acres by 2050.�