NJAS Lead Contact: John Parke, Conservation Planner/Restoration Ecologist Foodshed Alliance Lead Contact: Tara Bowers, Coordinator

Who is New Jersey Audubon Society?

The New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS) is a non-profit, member-based organization founded in 1897. The mission of the NJAS is to foster environmental awareness and a conservation ethic while preserving wildlife and natural systems. This threefold approach emphasizes conservation, research and education. NJAS is an independent organization not affiliated with the National Audubon Society.

What is New Jersey Audubon doing in Northwestern New Jersey ?

NJAS is interested in working with both private landowners and farmers in northwestern New Jersey to help preserve the region agricultural culture and natural resources. A plan that accomplishes this preservation goal while benefiting the people of this region lies with people’s participation in Federal and State programs that offer farmers and landowners an opportunity to implement conservation practices on their land without negative impact to their bottom line.

NJAS understands that the average farmer/landowner, may not have the time, personnel or monetary resources readily available to research eligibility status for such programs, let alone apply for, implement and maintain participation in such programs. In addition, several of the most lucrative programs for landowners/farmers are new and have been poorly publicized in New Jersey. Therefore, under NJAS’s Harmony Grassland Project (AKA the Agricultural Heritage and Habitat Conservation Plan) NJAS specifically offered the following services at no cost to landowners and farmers in the region:

• Meet with private landowners and farmers to share information about voluntary Federal and State conservation programs that can provide additional farm income to them for implementation of conservation practices on their land;
  
• Serve as a consultant to private landowners and farmers, free of charge, by helping them explore and possibly enroll in federal and/or state conservation programs. This would include preparing the necessary applications, plans, etc. on the behalf of the landowner/farmer, maintaining an open line of communication between the landowner/farmer and applicable funding program and aid with the implementation of the practices.

NJAS’s Agricultural Heritage and Habitat Conservation Plan has become a great success with NJAS making contact with over 100 landowners/farmers in the region and helping them to submit applications into wildlife conservation programs such as: WHIP, CREP, Partners in Fish & Wildlife, LIP and EQIP. In just one year, the Agricultural Heritage and Habitat Conservation Plan alone has secured over $350,258.00 in funding to landowners and/or farmers from various federal and state agencies for wildlife habitat restoration/enhancement on their land, much of which has been recognized as additional income for the applicant.

During the outreach portion of project implementation NJAS recognized that a farmer’s involvement with these conservation programs has a direct impact on the rural economy. With farmers and landowners serving on the frontline against sprawling development, examples of improving the economic situation of the rural community is crucial to advancing the conservation programs’ acceptance and usefulness to the community. New Jersey’s remaining grasslands are almost entirely embedded within agricultural landscapes. The fates of farming and grassland birds in New Jersey are inseparable. If both are to survive here, the farming and conservation community must work together to develop innovative strategies to promote economically viable farm communities and conservation goals. Therefore, NJAS is developing a partnership with the Foodshed Alliance to help promote conservation while encouraging eco and agritourism in the region, thus supporting the local farmer and the rural economy.

Building a Relationship

NJAS and the Foodshed Alliance have begun to implement the following strategy to inform our members of our respective missions and strengthen the new relationship with specific interactive cross promotion activities. This strategy is as follows:

• Publicity / Public Relations – Cross promotion of both organizations’ mission through mention of NJAS and Foodshed Alliance in our respective websites, workshops, programs, newsletters, magazines & in the media (newspaper articles, etc.) ( Goal: Inform general membership and public at large of respective organizations’ mission, goals and specific projects).

• Coordinating Eco and Agitourism Opportunities for Farmers Associated with the Foodshed Alliance– See below

What are these types of tourism?

Agritourism is a business conducted by farmers on their working agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operations for the enjoyment and education of visitors. Its intent is to promote farm products and to generate additional farm income. In doing so, agritourism provides visitors with entertainment, recreation, participation, and education. Ecotourism involves an operation that provides visitors’ enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of wildlife and natural areas while, at the same time, conserving the local ecological, social, and cultural values and enhancing the local economy .

Agritourism and ecotourism provide farmers a chance to diversify their operations, supplement their incomes, improve their communities, and care wisely for their environment. These industries are consumer-focused and respond quickly and directly to consumer needs, preferences, interests, and values.

Perhaps the greatest long-term benefit of agritourism and ecotourism is the chance they offer farmers to educate people about the values and benefits of farms. More than 84 percent of New Jersey’s northern population (Which includes all counties north of, and including, Hunterdon, Somerset and Middlesex) are concentrated in urban and suburban areas outside the rural community. Disconnected from the land, these people lack the knowledge and personal experience to make informed decisions about buying products or even voting on policies that impact agriculture. As advocates of rural values, agritourists and nature tourists can become strong allies of family farms and of the wildlife, habitat, and open space they conserve.

There is a growing interest among agricultural producers in diversifying farm income by providing wildlife-associated recreational opportunities. Opportunities exist for attracting other segments of the recreation market, such as birders, wildlife watchers or nature photographers. According to statistics provided by Outdoor Recreation Alliance;

• One in three New Jersey residents participate in wildlife-based recreation in New Jersey

• Of all 50 states, New Jersey ranks #6 in the amount of economic activity created by in-state wildlife viewing activities.

• The number of participants that wildlife watch in New Jersey is over 1,895,000.

• The amount of economic activity generated by wildlife watching in New Jersey is estimated at 2,264.7 million dollars.

Agritourists and ecotourists are looking for the natural, historical and cultural heart of the place they are visiting, and their defining principle is authenticity. They are interested in what is real, and they want to be immersed in a rich natural, cultural or historical experience. What better place to experience this feeling of natural heritage then a farm. And with good interpretation of the natural resources on the farm, including the wildlife that lives there, it adds immensely to the learning experience and overall enjoyment of the farm visit. A satisfying experience that meets visitor expectations will generate repeat customers and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

What is NJAS and the Foodshed Alliance doing to promote this type of tourism?

With this concept in mind NJAS is organizing birding field trips to bring our members (current NJAS membership over 22,000) directly to individual farms associated with the Foodshed Alliance. Our Goal: By offering to bring our members directly to the farms, NJAS will be able to make contact with specific farmers to help the farmer better understand the ecological concepts of habitat restoration and the importance of grassland habitat, and hopefully identify and obtain for the farmer federal and state funding sources for conservation practices. Also by having suitable wildlife habitat onsite, it opens up a new cliental to the farmer to showcase their produce for sale to visitors that come to bird and/or wildlife watch (i.e. promotion of eco and agritourism). Therefore NJAS is helping to support the New Jersey farmer and the rural economy, as well as wildlife that need the farms to survive.

What’s involved with having NJAS schedule a field trip to your farm?

1st step: Call John Parke of NJAS (908) 766-5787 ext. 18 to schedule a meeting at your property. NJAS for free will prepare a habitat assessment of your property to determine what wildlife is likely to occur on site. Also NJAS will provide in the assessment suggestions as to what conservation programs may benefit you, wildlife and your land.

2nd step: Provided that suitable habitat exists on your property for wildlife, NJAS and the landowner will determine dates to perform the field trips at the farm during times of the year that the landowner/farmer will be able to showcase their products (produce, etc.) for sale and when wildlife would be more likely to occur on site depending upon the season. At this time the landowner/farmer will also discuss with NJAS the farmer’s rules as to having NJAS and field trip participants bird on property. These items will include, but are not limited to: where and where not to bird on property, if photos can be taken on property, length of time that the trip can be at the property, maximum people that can come to bird on the property, where to park, and any other concern or rules the farmer has. 3rd step: After dates and rules are determined, NJAS will publicize the trip in our “Seasons” newspaper (comes out quarterly) with a small write up on farm and what is available for sale. This publicity of the farm in our field trip write up will be at NO COST to the farmer.

EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL WRITE UP FOR NJAS SEASONS IS LISTED BELOW

Seasons Example below: Half-Day Field Trip for Farmland Wildlife

June 9, 2007 at Howling Wolf Farm, Hope, WarrenCounty8:00 AM to Noon – Led by John Parke This 200 acre + farm located in scenic Warren County offers excellent grassland bird habitat and opportunities to view bobolink, savannah sparrow, vesper sparrow, American kestrel and eastern meadowlark. The farm’s mix of woodland, pasture, field and wetlands also offers opportunities to view black bear, eastern coyote, red and gray fox, and mink as well as various reptiles and amphibians and other bird species such as barred owl, warblers and waterfowl. Howling Wolf Farm also will have for sale an array of their freshly picked produce, farm-fresh meats and locally famous cut flowers. For more information about the Howling Wolf Farm see http://www.buyfreshnwj.org/WebPages/GetknowfarmerHowlingWolf.htm

Field trip dates must be set at least 4 mouths in advance in order to meet Seasons publication deadlines. Note: copy –ready deadlines for submission into the “Seasons” paper are Spring, November 1; Summer, February 1; Autumn, May 1; Winter, August 1. NJAS will handle all write ups for inclusion in Seasons.

Other Information about NJAS Field Trips

Will it cost me, as the landowner/farmer, to participate in having these field trips at my farm? No, NJAS will handle all promotion of the fields trips, scheduling of the field trips and leading all field trips. Do I, as the landowner/farmer, need to be a member of NJ Audubon Society to participate in having these field trips at my farm? No, however you must be a member of the Foodshed Alliance. Should you wish to explore NJAS membership please see http://www.njaudubon.org/. What if my farm does not have suitable habitat to attract wildlife that people would want to come out and see? NJAS can provide suggestions as to how to improve, create and/or enhance habitat on site to attract specific species. OR, possibly farmers can partner with each other to have each others products available for sale at a farm that is scheduled for a field trip. How many participants come out on NJAS field trips? Depending on what type of wildlife can be viewed at a site, the number of field trip participants varies. The rarer the species or the more numerous the species likely to be present at a property the more participants generally come out. Average field trip participation ranges between 10-25. NJAS membership is approximately 22,000. Generally NJAS field trips participation is extremely strong, particularly in the spring and fall seasons when birds are migrating back and forth from breeding areas. Who leads the trips? An NJAS representative will lead the trip. Most likely John Parke will be leading the trips associated with this relationship with the Foodshed Alliance. Will I, as the landowner/farmer, have to participate in the field trip itself? Not unless you want too. NJAS more than welcomes the landowner /farmer to participate in the field trip to provide information about the farm, farming practices and of course to promote their product. NJAS will wrap up all field trips at an area of the farm where the farmer has his products for sale. NJAS will also publicize during the trip that the field trip would not be possible without the help of the framer and the Foodshed Alliance and supporting local farmers provides so much more than food to the communities, but opportunities for wildlife and natural resource protection. How long are most field trips? This can be decided prior to setting a field trip date with the farmer and NJAS. Typically, field trips are ~3-4 hours and occur first thing in the morning ( 8:00 AM) which is the best time to view wildlife. What if an animal that is listed threatened or endangered is observed on my property? Unless specifically indicated by you to do so, NJAS will not submit any report of such species to any agency. NJAS and the Foodshed Alliance believe wholeheartedly that combining the ecological aspects with the farming/local food is a missing link to bring farmers and conservationists together. The truth is that the farmer is a steward of the land, thus providing so much more than food to the communities, but opportunities for wildlife and natural resource protection.

ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE – NJAS Exceptional Excursions

Any Foodshed Alliance related farm that successfully enrolls in a federal and state conservation program that benefits wildlife with the help of NJAS, NJAS would like to include that farm in our Exceptional Excursion trips. The Exceptional Excursions events run by NJAS include a special lunch reception after a morning of birding. These trips are exclusively for major NJAS donors and participation is always well attended (guaranteed 25-35 individuals + NJAS staff). As discussed with the Foodshed Alliance, NJAS has scheduled our first Exceptional Excursion in June 2007. NJAS will be paying the Foodshed Alliance for all food (which is grown and/or raised on farms associated with the Foodshed Alliance) to be cooked and served at the selected farm after a morning of birding on the farm. Goal: Again by paying the Foodshed Alliance for their services, NJAS is again helping to support the New Jersey farmer and the rural economy, as well as wildlife that needs the farms to survive.)