By: Brett Friedensohn, Madison Eagle

Earth Day brought some good news to the 51-acre Drew Forest at Drew University in Madison this year.

In the backdrop of the sprouting green leaves of the forest, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, D-11 presented a ceremonial big check for about $4.1 million, representing the federal funds she’s secured for the forest preservation, Monday, April 22.

This brings the total to $9.12 million, but hopefully, this isn’t the end of it.

State Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, noted during the press conference that Gov. Phil Murphy added $2 million for Drew Forest preservation in the state budget, which will need to be voted on in June.

In addition, the all-Republican Morris County Commissioners have set aside $5 million from the Morris County Open Space Fund for the forest preservation.

On multiple levels of government, this issue has united Republicans and Democrats, many of whom see the importance of the forest.

And this is for good reason.

As Mayor Robert Conley said, the forest purifies and recharges natural groundwater supplies and reduces flooding, surface runoff and soil erosion.

Conley also spoke on the future ribbon-cutting at a “forever-preserved” Drew Forest. Whenever that happens, we look forward to this milestone.

Bucco spoke about the importance of making sure the property is never developed.

We agree that this is important, and we applaud those who made this possible.

In heavily developed Madison, and ever-increasingly developed Morris County, it’s crucial to have spaces untapped by human expansion to let nature thrive.

Many residents in the area value the forest as well.

Among them are Drew University President Hilary Link who lives on campus.

She spoke about how she sees the value the forest brings to her family, the students and the faculty.

“It is critical for New Jersey’s environment,” she said. “It is equally important to our students and their faculty who have chosen to study and to teach and to live, as I do, in the university of the forest.”

All in all, this was a fitting way to honor our planet on Earth Day.