Statement by FODF in response to Judge Hansbury’s ruling

March, 6, 2205

We believe that the entire Drew Forest should be preserved. It is treasured by the community for its ecological, educational, and recreational value.  We also believe this Court’s decision which considers approximately 35.6 of the 51.6 acres to be developable is flawed. 

We stand by our independent ecological expert who determined that that the Drew Forest “has extremely high value as a preserved open space where it can continue in its current capacity. Development of the property would eliminate a significant source of groundwater recharge to the Buried Valley Sole Source Aquifer.  It would also disrupt ongoing public and student use of the land and long-term research projects that are being carried out there. It would remove identified habitat for the federally endangered Indiana bat and many irreplaceable large trees. It would undermine 14 years of restoration work with University partners including students, community volunteers, and donors whose goal was to improve the Preserve in perpetuity as a healthy forest ecosystem.

As was noted by one of the largest financial donors [to Drew Forest restoration], the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, “although our 10-year contract with the University had ended, it was the understanding that the funds were only being provided to restore the forest for the long-term”. It would be inappropriate to sell this land for development rights after the significant effort that has been made to restore it as a rare remnant of the forests that once covered most of northern New Jersey.”