Last week, members of the greater Mercer County Community came together to plant the 50,000 trees by The Sourland Conservancy.
The Sourland Conservancy hosted a celebration last week on October 22nd at the Ted Stiles Preserve on Baldpate Mountain, marking the successful planting of 50,000 native trees and shrubs in the Sourland Mountain Region. The effort, undertaken in collaboration with numerous partners, underscores the community’s commitment to restoring the Region's vital forest.
“We’re here today to celebrate not just the forest, but the incredible community of people working to restore it—nonprofits, land trusts, municipalities, counties, grantors, donors, businesses, volunteers, and residents,” said Laurie Cleveland, Sourland Conservancy’s Executive Director. Representatives from New Jersey Conservation Foundation; The Watershed Institute; D&R Greenway Land Trust; Duke Farms; Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space; Washington Crossing Audubon; Lambertville Goes Wild; Mercer County Park Commission; Somerset County Park Commission; Hillsborough Township; Pinelands Nursery; and Steward Green joined Hopewell Township Mayor, Courtney Peters-Manning; Montgomery Township Mayor, Neena Singh; Lambertville Mayor, Andrew Nowick; Hillsborough Township Mayor, Robert Britting; and East Amwell Mayor, Dante DiPirro, to plant the final 64 oak trees needed to meet the milestone."Thank you to the Sourland Conservancy for their unwavering commitment to reforesting the Sourland Mountains in Hopewell Township and beyond,” Mayor Peters-Manning said. “Planting 50,000 trees is truly a remarkable accomplishment, and it was wonderful to celebrate this milestone."
The region has faced significant ecological challenges in recent years. Since 2020, over one million trees—nearly 20% of the region’s total—have been lost to the emerald ash borer, a destructive invasive insect. This loss has had far-reaching effects on the forest's ability to provide essential ecosystem services, including filtering air and water, reducing stormwater runoff, sequestering carbon, and offering critical habitat for wildlife. Among the species affected are 57 state-listed threatened and endangered species that rely on the Sourland region for survival.
"On an October day that felt almost too warm, I felt a sense of hope to be among the amazing people planting oak trees at Baldpate Mountain," Mayor Norwick said. “The Sourland Conservancy's project to plant 50,000 trees in and around the Sourlands will nourish and restore a vital and precious resource for which we can all be grateful."
“The work the Sourland Conservancy is doing to restore the forests will improve our air and water quality, help reduce flooding and air temperatures, and significantly improve habitat for wildlife in this important ecosystem.” continued Mary Anne Borge, Chair, Lambertville Parks & Recreation Commission. “In Lambertville alone, we have partnered with the Sourland Conservancy and many volunteers to plant more than 200 trees on a wooded hillside that is the home of our nature trail and the backdrop for our sports fields and elementary school. We congratulate the Sourland Conservancy on this impressive achievement, and look forward to continuing our productive partnership with them.”
“New Jerseyans are so lucky that ecological restoration is proceeding on such a grand scale at the Ted Stiles Preserve. Mercer County Parks, the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, Sourland Conservancy, and countless volunteers are following in the footsteps of a giant - Ted Stiles, the grandfather of conservation and ecological restoration in New Jersey,” said Emile DeVito, Ph.D., New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “Ted was a mentor to countless Rutgers graduate students and citizen volunteers who carry on his legacy. Ted was a champion; Baldpate Mountain and so many of our favorite cradles of nature persist because of his indomitable spirit that will live forever.”
The Conservancy partners with land trusts, municipalities, and counties to restore public lands by planting native trees and shrubs as well as installing deer exclosures to protect rare plants and encourage natural regeneration. The project is largely funded by individual donors, reflecting the deep community investment in preserving the Sourlands.
“This is more than a milestone,” Cleveland added. “It’s a testament to the power of community. This is not a one-time event—it’s a movement. Together, we’re taking intentional steps to protect our forest and restore ecosystem function. We won’t stop here. We will work together to plant more trees, build more deer fences, preserve more land – and care for the land that has already been preserved. Together, we will leave a healthy legacy for future generations.”
The Sourland Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Skillman, NJ, whose mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the unique character of the Sourland Mountain Region. To learn more, volunteer, or support their work, visit www.sourland.org.
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