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Six major environmental groups call for Drew Forest preservation in Madison
“Leaders from Environment New Jersey, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, New York/New Jersey Baykeeper, Raritan Headwaters Association and The Watershed Institute signed a Monday, Aug. 8 letter to the Friends of the Drew Forest advocacy group voicing their ‘vociferous support for the full conservation of the entire 53 acres of the Drew University Forest’ on behalf of their organizations.
‘There are many land-use battles across the state, some that are waged with scant environmental evidence,’ the letter reads. ‘This is not one of them, and the double whammy precedent of the potential development of such a unique ecosystem that the Drew University Forest represents along with the actions by the university hoping to cash out one of its most treasured places compel us to action.’
Non-Profit Adds Voice To Madison Affordable Housing Lawsuit
“Friends of the Drew Forest has filed a brief in response to Drew University's motion to overturn Madison's affordable housing settlement.”
Forest Preservation Amicus Brief Filed in Drew Lawsuit
In response to Drew University’s motion to overturn Madison’s 2020 affordable housing settlement, Friends of the Drew Forest has filed an amicus or "friend of the court” brief to support the preservation of the entire 53-acre tract of this rare, intact preserve. The case will be heard on August 19 at 11:30AM at Morris County Court House, Courtroom 200, 56 Washington Ave, Morristown. The hearing is open to the public.
“We filed a brief because we wanted to document the exceptional ecosystem value of the forest and to make it clear to all parties that this is an area of regional environmental significance,” says Lydia Chambers, co-chair of Friends of the Drew Forest, a nonprofit based in Madison, NJ.
LETTER: Drew University must listen to students on forest issue
“The importance of the forest is more than just what it can offer financially and the ways in which the president and the Drew administration have handled this process have not been transparent.” - Rachel Papa, Drew University CLA ‘22
Madison Mayor addresses Drew lawsuit at meeting; environmental groups call for forest preservation
By Alex Parker-Magyar
Managing Editor, Madison Eagle
“Mayor Robert Conley took issue with several positions expressed in Drew University's lawsuit against the town at a Borough Council meeting Monday, but said Madison is committed to its relationship with the university.”
NORTH JERSEY GREEN: Drinking water, forests and answers beneath your feet
By Claire Whitcomb for Madison Eagle
“The Drew Forest’s importance to the aquifer is one reason why six towns have passed resolutions supporting a market-value conservation sale that would preserve the Forest for public and educational use. The towns are Madison, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Parsippany, Morris Township and Morristown.”
GSWA Joins Effort to Preserve Drew Forest: Board of Trustees Sign Resolution of Support
“Great Swamp Watershed Association is proud to support this important preservation initiative,” stated Sally Rubin, GSWA Executive Director. “The Drew Forest is an invaluable natural resource that will be lost forever if the Borough is ordered by the court to allow construction and the land is fragmented by development.”
Madison Republican candidates weigh in on Drew University lawsuit, effort to save forest
“Conversing with voters at the Madison Farmers Market on June 30, Lenora Clark and Matt Van Natten, Republican candidates for Borough Council, heard residents’ concerns over the recent legal motion filed by Drew University.
Clark and Van Natten have been vocal supporters of the local efforts to preserve the Drew Forest as Drew seeks to sell some of its vacant land assets, according to a July 6 statement from the Madison Republican Committee.”
Great Swamp Watershed Association Joins Effort to Preserve Drew Forest
“The Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) has become the latest organization to officially join in the efforts to save the Drew Forest from development.
Located on the Drew University campus in Madison, Drew Forest is a 53-acre undeveloped, biodiverse preserve that is home to glacial ponds and some of the oldest trees in Morris County. The forest has been called a living classroom for teaching and research for Drew University students and the wider community.”
Whitcomb, Environmental Heads Encourage Brainstorming At Drew Forest Event
By Tyler Barth for TAPintoMadison
“About 75 residents, including former Councilwoman Astri Baillie, attended the event, where they learned from the Friends of the Drew Forest and Claire Whitcomb of the [Madison] Environmental Commission about what the Forest provides for the region and how the fight to save it is going.”
Florham Park filmmaker produces video urging preservation of Drew Forest in Madison
By Alex Parker-Magyar for New Jersey Hills
“A Florham Park man has created a short film documenting the beauty of the Drew University Forest Preserve in Madison – and the destruction he says will follow should the university decide to execute a plan to sell parts of the forest to a housing developer.
The university is considering having parts of the forest rezoned for housing and sold to a builder to help mitigate its ongoing financial troubles. The plan has drawn widespread opposition from students, alumni and area residents, whose Save the Drew Forest advocacy campaign recently drew the curiosity of Florham Park resident Bill Lynch.”
Schiff board urges preservation of Drew Forest in Madison
By Alex Parker-Magyar for New Jersey Hills Media Group
“Another environmental group has thrown its support behind the Save the Drew Forest campaign.
The Schiff Natural Land Trust, steward of the 780-acre Schiff Nature Preserve in the Mendhams, has become the latest group to urge the preservation of the threatened forest preserve on the Drew University campus.”
LETTER: Drew students challenge university president on potential Drew Forest sale
By Erica Cowper and Morgan Zielinski | The Madison Eagle
“We love Drew University and want it to be solvent for many years to come. We think that selling off sections of the forest may solve a short-term funding problem but will destroy the long-term health of the university.”
Dr. Sara Webb honored for Drew Forest restoration in Madison
“Dr. Sara Webb has been awarded the Morris Park Alliance's Individual Environment/Conservation Award for her work to preserve and restore the Drew University Forest Preserve.
The preserve, 53 intact acres with some of the oldest trees in Morris County, owes its biodiversity to 14 years of volunteer work and to Webb's dedication, according to the alliance.”
COMMENTARY: Migrating birds return, but are their northern homes safe?
March is here and the “snowbirds” are returning to New Jersey. These are the people who migrate south to avoid the winters at home (disclosure: I’m one of them).
Morris Township joins area towns urging preservation of Drew Forest
By Kevin Coughlin for Morristown Green
“Jim Hunt, an alumnus with Drew roots dating to 1964, said the Drew Forest is a legacy he wishes to leave for his grandchildren.
‘Every time we chip away with development at the recharge of the aquifer, in effect, we’re beginning to steal from the future,’ Hunt said.
Beseeching Morris County and the state to join the preservation effort, Mayor Mark Gyorfy also implored Drew ‘to give conservation a chance.’”
Morris Township set to back preservation of Drew Forest in Madison
By the Madison Eagle
“The Morris Township Committee is expected to pass a resolution at its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, supporting the preservation of the 53-acre Drew Forest.
The township would become the fourth in a string of municipalities to do so for the forest located on the campus of Drew University, joining the likes of Madison, Chatham Township and Chatham Borough in the fight.”
Students Plead Community to Save the Forest
By Angelia Lobifaro for the Drew Acorn
Drew University students have been busy organizing urging Drew University President Thomas Schwartz to dispel the uncertainty regarding the potential sale of the Drew Forest and the university’s financial future. A student petition is circulating on campus, and Student Government has passed a resolution in support of a conservation sale to permanently protect the forest.
Drew University student government calls for transparency on potential forest sale
By Alex Parker-Magyar for Madison Eagle
“The undergraduate student government at Drew University is looking for answers from the school’s president on the potential sale and development of a portion of the Drew Forest preserve.
The elected body representing Drew’s College of Liberal Arts made several ‘demands’ of President Thomas Schwarz in a resolution dated Wednesday, Feb. 23, stating that unclear communications from the university ‘have caused confusion, and the transparency of decisions made in regards to the sale of the Drew Forest and the impacts therefore mentioned will directly affect the Drew community.’”
A lesson in grassroots advocacy
“Have you heard of the Save the Drew Forest campaign? The answer, if you live in Madison or its surrounding towns, or if you went to Drew University, is very likely yes.
Frankly, if you are a resident of Madison, it seems it would be difficult not to have heard of the campaign at this point.”