{"id":1494,"date":"2022-01-16T19:51:10","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T19:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/?page_id=1494"},"modified":"2025-02-04T12:47:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T17:47:13","slug":"stewardship-plan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/stewardship-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Sparta Mountain WMA &#8211; Stewardship Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<nav style=\"color: #f89425; font-size:16.5px;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"has-text-color is-responsive items-justified-center wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Sparta\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.5\" width=\"16\" height=\"1.5\" \/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"15\" width=\"16\" height=\"1.5\" \/><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container\"  id=\"modal-1\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-1-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"color: #f89425; font-size:16.5px;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__container has-text-color is-responsive items-justified-center wp-block-navigation\"><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Home<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">|<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/harvest-methods\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Harvest Methods<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">|<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/wildlife-habitats\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Wildlife Habitats<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"#\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">|<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/young-and-old-growth-forests\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Young &amp; 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Events<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/public.govdelivery.com\/accounts\/NJDEP\/subscriber\/new?topic_id=NJDEP_24\" style=\"background-color:#f89425\">Subscribe to Newsletter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/updates-upcoming-activities\/\" style=\"background-color:#f89425\">Updates and Upcoming Activities<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/stewardship-plan\/\" style=\"background-color:#f89425\">Stewardship Plan<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/sparta-mt-fsp-public-info-session-20170509.pdf\" style=\"background-color:#f89425\">Information Session Presentation &#8211; May 9, 2017<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image text-wrap-pic third\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/photo-of-workers-and-buildings-at-ogden-mine-in-1895-on-monument-at-sparta-mountain-wma.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/photo-of-workers-and-buildings-at-ogden-mine-in-1895-on-monument-at-sparta-mountain-wma.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59502\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/photo-of-workers-and-buildings-at-ogden-mine-in-1895-on-monument-at-sparta-mountain-wma.jpg 400w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/photo-of-workers-and-buildings-at-ogden-mine-in-1895-on-monument-at-sparta-mountain-wma-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo on the monument on Sparta Mountain WMA showing the buildings and workers of the mining operations at that location in 1895<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><br><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/sparta_mountain.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Sparta Mountain WMA<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i>\u00a0has been part of the Central Hardwoods Ecosystem with oaks and hickories dominating the forests for the past 10,000 years. These forests were perpetuated by fires, hurricanes, and droughts, as evidenced by concentrations of both charcoal and oak pollen in the soils in that timeframe. In the late 1800s, Sparta Mountain was drastically changed by the mining operations &#8211; bedrock was blasted away, soils were moved, a railroad was built, and essentially all the trees were cut down to make charcoal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, with the suppression of fire and lack of forest management, the oak forests in northern New Jersey are slowly converting to northern hardwoods as maple, birch, and beech trees now grow in the shade of the oaks that began growing about 100 years ago. Another effect of fire suppression and lack of forest management is the lack of regenerating forests, also known as young forests or early successional forests. These shrubby areas within the forest are used by a large diversity of wildlife and are home to many songbirds, including the endangered Golden-winged Warbler (<em>Vermivora chrysoptera<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image text-wrap-pic third\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/leafy-green-young-northern-hardwood-trees-in-forest-at-sparta-mountain-wma-during-spring-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/leafy-green-young-northern-hardwood-trees-in-forest-at-sparta-mountain-wma-during-spring-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59501\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/leafy-green-young-northern-hardwood-trees-in-forest-at-sparta-mountain-wma-during-spring-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/leafy-green-young-northern-hardwood-trees-in-forest-at-sparta-mountain-wma-during-spring-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/leafy-green-young-northern-hardwood-trees-in-forest-at-sparta-mountain-wma-during-spring-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/leafy-green-young-northern-hardwood-trees-in-forest-at-sparta-mountain-wma-during-spring-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/leafy-green-young-northern-hardwood-trees-in-forest-at-sparta-mountain-wma-during-spring-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/leafy-green-young-northern-hardwood-trees-in-forest-at-sparta-mountain-wma-during-spring-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo of the forest in Sparta Mountain WMA showing young northern hardwood trees instead of oak and hickory trees<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/smwma_approved_forest_stewardship_plan.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2017 Sparta Mountain Forest Stewardship Plan<\/a><\/strong> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i>&nbsp;contains multiple goals and objectives. Some include creating openings in the forest canopy that are large enough to regenerate oaks and restore young forest habitat while others include maintaining maturing forest for old-growth stands. While there are scattered trees over 120 years old, there are no old growth forests in Sparta Mountain WMA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the implementation done thus far on Sparta Mountain WMA involved opening the forest canopy to restore young forest habitat for wildlife. This can only be done through cutting a lot of trees, which then allows enough sunlight for new trees, especially those that can&#8217;t tolerate shade, to grow in addition to native grasses, shrubs, and blackberries. This restoration work may seem counter-intuitive, but it has demonstrated an amazing positive impact on the birds in the area. Within a few years, the average number of bird species using the managed areas during the breeding season more than doubles, and the bird species of concern (rare and declining birds in New Jersey) more than triples the average number of bird species detected before management was done. Creating young forest habitat will also increase diversity of forest structure and age class within the entire WMA, which will help the forests of Sparta Mountain be more resilient in the face of the threats of climate change and invasive pests.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/change-in-number-of-bird-species-in-actively-managed-open-canopy-forests-on-sparta-mountain-wma-graph.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3221\" height=\"1973\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/change-in-number-of-bird-species-in-actively-managed-open-canopy-forests-on-sparta-mountain-wma-graph.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/change-in-number-of-bird-species-in-actively-managed-open-canopy-forests-on-sparta-mountain-wma-graph.png 3221w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/change-in-number-of-bird-species-in-actively-managed-open-canopy-forests-on-sparta-mountain-wma-graph-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/change-in-number-of-bird-species-in-actively-managed-open-canopy-forests-on-sparta-mountain-wma-graph-1024x627.png 1024w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/change-in-number-of-bird-species-in-actively-managed-open-canopy-forests-on-sparta-mountain-wma-graph-768x470.png 768w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/change-in-number-of-bird-species-in-actively-managed-open-canopy-forests-on-sparta-mountain-wma-graph-1536x941.png 1536w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/change-in-number-of-bird-species-in-actively-managed-open-canopy-forests-on-sparta-mountain-wma-graph-2048x1254.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3221px) 100vw, 3221px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Average number of bird species of concern (orange bar), all other bird species (blue bar), and bird conservation score (red with standard error bars) observed during breeding bird surveys conducted before and after treatment in all sites managed for open-canopy forest on Sparta Mountain WMA. Bird conservation scores are the sum of the scores of each individual bird species detected, which were determined for each species based on federal, state, and regional statuses and rankings. The higher the conservation score for a species, the greater the conservation need for that species.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/SMWMA-Bird-Results-2021-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Response of bird species to active forest management on Sparta Mountain WMA from before treatment to eight (8) growing seasons after treatment.<br>Solid lines = all bird species (blue) and bird species of concern (red) in managed areas<br>Dashed lines = all bird species (green) and bird species of concern (lavender) detected in passively managed shrubby wetlands (control).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vegetation Response to Active Management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/SPNRHWO_20180525_081049804-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/SPNRHWO_20180525_081049804-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Actively managed area on Sparta Mountain WMA 3 years and 2 months after management was completed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/deer_exclosure.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/deer_exclosure-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Deer exclosure fencing\" class=\"wp-image-1496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/deer_exclosure-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/deer_exclosure-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/deer_exclosure-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/deer_exclosure.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Deer fence within an actively managed young forest site on Sparta Mountain WMA. Note the similarities of plants inside (right) and outside (left) the fence.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/SPNRHWO_20170613_061442020_HDR-2-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/SPNRHWO_20170613_061442020_HDR-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/SPN13-1_20170607_092501647_HDR-1-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/SPN13-1_20170607_092501647_HDR-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Response of vegetation to active forest management on Sparta Mountain WMA post-management (left: 2 years, 3 months, right: 4 years, 3 months). Note the diversity of native vegetation regenerating, including blackberries, sedges, grasses, oaks, and hickories, without planting or seeding.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Results on Each Individual Treated Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022-2023-stand-18a-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2022\/23 Stand 18a Young Forest Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021-2022-stand-9a-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021\/22 Stand 9a Open-canopy Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020-2021-stand-12-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2020\/21 Stand 12 Young Forest Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019-2020-stand-8-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2019\/20 Stand 8 Young Forest Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018-2019-stand-18-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2018\/19 Stand 18 Young Forest Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018-2019-stand-33-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2018\/19 Stand 33 Old Growth Structure Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2014-2015-stand-18-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2014\/15 Stand 18 Open-canopy Forest Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2013-2014-stand-2-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2013\/14 Stand 2 Young Forest Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2012-2013-stand-18-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2012\/13 Stand 18 Young Forest Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2011-2012-stands-1-and-2-sparta-mountain-wma-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2011\/12 Stands 1 &amp; 2 Young Forest Restoration<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/\">Sparta Mountain WMA Forest Stewardship Home Page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/updates-upcoming-activities\/\">Sparta Mountain WMA Forest Stewardship Plan Updates<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=asUNvDWU2Ck\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sparta Mountain WMA Habitat Management Video<\/a><\/strong> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/smwma_approved_forest_stewardship_plan.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2017 Approved Sparta Mountain WMA Forest Stewardship Plan<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;<i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/sparta-fsp-addendum-final-7-9-21-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>2021 Addendum to the 2017 Forest Stewardship Plan<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>or contact Sharon Petzinger at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Sharon.Petzinger@deptest.nj.gov\">Sharon.Petzinger@deptest.nj.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sparta Mountain WMA \u00a0has been part of the Central Hardwoods Ecosystem with oaks and hickories dominating the forests for the past 10,000 years. These forests were perpetuated by fires, hurricanes, and droughts, as evidenced by concentrations of both charcoal and oak pollen in the soils in that timeframe. In the late 1800s, Sparta Mountain was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":16875,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1494","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1494"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59519,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1494\/revisions\/59519"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}