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2025 SWAP Regions and Habitat Mapping

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Effective conservation of New Jersey’s diverse wildlife and plant species requires planning at different scales. Some actions must be targeted to a specific habitat or species, but species-specific conservation alone is not enough, especially given the long-term shifts that are occurring and will continue to occur due to climate change and other changes to New Jersey’s landscape. Some conservation actions are best taken at the state level, while some are more appropriate to address at a regional scale. It is the “threat” and the targeted conservation action that dictates the scale.

Maps allow users to better select the location(s) where they can take action to improve habitat for species or habitats based on where they work or live. The 2025 SWAP uses three mapping tools to assist users to make implementation, location, and scale decisions. Each map offers a different perspective on conservation, highlighting where species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) occur, identifying the locations to preserve critical habitats, and overall habitat condition. Every SWAP region (except marine) has one of each map to assist users as they consider conservation actions they want to take.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Kittatinny Ridge” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/kittatinny-ridge/” bgimg=”3686″]Rising along the Appalachian Mountains, the Kittatinny Ridge holds vast conserved forests, cliffs, and streams that provide critical refuge and connectivity for wildlife and plants.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Kittatinny Valley” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/kittatinny-valley/” bgimg=”3689″]Shaped by ancient lakes and fertile soils, the Kittatinny Valley blends forests, wetlands, and farmland, creating diverse habitats that sustain rich biodiversity and at-risk species.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Highlands” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/highlands/” bgimg=”3690″]Rugged ridges, deep valleys, and rich forests make the Highlands a critical source of clean water and diverse habitats for wildlife across northern New Jersey.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Piedmont” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/piedmont/” bgimg=”3694″]Stretching between New York and Philadelphia, the Piedmont mixes cities, farms, and wetlands, with vital habitat pockets that connect northern and southern New Jersey’s wildlife.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Inner Coastal Plain” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/inner-coastal-plain/” bgimg=”3688″]A landscape of farms, forests, and tidal streams, the Inner Coastal Plain supports grasslands, wetlands, and critical habitats that link New Jersey’s northern and southern regions.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Pinelands” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/pinelands/” bgimg=”3691″]Spanning over a million acres, the Pinelands’ sandy forests, cedar swamps, and unique waterways support rare species and one of New Jersey’s most distinctive ecosystems.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Atlantic Coast” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/atlantic-coast/” bgimg=”3692″]Beaches, marshes, bays, and barrier islands make the Atlantic Coast vital for coastal wildlife and migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Delaware Bay” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/delaware-bay/” bgimg=”3693″]Expansive forests, marshes, and beaches make Delaware Bay a global hotspot for migrating birds, spawning Horseshoe Crabs, and rare plants at the edge of their range.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Marine” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THIS REGION >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/regions/marine/” bgimg=”3687″]Stretching three miles from shore into the Atlantic, New Jersey’s marine waters sustain fish, turtles, whales, and countless other species in a vast unseen ecosystem.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Statewide” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THE STATE >” buttonlink=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/statewide/”]New Jersey is ranked as the most densely populated state in the country and one of the most urbanized. Yet we are also ranked second for the most land protected for parks, wildlife, and open space.[/info-box-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” el_class=”spotlight-species”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_single_image image=”4174″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]

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