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The Statewide View

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]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. More than 33% of our total land mass is protected in some way. Created in 1961, NJDEP’s Green Acres Program has helped to plan and grow the state’s protected lands to over 1.6 million acres! Over 350,000 acres are designated as Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), managed by NJDEP’s Fish & Wildlife with more acres added every year.

New Jersey’s commitment to providing habitat for wildlife and open space for people to connect with nature is commendable. However, habitat loss is the greatest threat to our wildlife, plant communities, and ecosystem health. Good stewardship and restoration are essential actions to retain and recover habitat. Our urban and suburban areas pose distinct challenges but at the same time can provide creative ways to protect wildlife and biodiversity within those areas.

The maps below help to highlight the areas where we can take conservation actions to improve the outlook for our at-risk species and the habitats they need to thrive.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1865″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]

SWAP Maps

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Ecological Priority Model, Spring 2020 – Version 3

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]NJ Conservation Blueprint is a data-driven, interactive mapping tool made possible through a partnership of The Nature Conservancy, Rowan University, and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, together with a collective of conservation-focused groups, both governmental and non-profits.

The Ecological Priority Model (EcoMap) available on Blueprint’s Ecological Integrity map, represents lands that are the most ecologically important in New Jersey and includes detailed, publicly available data across four broad ecological indicator categories: water, rare species and natural communities, climate change resilience, and habitat connectivity. The priority layer illustrates lands that are critical to protect to maintain ecosystems in New Jersey.

NJ Conservation Blueprint, Science Advisory Committee. Ecological Priority Model – Version 3.0 (Raster version) also known as Ecosystems to Protect. Published online at https://www.nj-map.com/blueprint/ecological, February 2020.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”EXPLORE INTERACTIVE MAP” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nj-map.com%2Fblueprint%2Fecological%2F%3Foverride%3D1%26zoom%3D8%26lat%3D40.287906612507406%26lng%3D-74.88281250000001%26sc%3D900%26basemap%3DMapbox%2520Satellite%26layers%3D283%2C202%2C1350%26ois%3D1350%26oms%3Dboundary%2Ccomponent%26po%3D|target:_blank”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3046″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/wp-content/uploads/sites/227//regions-ecological-priority-model-map.png”][vc_btn title=”ENLARGE IMAGE” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F227%2Fregions-ecological-priority-map.png|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text css=””]

New Jersey’s Landscape Project

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]New Jersey’s Landscape Project mapping continues to be the principal way NJDEP’s Fish & Wildlife documents habitats that support endangered, threatened, and special concern wildlife species. NJDEP uses the Landscape Project mapping to guide the application of land use regulations that provide protection to imperiled wildlife species’ habitats, for internal review of habitat management plans, and as an important factor in land preservation efforts by the NJDEP’s Green Acres Program. The Landscape Project mapping uses the state’s land use / land cover GIS data and Biotics Database of rare species occurrence data to model species habitat locations in the state. Landscape Project version 3.4 provides this presumptive habitat mapping based on 2020 land use / land cover habitat patches and species occurrence data.

Within each SWAP Region, the Landscape Project mapping depicts the habitats that are ranked based on the combination of habitat type and documented species locations, resulting in habitat patches that are rank 1 (suitable only), 2 (supporting species of Special Concern), 3 (supporting state-threatened species), 4 (supporting state-endangered species), and 5 (supporting federal-listed species). To fully explore the Landscape Project, view the interactive map.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”EXPLORE INTERACTIVE MAP” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fexperience.arcgis.com%2Fexperience%2F24e1435701b94fbab4fa7f789b2efad9%2F|target:_blank”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3045″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/wp-content/uploads/sites/227/regions-landscape-project-map.png”][vc_btn title=”ENLARGE IMAGE” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F227%2Fregions-landscape-project-map.png|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text css=””]

Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ)

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) is a multi-partner, multi-disciplinary strategic plan led by NJ Fish & Wildlife. CHANJ identifies key areas to preserve and restore habitat connectivity for terrestrial wildlife at the local, landscape region, and statewide levels. The CHANJ mapping is designed to help prioritize areas for land protection, habitat restoration and management, and mitigation of road impacts on wildlife and their habitats. CHANJ products include a statewide map of core habitat areas and corridors between them, a guidance document, and a road/wildlife toolkit that provides recommendations on protecting, managing, and restoring the functional connectivity within the core habitat areas and corridors. To explore CHANJ, view the interactive map.

The CHANJ mapping consists of habitat Cores, Corridors, and Road Segments. Cores are patches of contiguous natural land cover of a minimum threshold size, which are likely to meet the habitat needs (shelter, forage/prey, reproduction) of most terrestrial wildlife species, especially if functionally linked to other Cores. Corridors are continuous swaths of habitat representing the most efficient pathways for wildlife to move between Cores. Road Segments are sections of roads within Cores and Corridors, not adjacent to urbanization, and serve as starting points for targeting road/wildlife mitigation efforts.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”EXPLORE INTERACTIVE MAP” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Farcg.is%2F1uGjLn3|target:_blank”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3044″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/wp-content/uploads/sites/227/regions-chanj-map.png”][vc_btn title=”ENLARGE IMAGE” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F227%2Fregions-chanj-map.png|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]

Additional NJDEP Habitat Mapping Focused on Biodiversity

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New Jersey Heritage Priority Sites

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]A total of 343 Natural Heritage Priority Sites have been identified, representing some of the best remaining habitats for rare species and rare ecological communities in the state. These areas are priorities for the preservation of biological diversity in New Jersey. If these sites become degraded or destroyed, unique components of our natural heritage may be lost. Natural Heritage Priority Site maps are used by individuals and agencies concerned with the protection and management of land. To explore the sites, view the interactive map.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”EXPLORE INTERACTIVE MAP” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fgisdata-njdep.opendata.arcgis.com%2Fdatasets%2F0aaefb4a68ba4fac824b31d4c59578fe_93%2Fexplore%3Flocation%3D40.120590%252C-74.753600%252C8.40|target:_blank”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3056″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/wp-content/uploads/sites/227/regions-natural-heritage-priority-sites-map.png”][vc_btn title=”ENLARGE IMAGE” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F227%2Fregions-natural-heritage-priority-sites-map.png|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=””]

New Jersey’s Nine Regions for the Wildlife Action Plan

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]In the 2025 SWAP, New Jersey is divided into nine regions: Kittatinny Ridge, Kittatinny Valley, Highlands, Piedmont, Inner Coastal Plain, Pinelands, Atlantic Coast, Delaware Bay, and Marine (which is exclusively aquatic). These boundaries differ from the regions defined in the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Landscape Project. The SWAP regions separated the “Skylands” region into three regions, and the Piedmont Plains into two regions. The boundaries of the Pinelands, Atlantic Coast, Delaware Bay, and Marine regions and the combination of the Kittatinny Ridge, Kittatinny Valley and Highlands (Skylands) and Piedmont and Inner Coastal Plain (Piedmont Plains) SWAP regions match the boundaries of the Landscape Project that reflect ecoregions in NJ where plant and animal communities are ecologically similar and closely interlinked.

All regions except Marine are characterized by landforms, soils, vegetation, and hydrological regimes that collectively support distinctive habitats and plant and animal communities.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Pinelands and Highlands SWAP regions have different boundaries than the regulated areas with the same name. The State Wildlife Action Plan is a voluntary plan and does not replace regulatory requirements. Prior to undertaking any land or habitat modification activity, please refer to local and state policies and regulations.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Kittatinny Ridge” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Fkittatinny-ridge%2F”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Kittatinny Valley” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Fkittatinny-valley%2F”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Highlands” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Fhighlands%2F”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Piedmont” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Fpiedmont%2F”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Inner Coastal Plain” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Finner-coastal-plain%2F”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Pinelands” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Fpinelands%2F”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Atlantic Coast” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Fatlantic-coast%2F”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Delaware Bay” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Fdelaware-bay%2F”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”Marine” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeptest.nj.gov%2Fswap%2Fregions%2Fmarine%2F”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1683″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://deptest.nj.gov/swap/wp-content/uploads/sites/227/swap-regions-with-counties-map.png”][/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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