Pond and Trail Restoration
Please join us as we learn more about Mt. Tabor’s natural resources, especially our pond and trail, wetland and woodland area.
In addition to enjoying this beautiful space for recreation and relaxation, the value of wetland areas include natural water quality improvement, flood protection, and erosion control. This area also provides critical habitat for many threatened species of animal and plant.
Our pond and trail area faces the same threats as much of New Jersey’s forests, including a changing climate, invasive species, overabundant deer, and intensified disturbances such as Hurricane Sandy.
The majority of New Jersey’s forests are owned by families, which means it is our responsibility to properly steward this land at the risk of damage to our larger community.
May 18th Target Area
Goal:
Transform this bed into an ornamental showcase for native biodiversity, restoration, and education about the value and threat to the rest of the area. Use this small space as an opportunity to learn about the current ecosystem and appropriate strategies going forward and restoring more of this precious community resource.
Successes:
On May 10th, we chose this small area as a starting place for identifying and removing invasive species. We chose this area because it is separated by lawn from other impacted areas. We also identified several native and several invasive species, including two invasive shrubs and one native northern spicebush. We removed the garlic mustard.
In the before and after images below, taken on May 10th from the area behind the parking lot and leading up to the trail head, you can see that in a small time we were able to make a big impact!
