Agricultural Heritage and Habitat Conservation Plan (AHHCP)
for Harmony Township, Warren County, New Jersey

Why is New Jersey Audubon interested in Harmony Township?

Harmony Township is a remarkable region of New Jersey, with picturesque vistas and a charming, farming culture.  These remarkable open spaces and the long history of agricultural land use in the Town have served to preserve one of the most significant landscapes for farmland wildlife in the State.  Largely as a result of its significance to wildlife, much of Harmony Township has been designated as a Natural Heritage Priority Site (known as the Garrison Road Natural Heritage Priority Site) by New Jersey’s Office of Natural Lands Management.  The continued survival of farmland wildlife that NJAS is interested in is dependent upon the future survival of farming within Harmony.  Specifically, the following points make Harmony unique: 

• Harmony Township possesses one of the best, most intact agricultural grasslands remaining in New Jersey; 
• Several species of unique grassland birds occur in Harmony Township; 
• On average, farms in Warren County are larger than the statewide average, approximately 114 acres versus 86 acres, with many farms in Harmony exceeding the acreages of those found in adjacent townships;
• Harmony’s larger farm sizes indicate that fragmentation is less of an issue here than in other agricultural areas in New Jersey, an important attribute for wildlife; 
• Harmony is one of the slowest growing townships in the county, with a modest 2.9% population increase from 1990 – 2000.  

What is New Jersey Audubon interested in doing?

NJAS is interested in working with both private landowners and the municipal government in Harmony to help preserve the Town’s agricultural culture and natural resources.  A plan that accomplishes this preservation goal while benefiting the landowners of Harmony is directly parallel to the mission of NJAS.   The 2002 Farm Bill, administered by the US Department of Agriculture, along with other Federal and State programs offer landowners an opportunity to implement conservation practices without negative impact to their bottom line.   The US Natural Resources Conservation Service, which sponsors many of the available conservation programs, explains that the use of conservation programs in a community can, “…help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages. Public benefits include enhanced natural resources that help sustain agricultural productivity and environmental quality while supporting continued economic development, recreation, and scenic beauty” 

NJAS understands that the average farm/landowner and/or rural township municipal government, may not have the time, personnel or monetary resources readily available to research eligibility status for such programs, let alone apply for, implement and maintain participation in such programs.  In addition, several of the most lucrative programs for landowners are new and have been poorly publicized in New Jersey.

Based on this information, NJAS specifically would like to offer the following services at no cost to the Township or its residents:

• Work with the Town to identify and contact private landowners who may be eligible for funding programs;
• Meet with private landowners to share information about voluntary Federal and State conservation programs that can provide additional farm income to them for implementation of conservation practices on their land;
• Serve as a consultant to private landowners, free of charge, to advocate for them by helping them enroll in conservation programs.  This would include preparing the necessary applications, plans, etc. on the behalf of the landowner and maintaining an open line of communication between the landowner and applicable funding program;
• Work with Township Committee, Environmental Commission, and Farmland Preservation Committee to identify core farming and habitat areas critical to future viability of farming, preservation of natural resources and wildlife;
• Determine the critical threshold where enrollment of farmland into conservation programs becomes economically viable for township farmers.  This would include data collection and analysis by NJAS that may be presented to State or Federal funding programs in an effort to increase government funding of programs that provide farmers / private landowners with assistance to continue to work their lands while protecting and conserving natural resources.

As traditional farmland assistance funding sources decline or shift, it is NJAS’ opinion that the approach outlined above will provide opportunities to the rural community of New Jersey to examine new and innovative sources of financial assistance.  These opportunities may include new ways to collect support from a variety of available funding sources to work the land while preserving the region’s natural heritage.

For More Information, please contact:

NJAS Representative for Harmony Township
John Parke
Conservation Planner
(908) 766-5787 extension #18
 

Information also available at Harmony Township Municipal Building - (908) 213-1600