Informational exhibits highlighting sea-level rise, harmful algal blooms, extended wildfire seasons, and ghost forests are now available at state parks in New Jersey. These exhibits aim to educate the public about how climate change is impacting the state's parks and forests, announced Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette today in observance of Climate Week.
The exhibits feature physical displays at various parks with an interactive component. They form part of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) ongoing climate change education initiative that includes radio public service spots, billboards, and social media announcements. The full schedule for these exhibits can be found online.
“New Jersey continues to remain ground zero for some of the worst impacts of climate change and these exhibits address the impacts of four core aspects of a changing climate that affect our waterbodies, coasts, state parks and forests,” said Commissioner LaTourette. “The exhibits present our guests with a real-time opportunity to immediately understand how these impacts are affecting our state parks and forests and what can be done to protect them for future generations.”
John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites added: “New Jersey’s state parks and forests are at the forefront of climate change impacts, from rising sea levels and prolonged wildfire seasons to the emergence of ghost forests and harmful algal blooms. These exhibits offer visitors a firsthand look into how our cherished state parks and forests are transforming before our eyes.”
Visitors will find displays providing brief descriptions of climate change impacts specific to each park. Each display includes a QR code allowing visitors to test their knowledge through an interactive quiz.
Chief Climate Resilience Officer Nick Angarone commented: “Educating the public about the impacts of climate change on our natural resources is yet another opportunity to learn how we can best protect and preserve our state parks and forests, as well as our coasts, for generations to come. These teaching moments may be brief but they can go a long way to broaden understanding about impacts here in New Jersey.”
Coastal locations such as Cape May Point State Park in Cape May County will host displays on sea-level rise which is occurring at twice the global average rate in New Jersey. Locations like Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in Burlington County will feature information on extended wildfire seasons due to climate change.
Parks affected by harmful algal blooms including Round Valley Recreation Area in Hunterdon County will also have relevant displays. Information on ghost forests caused by rising sea levels will be available at Wharton State Forest among other locations.
The DEP plans to expand these exhibits further across more state parks while incorporating additional climate change impacts.
Additionally, visitors can participate in the MyCoast Photo Station Challenge until October's end at six locations including Island Beach State Park and Liberty State Park. This challenge encourages documenting shoreline changes over time due to higher tides and more frequent storms.
For more details about New Jersey’s Parks, Forests & Historic Sites or related initiatives visit njparksandforests.org or follow their social media pages.
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