The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the award of nearly $11 million in Natural Climate Solutions grants for three projects that will help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by restoring coastal marshland and expanding urban tree canopy. The projects are located in Stone Harbor, Stafford and Montclair.
The grants, funded through New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), are part of an ongoing $30 million second round of funding for local governments and nonprofits to implement projects that mitigate greenhouse gas impacts by creating, restoring, and enhancing coastal wetlands, forests and urban tree canopies. DEP continues to accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis through a rolling admission period.
In January 2023, DEP awarded $24.3 million for 14 projects through the first round of the grant program. Together with the ongoing second round of funding, the Murphy Administration has dedicated $54.3 million to this grant program.
“Through this innovative grant program, New Jersey communities are harnessing nature-based solutions to restore and protect the integrity of coastal and forest ecosystems which serve as critical carbon sinks that reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said. “These investments also improve natural buffers such as wetlands and urban forests that protect communities and infrastructure from flooding and increasingly more severe storm impacts as a result of our changing climate.
Project Details
Scotch Bonnet Island: The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor is receiving nearly $2.75 million to restore tidal wetland vegetation on Scotch Bonnet Island adjacent to the state’s Cape May Coastal Wetlands Wildlife Management Area. Coastal wetlands such as these are being degraded by rising sea levels. The Wetlands Institute will place 13,000 cubic yards of dredged sediment and restore 4.8 acres of tidal wetland vegetation. The project aims to enhance the resilience of coastal ecosystems by improving natural defenses against storms and flooding. It will also support the wetlands’ ability to function as a significant carbon sequestration site.
“By restoring drowning marsh habitat and elevating the Salt Marsh Trail, we address the impacts of sea-level rise, demonstrating nature-based solutions for coastal resilience,” said Executive Director of The Wetlands Institute Lenore Tedesco. “We are grateful to NJDEP for supporting this innovative and transferable approach to protect and restore threatened wetlands and enhance coastal community protections.”
Stafford Resiliency Program at Popular Point: Stafford Township will receive $5 million to restore 23 acres of tidal salt marsh, bolstering natural defenses against sea level rise and storm surges, enhancing wildlife habitat and contributing to blue carbon storage and biodiversity conservation. The marsh has historically provided critical coastal protection, wildlife habitat, wave attenuation, and water filtration — and served as a natural storm barrier for Beach Haven West and the community’s infrastructure.
“The Stafford Resiliency Program at Popular Point project is a real credit to the partnerships with the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and Township staff working together to make Stafford a more resilient community. The NJDEP funded the Resilient Stafford plan back in 2022, and from that plan, the Township has worked to incorporate capital projects and look for grant opportunities to use the plan to mitigate for future sea level rise and storm events,” said Stafford Township Mayor Robert Henken. “The Resilient Stafford plan has been crucial to planning for the future of the Township. Thank you to NJDEP, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, ACT Engineers and the Township staff that are helping to make Stafford a resilient community into the future.”
Montclair State Green Canopy Project: Montclair State University has been awarded more than $3 million to plant 910 trees to replace dead or diseased trees across the university’s landscape. Trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change. They also filter air and water pollutants, reduce the urban heat-island effect and provide flood protection to communities.
“The project enhances natural carbon sinks across the university, mitigates the urban heat island effect, reduces cooling demand in nearby facilities, and strengthens climate resilience,” said Pankal Lal, Director of the Clean Energy and Sustainability Analytics Center for Montclair State University.
Grant Application Details
The remaining second round grant funds total approximately $19 million. The grant program’s application period is open, and funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis through a rolling admission period.
There are two carbon sequestration initiatives this funding supports – promoting blue carbon by restoring coastal ecosystems and green carbon by enhancing traditional and urban forests. Eligible types of blue carbon projects include the creation of living shorelines and restoring tidal flows in tidal wetlands and tidal salt marsh vegetation. Eligible green carbon projects include forest restoration and urban forest canopy and water quality enhancement.
Those interested can find the project categories, eligibility requirements and application materials at dep.nj.gov/climatechange/mitigation/ncs-grant/. All application materials must be submitted through DEP’s System for Administering Grants Electronically (SAGE) online system.
Program Background
The Natural Climate Solutions grant program funds on-the-ground implementation projects that create, restore, and enhance New Jersey’s natural carbon sinks, such as salt marshes, seagrass beds, forests, urban parks and woodlands, and street trees. Natural resources that sequester carbon play a critical role in meeting the state’s 2050 goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gases below 2006 levels.
Funding for the program is made available from New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants. New Jersey’s participation provides the state with proceeds to invest in programs and projects designed to help meet its climate, clean energy, and equity goals.
By supporting projects that restore and preserve coastal and forest ecosystems, New Jersey is taking measures to address climate change and protect its natural heritage for future generations. For more information on the Natural Climate Solutions grant program, visit https://dep.nj.gov/climatechange/mitigation/ncs-grant/.
DEP PHOTO/Marshland near Wetlands Institute degraded by sea-level rise