Attached are the final comments to NJDEP on the Sparta Mountain
WMA Forest Stewardship Plan prepared on behalf of the New Jersey
Highlands Coalition by a working group of its Natural Heritage
Committee.   They are being submitted today, although the deadline for
submission is not until March 31.

THIS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE THESE MATERIALS TO ASSIST IN PREPARATION
OF THEIR OWN COMMENTS.  Please let me know if you have any thoughts,
comments or questions.  PLEASE SHARE WITH US ANY COMMENTS YOU SUBMIT TO
NJDEP AT http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/spartamt_plan.htm.

First, I particularly want to thank Erica Van Auken of our staff for the
massive amount of work she has put into coordinating these comments.  I
believe you will be very impressed by the result. Second, I want to
thank and recognize the following members of the Coalition’s Natural
Heritage Committee Working Group for their contributions, which have
been extensive:

Scott Angus, Wildlife Biologist, Board of Directors, American Turtle
Observatory
Emile De Vito, Ph.D., Manager of Science and Stewardship, New Jersey
Conservation Foundation
Wilma E. Frey, M.L.A., M.P.A., Senior Policy Manager, New Jersey
Conservation Foundation
Marion O. Harris, Chairman, Morris County Trust for Historic
Preservation, NJ Highlands Coalition Trustee
Jay F. Kelly, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental
Science, Raritan Valley Community College
Cinny MacGonagle, Chair, New Jersey Highlands Coalition Natural Heritage
Committee, NJ Highlands Coalition Trustee
Blaine Rothauser, President, BR Environmental, LLC
Sharon Ann Wander, Ph.D., Wander Ecological Consultants
Wade Wander, M.Sc., Wander Ecological Consultants
Sara Webb, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, Drew
University
Joseph Zurovchak, Ph.D., Professor of Ecology, Orange County Community
College

At the conclusion of the comments you will also find listed the
extensive reference materials used in preparation, for those who want to
know more about the science/data used to refute the Plan.

We now have the rest of March to persuade DEP to “suspend indefinitely”
this plan.  It is critical that the Department reach out to look at the
whole State and begin a planning process for stewardship of our forested
public lands that addresses ALL stakeholders.

Many thanks,

Julia

Final Comments on Sparta Mtn FSP from NJHiCo