Scudder Preserve: Managing a Natural Sanctuary for the Benefit of All Species
Scudder Preserve’s 90 acres of natural beauty in Middletown Township provides a local oasis and nature sanctuary for all to enjoy. Acquired by Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) in April 2024 as its first preserve, the site will soon offer the public access to passive recreation activities such as hiking, bird watching, nature study, horseback riding, and wildlife photography.
The Preserve is mostly unaltered green space, containing an abundant and unique mix of natural habitats, including wooded areas with pockets of old growth and even century forest, wetlands, ponds, a stream corridor, and grassy meadows.
As part of our stewardship of this land, MCF is working to evaluate the natural resources on the property and to devise and implement a management plan that restores and enhances its ecology. We will also work to improve public access and to create educational outreach programming. Stay tuned for updates!
We are following best practices set forth by the Land Trust Alliance, in accordance with the guidelines we uphold as a nationally accredited land trust, and we have enlisted the expertise of qualified experts to guide our Scudder Preserve stewardship activities in the short- and long-term. We are grateful for philanthropic funding supporting these efforts.
To restore and enrich the ecological health of the Preserve, MCF is implementing a multi-pronged management approach, including projects to:
Control invasive species
Restore populations of native plants
Reduce the potential for fire
Create an environment for sustainable wildlife habitat
Improve the health of our forests and meadows
Promote water quality
Build climate resilience
Our stewardship aims to counteract the direct and indirect impacts of human activities, such as overabundant wildlife and invasive plant species, and address challenges such as erosion, flooding, and storms that threaten our remaining natural areas.
Ecological Features and Stewardship Tools
Recognized by the NJDEP Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) Project as core wildlife habitat, Scudder Preserve provides essential resources for various wildlife, including threatened, endangered, and critical birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, and flowering plants. To responsibly steward the property for long-term sustainability, we are using multiple stewardship tools that work together, including:
Photo by Jena Cosimo
Natural Resource Inventory: Specialists will conduct a comprehensive analysis to quantity the presence and health of all natural features and life on the site, providing an important baseline to inform our management strategies.
Photo by Kevin Knecht
Forest Stewardship Plan: A state-certified forester will assess the landscape and offer guidance on practices that enhance forest health and biodiversity while reducing the spread of invasives and the potential for fire.
Photo by Karen Keene
Deer Management Program: As part of our Forest Stewardship Plan, we will address the ecological imbalance caused by overabundant deer populations through a carefully designed, controlled hunting initiative.
Photo by Kevin Knecht
Watershed Assessment and Analysis: Professionals will evaluate existing water control structures and wetlands, recommending improvements for water quality and habitat health.
This work is supported by a generous grant from New Jersey Resources through their Coastal Climate Initiative and other charitable donations. This multi-pronged approach will help MCF to:
Conduct the latest forest and habitat restoration strategies and conservation measures needed in our changing climate
Model innovative, natural climate solutions to promote resiliency in our coastal community
Promote sustainability by managing certain species that can adversely affect habitat quality including deer, mosquitos, and invasive pests like the spotted lanternfly
Address the site’s varied topography and hydrology and related erosion, flooding, and storm mitigation issues