Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS)

It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week! The FoHVOS New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team works to protect local biodiversity by limiting the spread of invasive species. Our highest priority is to reduce future impacts by slowing or stopping the spread of newly emerging invasive species that have (thankfully) yet to become widespread. Throughout the week, we will spotlight emerging invasive plant species the FoHVOS Strike Team is currently tracking in New Jersey. The National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is dedicated to raising awareness about invasive species, the threat that they pose, and what can be done to prevent their spread. To learn more about NISAW, the North American Invasive Species Management Association will be hosting educational webinars on priority invasive species topics throughout the week. Webinars and resources available at naisma.org/programs/nisaw/ Register for the Strike Team Conference here: https://lnkd.in/e236c6Yz

?????Join the Great Backyard Bird Count!???? This weekend (February 14-17), take just?15 minutes?to observe and count birds in your backyard, at a park, or anywhere you enjoy nature. Your participation helps scientists track bird populations worldwide and provides valuable data for conservation efforts. ???? Submit your sightings through the?eBird?or?Merlin?app and be part of this global citizen science movement. Every bird counts—let’s make an impact together! Who else is participating? Drop a ?? in the comments if you're joining! #GBBC #CitizenScience #BirdConservation #GreatBackyardBirdCount #Sustainability #FoHVOS #CommunityConservation

?? **Exciting Conservation Milestone!** ?? Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) has successfully preserved an additional **28 acres** of forested land in the **Mount Rose Preserve**, expanding the total protected area to **415 acres** of contiguous open space in Hopewell Valley. ?? The newly acquired Giardino tract is a critical habitat for songbirds, amphibians, and rare plant species, and it plays an important role in connecting wildlife habitats across New Jersey. This preservation effort also aligns with NJDEP’s Core Habitat program, supporting the state’s broader conservation goals. ???? We are grateful for the partnership of Hopewell Township, Mercer County, NJDEP Green Acres, and the Giardino family for their support in making this acquisition possible. This land will be accessible for public enjoyment through hiking and wildlife observation, with plans to connect it to the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and eventually link to Princeton’s Emerald Necklace. ??? Together, we are ensuring a sustainable, thriving future for Hopewell Valley’s ecosystems and community. ?? Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/eStgevB6 #Conservation #LandPreservation #WildlifeProtection #FoHVOS #HopewellValley #NJConservation #CoreHabitat #SustainableFuture #NatureLovers #CommunityImpact

?? Exciting times ahead for Kaitlin, who has joined FoHVOS to continue her impactful work in wildlife conservation! With a B.A. in Animal Behavior from Franklin and Marshall College and an M.S. in Global Change Biology from Tufts University, Kaitlin’s background in bird conservation, endocrinology, and invasion ecology is a perfect fit for her new role. She brings extensive experience from working in the nonprofit sector, conducting rare plant surveys, radio telemetry, and songbird banding. This year, Kaitlin is particularly excited about supporting new rare species monitoring projects, including our wood turtle radio tracking study. Her passion for stewardship and outreach will be a major asset as she helps further FoHVOS's mission to protect and preserve critical habitats. Welcome aboard, Kaitlin! We look forward to the incredible work you'll do. ??? #ConservationLeadership #WildlifeBiology #RareSpeciesMonitoring #EnvironmentalStewardship #FoHVOS #BirdConservation #WoodTurtleTracking #GlobalChangeBiology #NonprofitWork

Last week, Hopewell Valley News published an article about our Land and Climate Grant award. With this funding, FoHVOS will update our existing Community Conservation Plan for Hopewell Valley. We are excited to begin this science-based and community informed process, and look forward to connecting with our partners on this important initiative!

FoHVOS is excited to announce it has been awarded a 2024 Land and Climate grant from the Land Trust Alliance and Open Space Institute providing funding for the creation of the Hopewell Valley Community Conservation and Resiliency Plan. This effort relies on community engagement and participation. Watch for opportunities to participate in 2025! https://lnkd.in/eNCeNw3C

Join us on September 15th to toast trails and honor Jess Niederer D&R Greenway Land Trust, Inc. Andrew Plunkett, and Kari Lloyd who each make significant contributions towards the FoHVOS mission of preserving open space and advancing conservation in the Valley. https://lnkd.in/eAuinvtc

MercerMe features FoHVOS kestrel nest box project success at Bear Tavern Elementary School https://lnkd.in/eFZ2KMaM

https://lnkd.in/eaHrdm5D