Friends Of Hopewell Valley Open Space

Fohvos new jersey invasive species strike team - founded in 2008 with a mission to protect new jersey's natural lands, the strike team serves as a statewide resource for conservation through its dedicated focus on mitigating threats posed by invasive species. The strike team serves as a clearinghouse of information on invasive species and offers tools, training and outreach that reach 2,000 professionals and laymen every year. Its partners include federal, state, county and municipal governments, conservation groups, private landowners, volunteer groups and individuals dedicated to protecting private property and local parks. Together, they detect, track, and eliminate invasive species by mapping them and maintaining a statewide database. Since inception, the strike team has searched 800,000 acres, documented 20,000 invasive populations, and eliminated 4,000 of them.

Land preservation - as an accredited land trust, fohvos acquires land for permanent preservation pursuant to the recommendation of its land preservation committee. Selection is based on a prioritization system based on land evaluation criteria that evaluates ecological value including protection of wildlife, biodiversity, scenic views, contributions to water quality, opportunities for public accessibility, and connecting trails. The majority of protected lands and conservation easements are purchased in partnership with governmental and/or other conservation nonprofit organizations with the purpose of open space preservation and land stewardship. Fohvos provides a public benefit by contributing to a healthy environment, offering recreational venues and improving the quality of life for area residents and visitors.