Morris County proclaims Earth Day; Rutgers stewards highlight local conservation projects

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners on April 22 read and adopted a resolution proclaiming April 22, 2026, as Earth Day in Morris County and encouraged residents to protect and preserve local natural resources.

During the meeting, Peter Nieci, county extension department head and agricultural agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County, introduced the Rutgers Environmental Stewards program and its county partnerships. A Rutgers presenter described the program's statewide reach and local projects, saying, "We've trained 1,400 stewards" and noting hundreds of on‑the‑ground restoration efforts and education initiatives.

Presenter remarks cited Morris County specifics: 85 trained Environmental Stewards in the county and nine participants in the current class who contributed more than 2,700 volunteer hours locally. Examples highlighted by the presenter included the ecological restoration of Foots Pond Wood — removal of invasive species, creation of a full loop trail and increased public use — and school‑based tree campus certification work.

Board members and stewards described the program as a source of volunteers for parks and partner organizations, and as a pathway to civic engagement and some career changes. The presenter said registration for the Environmental Stewards course opens in early November and that the program generally runs from mid‑January through mid‑May with Tuesday evening classes; the fee was described as about $300 to $325 to cover class costs.

The proclamation and presentation were followed by a group photograph and a brief question‑and‑answer exchange about program logistics. The board encouraged residents to engage in stewardship year‑round and noted the county's long‑standing open‑space and farmland preservation work as part of Earth Day observances.