Mendham – The Friends for the Abbott Marshlands (FFAM) was honored with the coveted Environmental Achievement Award on Friday, Oct. 10, at ANJEC’s Annual Environmental Congress, where 200 local and state environmentalists from throughout New Jersey gathered to celebrate their accomplishments, learn from environmental experts and interact with state and federal policymakers. The full-day event was held at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, NJ.
FFAM was among three nonprofit organizations whose outstanding projects were recognized along with exceptional environmental efforts by six environmental commissions and five municipal officials. ANJEC has been presenting the Environmental Achievement Awardssince the mid-1970s.
The award recognizes the FFAM trail projects from 2022 – 2025 for improving access to and protecting the Abbott Marshlands, a valuable natural resource. The most notable improvements rerouted two sections of trails eroded from storm water totaling more than 700 feet, and installed five boardwalks, four sets of steps and a raised earthen walkway, and replaced two 70-foot boardwalks decayed from flooding. More than 40 FFAM volunteers, 12 seasonal interns, two corporate groups, a Boy Scout troop, Trenton Climate Corp from Isles, and an NJDEP work group contributed to projects.
Keynote speaker NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette was on hand to address how New Jersey is positioning itself to weather climate change. Workshop sessions throughout the day addressed important environmental issues and policies such as resilience in the face of climate change, stormwater management, energy conservation, regional collaboration, local action and more.
ANJEC also presented the Candace McKee Ashmun Environmental Legacy Award to Theodore Chase of Franklin Township. This award is named for ANJEC’s first executive director, who served a leadership role in NJ’s environmental community for over 50 years.
“We are celebrating more than a half century of success and rededicating ourselves to ambitious goals on behalf of our precious natural resources,” said ANJEC Executive Director Jennifer Coffey. “We’re very proud of ANJEC’s influential role in New Jersey’s recent environmental milestones, from the strongest plastic pollution legislation in the nation to landmark flood hazard regulations that will save untold lives and property.”
About ANJEC
ANJEC is a 56-year-old nonprofit based in Mendham whose mission is to promote local action to protect and restore New Jersey’s natural resources and to ensure healthy communities for today and the future. ANJEC advances its mission by engaging in equitable and inclusive practices through leadership, partnerships, education, advocacy for strong public policy and in support of environmental commissions, public officials, and communities throughout New Jersey. For more information, visit www.anjec.org
