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What is the New Jersey Forestry Association?
The New Jersey Forestry Association (NJFA) is a statewide nonprofit advocacy and education organization for people who care about New Jersey's forests. Founded in 1975 and operating as an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, it describes itself as the only statewide group supporting the sustainability and resiliency of New Jersey's public and private forests through forestry education and science-based forest management. Its audience spans woodland owners, conservationists, forest professionals, educators and scientists — membership is open to anyone who values the state's forests, whether or not they own land.
What it actually does
- Runs programs including Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes, Walk-in-the-Woods, Tree Planting and NJ Woodland Stewards.
- Tracks, monitors and comments on legislation and rulemaking affecting forests and woodland owners.
- Publishes member newsletters and hosts an annual meeting.
- Collaborates with conservation and outdoor organizations, government units and educational institutions.
Where it has influence
The NJFA is named to several forestry, stewardship and taxation committees through legislation and rulemaking, and served as one of four co-chairs of the NJ Forest Task Force. Its board, officers and committee members include landowners, foresters, educators and scientists. A concrete example from its own reporting: in August 2026, vice president Richard Kelsky and treasurer Steven Spencer attended the State Farmland Evaluation Committee's annual meeting in Trenton, where Kelsky addressed the committee on minimum gross revenue for woodlands; the committee also discussed a new online filing portal and forester-assisted filing.
Is it for you?
If you own woodland and want help navigating state programs, taxation rules or management decisions, this is a practical starting point. If you simply value New Jersey's forests, you can join, take part in programs or donate. Check the current program calendar and membership terms directly at New Jersey Forestry Association before deciding which level of involvement fits.
How do I join the New Jersey Forestry Association and what does membership cost?
The New Jersey Forestry Association (NJFA) welcomes members through its website at New Jersey Forestry Association, where a join section sits alongside information on activities, programs and donations. Membership is open to anyone who values New Jersey's forests, whether or not you own woodland, so you do not need acreage to sign up. The site accepts payment via PayPal, and membership information appears together with annual meeting details and member newsletters.
The page evidence does not list specific dues or membership tiers, so the reliable next step is to open the membership page at New Jersey Forestry Association and check the current rates and categories there before joining. Dues for organizations like this typically vary by category, for example individual, household, student, or supporting/business levels, but confirm the actual amounts on the site rather than assuming.
What membership includes
Based on the organization's own description, members can expect:
- Member newsletters
- Access to programs such as Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes, Walk-in-the-Woods, Tree Planting, and NJ Woodland Stewards
- Participation in the annual meeting
- The chance to support advocacy work on legislation and rulemaking affecting forests and woodland owners
Who it suits
- Woodland owners who want practical forestry education and a voice on taxation and stewardship issues
- Conservationists and residents without land who want to support forest sustainability in the state
- Forest professionals, educators and scientists who want to collaborate with a statewide network
If cost is the deciding factor, compare the dues against what you would actually use. Someone who attends webinars and the annual meeting, or who relies on the legislative updates, will likely get more value than someone joining purely for occasional reading. If you are unsure, start by attending a public program or reading the newsletter information on the site, then join once you know the programming fits your interests.
What is farmland assessment for woodlands in New Jersey and how does the minimum gross revenue rule affect landowners?
Farmland assessment for woodlands in New Jersey is a property-tax program that lets qualifying forested land be valued at its agricultural use rather than at full market value. For woodland owners, the catch is that the land must be actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use and meet the program's income requirement, often called the minimum gross revenue rule. If the woodland does not generate enough qualifying revenue, the parcel can lose the lower assessment and be taxed on a higher value.
How the revenue rule works in practice
The rule is essentially a threshold test: the land must produce at least a set amount of gross revenue from agricultural or horticultural activities, including forestry products, over a defined period. The exact dollar figure and the number of years used for the test are set by state law and updated periodically, so the current threshold should always be confirmed with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture or the local tax assessor. The important point is that the test is based on gross revenue, not profit, and the revenue must come from qualifying activities on the land.
What this means for landowners
- Small or passive woodlands can be at risk. A landowner who mostly values the forest for privacy, wildlife or recreation may not harvest or sell enough timber to meet the threshold.
- Harvest timing matters. Because the test looks at revenue over a period, a single large timber sale can help satisfy the requirement, but income must be documented and tied to the woodland.
- Record-keeping is essential. Sales receipts, contracts, and a forest management plan help show that the land is genuinely in agricultural use.
- Loss of assessment is costly. If the revenue test is not met, the parcel can be reassessed, and the owner may face a higher tax bill plus possible rollback taxes for prior years.
The policy debate
The New Jersey Forestry Association has raised concerns about how the minimum gross revenue rule affects woodland owners. In its account of the August 12, 2026 State Farmland Evaluation Committee meeting in Trenton, NJFA Vice President Richard Kelsky and Treasurer Steven Spencer attended in person, with other directors online, and Kelsky addressed the committee on the woodland revenue issue. The committee also discussed a new online filing portal tested in four counties, forester-assisted filing, and data security. Those details show that the mechanics of filing and the revenue threshold are both active topics, not settled background.
A practical next step
If you own woodland and rely on farmland assessment, start by checking your most recent assessment notice and your revenue records for the relevant period. Then contact your county tax assessor or the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to confirm the current threshold and filing requirements. A consulting forester can help you plan harvests or other qualifying income so the woodland meets the test without undermining long-term forest health. For updates and educational programs, the New Jersey Forestry Association tracks legislation and rulemaking affecting woodland owners and hosts events such as Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes.
What Backyard Forestry webinars and other NJFA programs are currently scheduled?
The New Jersey Forestry Association's own site does not currently show a dated events calendar in the material available; it points visitors to scroll for newsworthy items, Backyard Forestry webinars, video postings, legislative and regulatory highlights, and annual meeting and membership information. So the practical answer is that program listings live on the site but change often, and the reliable move is to check the NJFA page directly rather than rely on a static summary.
What NJFA runs
- Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes — a webinar series, useful for homeowners and small woodland owners who want practical guidance without traveling.
- Walk-in-the-Woods — field-based woodland walks, best for people who learn by seeing management practices on the ground.
- Tree Planting — hands-on planting events, suited to volunteers, families and community groups.
- NJ Woodland Stewards — a structured education program for landowners who want a deeper, sustained grounding in forest stewardship.
- Annual Meeting — the membership gathering, where organizational business, forestry topics and networking come together.
Who each program suits
| Program | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes | Beginners, small-acreage owners, remote attendees | Online format, no site visit |
| Walk-in-the-Woods | Visual learners, landowners comparing practices | Seasonal, location-bound |
| Tree Planting | Volunteers, students, community groups | Physical work, weather-dependent |
| NJ Woodland Stewards | Committed landowners wanting depth | Larger time commitment |
| Annual Meeting | Members, professionals, policymakers | Fixed date and place |
A concrete next step
If you own wooded land in New Jersey and want to know what applies to you, start with a Backyard Forestry webinar to get oriented, then look for a Walk-in-the-Woods event near you to see management in practice. If your interest is policy or taxation rather than land management, the annual meeting and the association's legislative updates are the better fit.
For schedules, registration and membership details, go straight to New Jersey Forestry Association. For broader state forestry context, the New Jersey Forest Service at State of New Jersey publishes its own program information, and the state's agricultural and conservation organizations often cross-post woodland events.
How does the NJFA track and influence legislation and rulemaking affecting New Jersey forest owners?
The New Jersey Forestry Association tracks and influences forest-related policy by combining direct participation in state committees with member-facing reporting. Its site describes the organization as an advocate that monitors legislation and rulemaking affecting New Jersey's forests and woodland owners, and as a resource legislators and agencies turn to for comments. It also states that legislation and rulemaking have named the NJFA to several committees involved in forestry, stewardship and taxation, and that it served as one of four co-chairs of the NJ Forest Task Force.
What the page evidence shows
- Direct testimony to decision-making bodies. The site reports that on August 12, 2026, the State Farmland Evaluation Committee met in Trenton to set farmland assessment values, and that NJFA Vice President Richard Kelsky and Treasurer Steven Spencer attended in person, with other directors online via Teams. Kelsky addressed the committee on minimum gross revenue for woodlands.
- Engagement with implementation details. The same account notes committee discussion of a new online filing portal tested in four counties in 2026, forester-assisted filing, and data security. These are the operational questions that determine whether woodland owners can actually use a tax-assessment program.
- Ongoing communication with members. The homepage directs visitors to scroll for legislative and regulatory highlights, alongside webinars, videos, annual meeting and membership information.
How to use this
If you own woodland and want to follow a specific rule, start with the NJFA's legislative and regulatory highlights rather than waiting for a filing deadline. When a proposal affects your assessment or management plan, the association's committee seats and testimony are a channel for comments that individual owners may not have on their own.
A practical comparison
| Route | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Follow NJFA policy updates | Staying informed across many issues | Secondhand summaries; check the underlying rule text |
| Comment through NJFA | Adding landowner perspective to committee discussions | Your point is folded into a broader organizational position |
| Contact agencies directly | A specific parcel-level dispute | Slower, and you carry the burden of procedure |
The NJFA is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1975, so its influence depends partly on member participation and dues. Joining, attending the annual meeting, or answering calls for comments strengthens the voice it carries into Trenton. For a broader view of state forestry agencies, see State of New Jersey.
How can I donate to or volunteer with the NJFA to support New Jersey's forests?
Donate or join through the NJFA's own website, and treat volunteering as a conversation to start directly with the organization. The New Jersey Forestry Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975, and its site states it welcomes people to join, take part in activities and programs, or donate — whether or not you own woodland. Payments are handled through PayPal, so you can give or pay dues online without mailing a check.
Ways to support the work
- Donate. The site's own invitation lists donating alongside joining and participating. Because PayPal is the payment route shown, expect a standard PayPal checkout or card-through-PayPal flow.
- Become a member. Membership is presented as the main way to back the organization's advocacy and education work, and it comes with member newsletters.
- Volunteer your time. The NJFA runs its programs with a volunteer board, officers and committee members, and those roles include forest landowners, forest professionals, educators and scientists. That tells you the practical path: volunteer through a program or committee rather than through a generic sign-up form.
Where volunteers are actually needed
The programs named on the site are the most concrete openings for hands-on help:
| Program | What a volunteer might do |
|---|---|
| Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes | Help with webinars — hosting, promotion, speaker logistics |
| Walk-in-the-Woods | Assist with guided woodland walks and event-day coordination |
| Tree Planting | Plantings and site support |
| NJ Woodland Stewards | Support this landowner education program |
Advocacy and rulemaking work is another route. NJFA tracks legislation, provides input on rules affecting forests and woodland owners, and holds seats on state committees on forestry, stewardship and taxation; it was one of four co-chairs of the NJ Forest Task Force. A member with a legal, policy, forestry or accounting background could be useful on that side, and the site's own news notes that officers attend state meetings in person and online.
A practical next step
Go to New Jersey Forestry Association and use the join/donate path, then send a short note saying which program interests you and what you can offer — hours per month, a skill such as event help, photography, outreach or forestry expertise, or land to host a walk. If you are a woodland owner, mention it; the association's membership and committee base is built partly from landowners, and that context helps match you to the right committee. If policy is your interest, ask specifically about legislative and rulemaking comment work rather than general volunteering.
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