Climate Change

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Natural Climate Solutions

Background

The Natural Climate Solutions Grant program will fund on-the-ground implementation of projects that create, restore, and enhance New Jersey’s natural carbon sinks, such as salt marshes, seagrass beds, forests, urban parks and woodlands, and street trees. Natural resources that sequester carbon play a critical role in meeting the State’s 2050 goal of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases below 2006 levels. Recognizing this, the Department awarded up to $24.3 million dollars for blue and green carbon projects. This funding was made available due to New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which provides the State with auction proceeds to invest in programs and projects designed to help meet its climate, clean energy, and equity goals.

Press Release Natural Climate Solutions RFP NCS Grant FAQ

Project Categories

NJ Climate Change Mitigation Living Shorelines

Living Shorelines

Living shorelines are a shoreline management practice that addresses the loss of vegetated shorelines, beaches, and habitat in the littoral zone by providing for the protection, restoration, or enhancement of these habitats. Eligible projects will focus on protecting the erosion of carbon rich soils in tidal wetlands.

NJ Climate Change Mitigation Wetlands

Restoring Tidal Flows in Tidal Wetlands

Projects restoring tidal flow to wetlands have many benefits. Eligible projects will focus on increasing salinity to decrease methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) production. In some cases, restoring tidal flow may also target increased sedimentation and vegetation cover.

NJ Climate Change Mitigation Salt Marsh

Tidal Salt Marsh Vegetation Restoration

Eligible projects will increase the cover of native salt marsh vegetation in brackish and salt water tidal wetlands to increase the carbon sequestration.

NJ Climate Change Mitigation Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration

Eligible projects will increase the cover of native submerged aquatic vegetation in waters with salinity over 18 parts per thousand to increase carbon sequestration.

NJ Climate Change Mitigation Forest and Woodland Restoration

Forest and Woodland Restoration

Eligible projects will establish or reestablish forest communities and reset carbon sequestration trajectories with resilient native vegetation. Such projects may occur in existing degraded forests or former agricultural fields or other deforested areas. Generally, a degraded forest is a forest that has lost its capacity to provide important functions and values to people and nature.

NJ Climate Change Mitigation Urban Forest

Urban Forest Canopy and Water Quality Enhancement

Eligible projects will establish and maintain trees and reduce impervious cover and stormwater runoff, while promoting ground water recharge, in urban areas. Urban land includes land with houses, buildings and pavement, and other areas that are essentially impervious to infiltration of rainfall.

Eligibility

Applicants eligible to apply for funding under this Notice of Funding Availability included:

  • State, county, and local government units within New Jersey, including State government agencies or school boards;
  • New Jersey universities and colleges;
  • Interstate agencies of which New Jersey is a member;
  • Private landowners owning property in New Jersey (note: private property project must provide matching funds);
  • Nonprofit organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code authorized to operation in the State of New Jersey.

Current Status

The first round of Natural Climate Solutions Grants were selected on January 18th, 2023. The Department is currently in the process of funding the selected projects. To check the status of your application, please visit NJ Department of Environmental Protection System for Administering Grants Electronically (SAGE).

Project Locations

NCS Project Locations in NJ

Public Information Session Materials

Public Information Session Recording
Public Information Session Recording
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NJDEP SAGE Demo
NJDEP SAGE Demo
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Public Information Session Slides
Public Information Session Slides
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Stay in the know

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Contact Us

Questions? Contact us at NJRGGI@dep.nj.gov