Welcome To The Demarest Nature Center
The Demarest Nature Center is located in Demarest, NJ, USA, and is open to all persons, residents and non-residents alike, every day of the year. In addition to preserving and protecting important open space here in the midst of a large metropolitan area, the center seeks to educate young and old alike as to the beauty of nature and the importance of protecting our environment.
We, the trustees of the Demarest Nature Center Association, encourage you to use this site to find out more about the Demarest Nature Center and its programs. Click on the topic of your choice and find out more; the links will tell you about the Center, introduce you to our events and endeavors, and also take you to other nearby nature centers, as well as environmental organizations, National Parks, and suggestions for things to do.
The site is constantly growing and being updated, so we hope you will come back again and again.
New study shows LNG exports risk raising greenhouse gas emissions, hampering efforts to curtail the climate crisis. more
BOSTON—Three climate activists and three gas utility executives walk into a room. It may sound like the start of a joke. However, the meeting at an Eversource Energy boardroom outside more
From our collaborating partner “Living on Earth,” public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview with car expert Jim Motavalli, who writes about green transportation for Autoweek and Barron’s. As Catholics more
Planned legal changes will see three neonicotinoid pesticides completely banned from any future use. more
Throughout most of the twentieth century, the Ecuadorian authorities pursued a geopolitical strategy that reflected a long-held conviction that they were cheated out of large territories in the Western Amazon. more
In 15 conservation units, illegal gold miners destroyed 330 hectares (815 acres) — an area close to the size of Central Park in New York City — in only two more
In 2024, researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, recorded 172 new species of plants and fungi across the globe, from England to Cameroon.Read more on E360 → more
“You’re engulfed in waves of steam and sweating buckets and there’s no cool water anywhere,” Kenneth Feeley, a professor at the University of Miami, tells Mongabay. He’s describing the Boiling more
New research finds billions of tons of carbon get trapped in the "technosphere." more
Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal technology is ramping up, with startups and existing companies racing to develop electrochemical techniques that either remove carbon from seawater or prompt oceans to suck up more
In a major policy shift, South Korea announced Dec. 18 that it will end renewable energy subsidies for new biomass projects, as well as for state-owned coal and biomass cofired more
TOAMASINA, Madagascar — Abraham Botovao, a boat skipper and the president of the Association of Progressive Fishers of Toamasina, has become accustomed to seeing an unusual activity while out at more
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In 2010, several herds of cows airlifted from North Dakota to Kazakhstan helped spark a burgeoning cattle industry in the former USSR republic. The effort was part of a Kazakh more
You could be forgiven for thinking there’s no water in the Atacama Desert. In fact, the driest desert on Earth has underground springs that feed the Chaxa, Cejar and Tebenquiche more
WATSONVILLE, Calif.—Esperanza was washing off the dirt and sweat from another grueling day in the strawberry fields when she felt a bump on her right breast. It reminded the 44-year-old more
On Sept. 16, the United States Forest Service (USFS) announced a hiring freeze for the next fiscal year, meaning the agency won’t be able to hire any seasonal employees in more
JAKARTA — In recent United Nations biodiversity conferences, global leaders have championed Indigenous peoples as critical partners in achieving conservation goals. Indonesia, as a signatory to an international treaty on more
More than 170 years later, the Yakama are still trying to get their land back. more
The agency is hiking insurance rates and punishing flood-prone construction in the president-elect’s favorite state. more
What does the trade war mean for the cost of goods, green tech, and decarbonization? An expert policy analyst weighs in. more
Canary Media’s chart of the week translates crucial data about the clean energy transition into a visual format. Canary thanks Clean Energy Counsel for its support of the column. In more
Geothermal energy today plays only a minor role in the U.S. electricity mix. Most of the country lacks natural features like hot springs and geysers, where Earth’s simmering heat is more
One of the longest-running citizen science projects in the world has kicked off its 125th annual event. The Christmas Bird Count (CBC), administered by the U.S.-based nonprofit National Audubon Society, more
A tiny lizard found only on one tiny Caribbean island has seen a dramatic 1,500% increase in its population, after just a few years of island restoration efforts. In 2018, more
In late February, a flash flood hit Gwadar, a port city on Pakistan’s southwestern coast in Balochistan province. The 183 millimeters (7.2 inches) of rain that fell in 30 hours more
Climate change is not an equal player; neither is environmental degradation. Research shows that both disproportionately affect populations that are already vulnerable. The effects of floods, fires, heat waves and more
Recognition of the need to restore degraded landscapes is accelerating at pace. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (the UN Decade) has triggered a global movement to rally individual action, more
They include a neolithic burial mound in Wiltshire and an Iron Age hill fort on the edge of Dartmoor. more
This story was originally published by National Parks Traveler. The National Park System could close this weekend if Congress can’t move past its budget impasse and fund the federal government. more
President Joe Biden, in the waning days of his administration, has decided to plant a flag for stronger climate action for the United States, despite the nation’s struggle to meet more
UGANDA – In Africa, debates over “fortress conservation” have raged for years. Mongabay visited one of Uganda’s largest protected areas, the Queen Elizabeth National Park, in October 2023 to take more
Between 2018 and 2020, users of Facebook groups in Brazil shared more than 2,000 records of wildlife poaching, amounting to 4,658 dead animals: everything from pacas and armadillos to capybaras more
KITABU, Uganda — It’s mid-afternoon in Kitabu, a small town nestled in the hills of western Uganda at the foot of the Rwenzori mountains. Neatly manicured plots of beans and more
In 2019, the idea of a social scientist who focused on renewable energy and public lands felt like the most thinly sliced of specialties. That was the year the University more
Major banks, including Citibank and JPMorgan Chase, are still failing to implement the full scope of U.N. human rights principles, a new report has found. The report by finance watchdog more
The frog’s loud croaking turned out to be a call to its own demise. The researchers walking along the steep muddy bank on a rainy November day in 2022 in more
Despite continued opposition, the World Bank has approved the first of five big dam projects expected to get its support in the coming months. Climate change has upped the need more
French dairy giant Danone has been around for more than a century and operates across more than 55 countries, producing everything from yogurt and milk to protein drinks and baby more
With Trump set to take office, cutting emissions 66 percent by 2035 will require rapid action from states, cities, and the private sector. more
Maryland is making big moves to ensure that electric vehicle drivers across the state can hit the road without worrying about running out of juice. This week, the Maryland Department more
New research shows what happens when cities add sidewalks and take other pedestrian-friendly steps. more
Two congressional reports make clear that, with increasingly frequent hurricanes, floods, and fires, "the model of insurance as it stands right now isn't working." more
Corporations must be held accountable for attacks that advance their business interests, researchers say. more
Having spent over 15 years deeply involved in the cleantech industry, I’ve experienced its peaks, valleys, and everything in between. Since Trump’s win, industry insiders and the media have been more
When Steelton-Highspire School District decided to go solar, it wasn’t because of climate altruism. It wasn’t sustainability goals that drove it to convert its six school buses from diesel to more
This story was originally published by Public Health Watch and WBFO. Recent computer modeling shows that the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s chemical plant in Niagara Falls, New York, is releasing more
Scientists have discovered that in addition to seeds and nuts, some California ground squirrels also eat voles.Read more on E360 → more
A new report calls for solutions that simultaneously address climate change, biodiversity, health, water, and food issues. more
Nasa says that the astronauts stuck on the space station will have to wait even longer to get home. more
From "carbon cowboys" to "snow loss cliff," these 10 terms captured the spirit of the hottest year yet. more
Heat pumps are the single biggest tool for U.S. households to cut carbon emissions and curb unhealthy air pollution . They’re also far more efficient than the fossil-fueled or electric more
Climate change makes it trickier for Churchill's residents to co-exist with increasingly hungry predators more
India tested its first analog space mission in the Himalayan mountains of Ladakh. more
The Biden administration is rushing to get funding for major clean energy projects out of the door before the Trump administration takes over — and big utilities are its latest more
For decades, Congolese officials have barred the Batwa from their ancestral lands in the name of preserving the critically endangered eastern lowland gorilla. But a new study suggests the Batwa more
A new approach is needed to tackle the interlinked crises afflicting the planet, scientists warn. more
A company is betting on aluminum to solve K-cups’ sustainability problem. But experts say it’s complicated. more
How my climate-obsessed dad brought our family closer together. more
The erratic weather adding to the troubles of Michigan's cherry growers is impacting farmers everywhere. more
Switching to heat pumps is one of the most energy-efficient and cost-effective ways to reduce the climate impact of buildings, which account for more than a third of U.S. carbon more
This story was first published by Inside Climate News . One of the most common critiques of policies that encourage the adoption of rooftop solar is that the benefits go more
Climate change could increase flood threats without improvements to defences, the Environment Agency warns. more
The OEP has ruled that it allowed excessive sewage into England's rivers and seas. more
Malaria killed almost 600,000 people in 2023, as cases rose for the fifth consecutive year, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. Read more on E360 → more
Growing up on Guam, Julian Aguon saw the law used against Indigenous peoples. Now he's fighting back. more
Northvolt, Europe’s best hope for a homegrown battery titan, collapsed into bankruptcy this fall. This failure was a big deal in its own right, but it also raises questions about more
Canary Media’s Electrified Life column shares real-world tales, tips, and insights to demystify what individuals can do to shift their homes and lives to clean electric power. The election of more
PFAS chemicals have unexpectedly turned up in well water in rural farmland, far from any industrial areas, airports, or military bases. more
“There are a lot of days where I feel very much like just quitting all of this." more
New research suggests that extreme heat may cause people to age faster at a molecular level.Read more on E360 → more
The change is part of the government's new action plan for meeting its 2030 clean power target. more
The pledge was born out of shareholder activism — and was withdrawn as regulators crack down on greenwashing. more
The debate over deep-sea mining exposes a contradiction between the country’s proud culture of environmental stewardship and its dependence on the extraction of the ocean’s riches. more
Millions of electric vehicles are going to plug into U.S. power grids over the next decade. The coming wave of EVs could wind up overloading the grid and costing utilities more
Canary Media’s chart of the week translates crucial data about the clean energy transition into a visual format. Canary thanks Clean Energy Counsel for its support of the column. Nothing more
The reintroduction of endangered wolves to Yellowstone National Park 30 years ago was a major conservation victory. But as wolves have spread across the West, anger and resentment at the more
Trump would have a hard time undoing a potential international agreement to end most export credits for fossil fuel infrastructure. more
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Most startups fail . That’s the bitter truth awaiting hundreds of companies founded in the recent wave of energy and climate entrepreneurship. Success for a venture-capital-funded startup means an exit more
Ten major banks are financing Paraguayan beef producers implicated in the destruction of forest spanning an area the size of New York City, a new report finds.Read more on E360 more
The galaxy resembling Christmas lights hanging in the cosmos has space scientists feeling festive more
California has long led the way on electric vehicles, but another Western state is challenging the Golden State’s top spot. Between July and September, nearly 25 percent of the vehicles more
This story was first published by Grist . At a laboratory in Newark, New Jersey, a gray liquid swirls vigorously inside a reactor the size of a small watermelon. Here, more
The National Trust hopes the colony will continue to grow and rival others along the coast. more
A humpback whale makes one of the longest and most unusual migrations ever recorded, raising alarm. more
Big tech companies need enormous amounts of clean energy to power their rapidly growing data-center fleets while meeting their climate goals — but it’s increasingly difficult to get that electricity more
With billions in investment flowing to GOP districts, Donald Trump’s plans to repeal clean energy tax credits face Republican resistance. In an e360 interview, political scientist Leah Stokes, who helped more
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Billions of dollars worth of goods will flow into the United States this holiday season, carried on the decks and in the bellies of oil-burning freighters. But last week in more
Over the past year, the biggest story in the U.S. power sector has been the massive and looming increase in demand for electricity, most of it driven by data centers more
While extreme heat poses a greater threat to the physical health of the elderly than to the young, in Mexico the large majority of heat-related deaths are actually among people more
Canary Media’s chart of the week translates crucial data about the clean energy transition into a visual format. Canary thanks Clean Energy Counsel for its support of the column. The more
Despite the policy uncertainty facing renewables as the Trump administration prepares to take the wheel, the outlook for U.S. solar is generally positive, according to the just-released U.S. Solar Market more
Grazing cattle given a seaweed supplement produced close to 40 percent less methane than those fed grass alone, a new study found.Read more on E360 → more
When prominent entrepreneur Jigar Shah took over as head of the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office in 2021, he had one primary mission: To get “ dollars out the door. more
This story was first published by Energy News Network . A top executive with Minnesota’s largest utility says data center growth will not prevent it from meeting the state’s 100 more
In their pursuit of nickel, a key metal in EV batteries, miners are destroying the forest home of the Hongana Manyawa people on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, allegedly threatening more
Direct air capture company Heirloom said it has raised $150 million in its latest fundraising round, almost triple the amount of the company’s prior funding series. Heirloom, which was founded more
When the founders of LuxWall look through a window, they see money. Windows offer sometimes-stunning views and natural light, but they also create a structural vulnerability that lets heat escape more
A U.N. carbon market is expected to open as soon as next year, with carbon-rich Indonesia planning to generate billions of dollars in credits from its vast rainforests. But critics more
Mega-utility Duke Energy is about to knock down a coal plant that has run west of Charlotte, North Carolina, since 1957. Soon the company will build its largest grid battery more
The Grain Belt Express , a $7 billion transmission line project that’s been more than a decade in development, has won conditional approval for a $4.9 billion federal loan guarantee more
Countries have failed to reach an agreement to stem plastic pollution after a small number of oil-rich nations resisted efforts to limit production. Read more on E360 → more
The significant case could clarify governments' legal responsibilities in relation to climate change. more
Nearly 72 million people likely traveled by car over Thanksgiving last week in the United States, setting a record for the holiday travel period. Vehicles crisscrossed the nation’s roads, highways, more
The engine of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) , the Biden administration’s landmark climate and industrial policy achievement, is tax credits. Through federal tax incentives alone, the law could direct more
This story was first published by Inside Climate News . If you trace the path of one electrical transmission line up the coast of Maine, through and around the state’s more
Sky-high power prices are fueling a massive solar buildout in Pakistan. Read more on E360 → more
This story was first published by Energy News Network . A solar-powered microgrid project backed by funding from the Biden administration aims to reduce energy burdens and provide backup power more
Canary Media’s chart of the week translates crucial data about the clean energy transition into a visual format. Canary thanks Clean Energy Counsel for its support of the column. Repealing more
Rich nations pledged $300 billion a year in aid, but developing countries that need help building out renewable energy and adapting to climate impacts say they again felt bullied to more
A new report by a coalition of unions across Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts calls for the states to raise their ambitions for offshore wind. The region has little space more
Can thousands of houses equipped with remote-control thermostats and other devices mimic what big power plants do for utility grids? EnergyHub , a software and services company that operates virtual more
In northern India, drones and camera traps deployed to monitor wildlife are being used to surveil women without their consent.Read more on E360 → more
Are you feeling jittery about the future of the U.S. clean energy transition? Consider this. Renewable energy in the U.S. has grown steadily over the last 20 years. Look at more
As the incoming Trump administration prepares to make aggressive cuts to government spending, one major provision of the landmark Inflation Reduction Act appears to be on the chopping block: the more
This story was first published by Energy News Network . Mark Fleming has a prediction for those terrified about the impact of a second Trump administration on the clean energy more
Fraught debate revealed the divide between rich and poor as the UN conference sealed a climate finance deal. more
These caves were unexplored for thousands of years, protected by swirling mists and terrifying tales. more
From June 2023 to August 2024, the world saw 15 months in a row of record-breaking heat, a stretch so extreme that it confounded scientists. A new animation from NASA more
How future talks will play out if another superpower comes to the fore, just as the US steps back more
Canary Media’s chart of the week translates crucial data about the clean energy transition into a visual format. Canary thanks Clean Energy Counsel for its support of the column. Around more
This story was first published by Energy News Network . A Massachusetts university is developing technology that aims to use lasers to drastically cut emissions and energy use from Maine’s more
An unprecedented drought has lowered reservoirs in hydropower-dependent Zambia, leading to economically crippling blackouts and spurring a push for solar. With multiple utility-scale arrays now in the works, the country more
Late last year, Virgin Atlantic ran a radio spot in the United Kingdom touting a noteworthy environmental achievement: The British airline was about to fly a plane on “100 percent more
Cleaning up the grid will require installing a lot of batteries to store renewable energy. Startup Element Energy has delivered a powerful proofpoint for a new way to do that more
Countries around the world are building new nuclear power stations. more
Last year, the watchdog group Survival International reported that park rangers in the Republic of the Congo had beaten, raped, and tortured Indigenous Baka in a national park. Now, the more
One of the Inflation Reduction Act’s most celebrated programs — a nationwide “green bank” to help fund climate projects that struggle to secure private-sector loans — has also been one more
Election Day yielded few bright spots for the transition to clean energy, but there was one in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The city of nearly 120,000 voted 79 percent in favor more
Paris aims to replace 60,000 parking spaces across the city with trees by the end of this decade, according to its newly released climate plan.Read more on E360 → more
Dearborn, Michigan, was at the heart of auto industry innovation during the days of the Model T Ford. Now clean energy and environmental justice advocates are proposing that the city more
Texas may be the country’s oil and gas heartland, but it’s also the nation’s most dynamic market for clean energy. That’s made the state an epicenter for utility-scale wind, solar, more
Donald Trump has promised to halt federal climate action and repeal the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, which provides unprecedented spending for clean energy. The market momentum for renewables and efforts more
The United States is the world’s fourth-largest steel producer, and today, most of the country’s primary steel is made using coal in scorching-hot furnaces. For steelmakers to shift away from more
Yesterday, Massachusetts lawmakers made major moves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition the state to clean energy. Legislators approved a long-awaited climate bill that will limit gas pipeline expansion, more
At least 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists are attending the U.N. climate negotiations now underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to a tally by a coalition of climate groups.Read more on E360 more
For years, California utilities, regulators, and consumer advocates have argued that residents with solar panels on their rooftops are making electricity more expensive for everyone else in the state. In more
Canary Media’s chart of the week translates crucial data about the clean energy transition into a visual format. Canary thanks Clean Energy Counsel for its support of the column. Solar more
Around the world, researchers are working on a range of projects that aim to enhance corals’ resistance to marine heat waves. In a promising sign, a U.K. team recently became more
Northwest Georgia is churning out solar panels like never before. Detroit automakers are constructing billion-dollar battery factories to supply electric vehicle production. Pittsburgh steelworkers are forging torque tubes for massive more
After the reelection of former President Donald Trump, clean energy advocates across the country are preparing for a White House that will no doubt pursue aggressive rollbacks of climate policies more
New research shows that glaciers near active volcanoes flow faster than other glaciers. The findings suggest it would be possible to predict volcanic eruptions by tracking the speed of glaciers.Read more
For years, environmental groups and climate and energy experts have complained that California’s landmark clean-fuels program, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard , misdirects billions of dollars per year to subsidize more
Few clean energy sectors have been threatened as directly by Donald Trump as offshore wind. The president-elect vowed on the campaign trail to end offshore wind development via executive order more
Light from cars, homes, and street lamps may be keeping bees up at night, according to a new study.Read more on E360 → more
Brian Fitzsimons, CEO of GridUnity , doesn’t think his company alone can solve the grid interconnection backlog that’s holding back the U.S. energy transition . But he’s sure that its more
Our Mission
According to the 1972 articles of Incorporation, the purposes of the organization are:
- To acquire or lease undeveloped lands and establish thereon educational building(s).
- To develop natural history and conservation education programs in cooperation with schools, colleges, hospitals, youth groups and other organizations which will develop an understanding and appreciation of natural resources.
- To cooperate with national, state, county, municipal and private natural resource agencies in providing an outdoor laboratory in which to demonstrate natural resource problems and management techniques.
Check Out Our Latest Newsletter
Events
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What We Sponsor
The DNC sponsors numerous programs to bring residents of Demarest and the surrounding areas into closer contact with wildlife and the natural world. Programs have varied, including adult oriented sessions on topics such as hiking the Appalachian trial or composting, family hikes in Harriman Park or along the Palisades, and various children’s programs. Local outdoor activities have been held at the Nature Center, Wakelee Field, various school grounds, and at the Duck Pond.
Tripadavisor
The Demarest Nature Center is on TripAdvisor! Feel free to share your experiences with us. We would appreciate your feedback.
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Demarest Nature Center
Box 41
Demarest, NJ 07627
Location
Trail Map
You can download a Trail Map here.
Become a Member
Since its incorporation in 1977 the Demarest Nature Center Association has cared for a 55-acre parcel of land bordered by Columbus Road on the west and County Road on the east. The Demarest Nature Center is open to all every day of the year. In addition to protecting woods, vernal ponds, meadows, and a section of the Tenakill Brook, as well as establishing and maintaining walking trails, the center provides educational events for everyone about the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving our amazing forest habitat. Your membership dollars go towards sponsorship of environmental education programs for kindergarten through the fourth grade in the Demarest schools, and a yearly scholarship given to a local high school senior who plans to pursue environment-related studies in college. Your membership also helps support our birdhouse/bird feeder building program, our annual photo contest, Breakfast in the Woods (free to all members), and the Craft Show at Oktoberfest/Fall Festival Event.
The Demarest Nature Center Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, run solely by volunteers and receives no funding from the Borough of Demarest.
Residents of Demarest receive all DNC mailings as postal patrons. Non-resident members receive DNC mailings by 1st class mail.