80-521: The Feltville Historic District , located in the Watchung Reservation in Berkeley Heights , Union County , New Jersey , United States, is a historic area which contains several buildings dating to the 18th century. It is known locally as "Deserted Village." The district includes eight houses, a church, a carriage house, and a general house. Over the years the "deserted village of Feltville"
160-462: A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1 December 1999. In Kosovo, there are 2 national parks , 11 nature reserves, 99 natural monuments and 3 protected landscapes . The national parks are Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park and Sharr Mountains National Park . As of 2011, Poland has 1469 nature reserves. Nature reserves are one of the 11 types of protected areas in Portugal. As of 2012, Portugal had
240-921: A federal government, Canada recognizes 55 National Wildlife Areas, containing species of ecological significance. This area is protected by legislation known as the Canada Wildlife Act, which is overseen by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. About half of the habitat is marine habitat, and the remainder is terrestrial habitat. Nature Conservancy Canada, Ducks Unlimited, and Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, among others, protect nature reserves in Canada as well. As part of Canada's Ecological Gifts Program, these charities protect wilderness on privately owned lands. There are 30 nature reserves in Egypt which cover 12% of Egyptian land. Those nature reserves were built according to
320-579: A flood control project, Army Corps of Engineers discussed the unique natural spring environment in the Reservation, which provided habitat for six species of salamander: Scattered along the northwest slopes above Blue Brook in the Watchung Reservation, from the "Glen" to Seeley's Pond, are numerous springs that are of apparent great antiquity. The springs in the Reservation are the only series of intact and relatively undisturbed springs remaining in
400-608: A general system for sanctuaries to follow. Among them, the American Sanctuary Association monitors and aids in various facilities to care for exotic wildlife. The number of sanctuaries has substantially increased over the past few years. In Australia , a nature reserve is the title of a type of protected area used in the jurisdictions of the Australian Capital Territory , New South Wales , Tasmania and Western Australia . The term "nature reserve"
480-492: A large cleared area in the eastern end of the park. The clearing was created in the late 1950s when, against strong local opposition, the U.S. Army built the Cold War defensive Nike missile base here. The preserve has 26 miles of equestrian trails. Some have commented on the poor condition of the Reservation's trails. Topsoil has been worn or washed away, leaving rock below, and trails are poorly marked. In October 2017,
560-672: A lifelong Elizabeth resident who made his fortune in land surveying and kaolin processing; the trust that bears his name is still in existence today. Grassmann decorated two of his structures at the Deserted Village to demonstrate his fondness for the Southwest and Latin America. He called one the "Mexican Cottage" and the other he christened as the "Indian Cottage." It was Grassmann who apparently persuaded celebrated Nicaraguan/Mexican artist Roberto de la Selva to paint themed murals throughout
640-492: A number of properties to serve as a club, which he eventually sold to the Union County Parks Commission. Grassmann was a lifelong Elizabeth resident who made his fortune in land surveying and kaolin processing; the trust that bears his name is still in existence today. Grassmann decorated two of his structures at the Deserted Village to demonstrate his fondness for the Southwest and Latin America. He called one
720-516: A number of sightings of the bog turtle in the Watchung Reservation in the vicinity of Lake Surprise. Potential bog turtle habitat also exists in the Blue Brook Valley. However, a decade later, research by Zappalorti (1989) suggested that the bog turtle had been extirpated from the Reservation due to habitat degradation. The Army Corps of Engineers wrote in 1981: Blue Spotted Salamander , Ambystoma leterale, classified as an endangered species by
800-462: A one-room schoolhouse. By 1850, about 175 people lived in Feltville, often four families in each of the larger houses and two in each of the smaller. Also in that year, a nondenominational "Union Church" with a resident pastor was active. After fifteen years, "King David" Felt sold the property, and after several successor businesses failed, the place became known as "the deserted village". In 1882, it
880-410: A second factory. Eventually he bought land from the descendants of Peter Willcox, and in two years, he had built a mill on Blue Brook, two dams for the mill, and a town for the workers in the mill. He named this new town "Feltville". Within the little town, Felt gained the nickname of "King David", for he required the residents to attend services in the churchhouse and their children to attend classes in
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#1732855707013960-752: A total area of approximately 1,330 km (510 sq mi). Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 gives local authorities the exclusive statutory power to establish a local nature reserve in consultation with the SNH. The biosphere reserves of Iran have a total land area of 1.64 million km . The "reserves" support more than 8,000 recorded species of plants (almost 2,421 are endemic ), 502 species of birds , 164 species of mammals , 209 species of reptiles , and 375 species of butterflies . India 's 18 biospheres extend over
1040-646: A total of 46 protected areas, which represented 6,807.89 km (2,628.54 sq mi) of land and 463.94 km (179.13 sq mi) of marine surfaces. Among the protected areas, nine are classified as nature reserve ( Portuguese : reserva natural ). About 5.18% of the area of Romania has a protected status (12,360 km (4,770 sq mi)), including the Danube Delta , which makes up half of this area (2.43% of Romania's total area). There are 15 National Parks, and around 90 Natural Parks in Spain. Spain
1120-686: A total of 85,940 km (33,180 sq mi) and protect larger areas than typical national parks in other countries. The first national reserve of India was established in 1986. Israel 's national parks are declared historic sites or nature reserves, which are mostly operated and maintained by the National Nature and Parks Authority. As of 2019, Israel maintains more than 490 nature reserves that protect 2,500 species of indigenous wild plants, 20 species of fish, 530 species of birds and 70 species of mammals. In total, they cover 6,400 km (2,500 sq mi) of nature reserves, approximately 28% of
1200-615: A valley in the Reservation between the 1st and 2nd Watchung Mountains along the strike of the less weathering-resistant red beds of the early Jurassic Feltville Formation . The Feltville Formation is a mapped bedrock unit primarily in New Jersey named for the Deserted Village of Feltville in the Reservation, which is near where its type section was described. Red sandstone and shale beds of this formation crop out along stream level and along an old, abandoned mill race that follows
1280-614: A wildlife refuge since very few people live in the area. Wildlife has flourished in the zone since the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986. South Africa is well known for its many nature reserves. The oldest nature reserve in the country (and oldest conservation area in the world) is the Groenkloof Nature Reserve that was established in 1892 in the capital city Pretoria in the old South African Republic and current Republic of South Africa. The country has many national parks but
1360-791: Is Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in East Sussex, where a network of footpaths enables visitors to explore shingle, saltmarsh, saline lagoon, reedbed, and grazing marsh habitats. Through the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) was established in 1992 as a government body, responsible to the Scottish Government Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament. At 31 March 2008, there were 65 Scottish national nature reserves with
1440-453: Is also protected, and hunting is not allowed, but products and by-products from research may be sold. Wildlife refuges in Brazil have as their objective the protection of natural flora and fauna where conditions are assured for the existence and reproduction of species or communities of the local flora and the resident or migratory fauna. The refuges can consist of privately owned land, as long as
1520-516: Is an even greater indicator of long term stability since it utilizes the underground portions of the springs as well as the surface portions. It also adds uniqueness to these springs since the Reservation is the only place outside the Kittatinny Ridge and Valley of Sussex County where populations are known to occur at present. No other system of springs in New Jersey appears to contain all five of
1600-860: Is defined in the relevant statutes used in those states and territories rather than by a single national statute. As of 2016, 1767 out of a total of 11044 protected areas listed within the Australian National Reserve System used the term "nature reserve" in their names. In Brazil, nature reserves are classified by the National System of Nature Conservation Units as ecological stations ( Portuguese : estações ecológicas ) or biological reserves ( Portuguese : reservas biológicas ). Their main objectives are preserving fauna and flora and other natural attributes, excluding direct human interference. Visits are allowed only with permission, and only for educational or scientific purposes. Changes to
1680-643: Is headquartered in the County building at 300 North Ave. East in Westfield. Their Demonstration Gardens in the Watchung Reservation next to Trailside Museum include various theme gardens, two flower-cutting gardens, the Berry Patch, herb and Harry Potter Gardens, and the Community Sharing Garden and Annex, where varieties of vegetables are cultivated for donation. The county-owned Watchung Stables are located on
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#17328557070131760-635: Is known as the Enchanted or Magic Forest in the Reservation. The Enchanted Forest is a pine plantation of 16,000 trees placed in "endless, ruler-straight rows" by the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. The forest contains white spruce , red pine , and Norway spruce which are not native to the area; native trees replace the pines as they die. It has suffered heavily from pine beetle predation in recent years. Other tales of hauntings and witchcraft abound in
1840-557: Is specifically defined in the Reserves Act to mean a reserve that prioritizes the protection of rare flora and fauna, to the extent that public access is by permit only. Some of these reserves include Ecological Islands , a comparatively new concept in wildlife preservation, pioneered in New Zealand to help rebuild the populations of nearly extinct birds, and other species that are heavily threatened by introduced predators. In Nicaragua ,
1920-612: Is the country with the most sites listed in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves . There are 4 biosphere reserves (two of them are dated 1927 and 1874) and 17 nature reserves in Ukraine, covering 160,000 ha (400,000 acres). Ukraine administers 40 national parks , 2632 habitat management areas, 3025 nature monuments, and 1430 other preservations. There are some differences between the regulations for England , Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales , which are separately managed. At
2000-625: Is yet to be officially classified), and seven specific types of "reserve", each of which prioritize various degrees of protection to different amenities such as scenery, recreation, flora and fauna, scientific value, or history. Land is often sub-categorised beneath its general classification, as defined in law between the Reserves Act of 1977 , the National Parks Act of 1980 , and the Conservation Act of 1987 . Under these classifications,
2080-464: The Department of Conservation administers more than 80,000 square kilometres (31,000 sq mi)—nearly 30% of the nation's total area—with at least some degree of protection. This land is composed of 14 National Parks, 30 Conservation Parks, and approximately 8,900 discrete areas of land in total. Although the most public land is strongly protected for natural preservation, the term nature reserve
2160-629: The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) is in charge of environmental protection and of the study, planning, and management of Nicaragua's natural resources. Nearly one-fifth of the territory is designated as protected areas like national parks, nature reserves (including the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve ), and biological reserves. Nicaragua has 78 protected areas that cover 22,422 km (8,657 sq mi), about 17.3% of
2240-606: The "Mexican Cottage" and the other he christened as the "Indian Cottage." It was Grassmann who apparently persuaded celebrated Nicaraguan/Mexican artist Roberto de la Selva to paint themed murals throughout the first floor interior of the Mexican Cottage. In the late 1920s, during his first trip to the United States, de la Selva spent months in rural Union County painting the murals, which depict native Mexicans at work, play and worship, including statues of both ancient gods and
2320-567: The British established the Yob Wildlife Reserve in northern Eritrea specifically to protect significant populations of Nubian ibex in the area. Denmark has three national parks and several nature reserves, some of them inside the national park areas. The largest single reserve is Hanstholm Nature Reserve, which covers 40 km (9,900 acres) and is part of Thy National Park . In Sweden , there are 30 national parks . The first of them
2400-627: The Lenape presence in the Watchungs can be seen in numerous camp sites that have been uncovered, mainly along the rivers coursing through mountains and in the small caves abundant in the volcanic rock. It is thought the Lenape favored the Watchungs for their profusion of natural resources, including abundant freshwater rivers and streams, a variety of forests, and plentiful fish and game. The Lenape may have also used crushed copper ore for tools and decoration. The Mo-No-Pe-Nonck trail historically wound through
2480-509: The Reservation allows exploration of the geological features in the Reservation. The purple-blazed Watchung Reservation History Trail is a six-mile trail through various historical points in the reserve. It was designed and executed by Rob Gruytch of Roselle Park . The original inhabitants of the Watchungs, the Lenape , referred to the mountains as the Wach Unks , or 'high hills'. Evidence of
Feltville Historic District - Misplaced Pages Continue
2560-463: The Reservation over the years. Common invasive plant species include: Common invasive animal species include: Some native species used to live in the Reservation but no longer can be found there, including: The bog turtle , Clemys muhlenbergi, has been classified as an endangered species in the State of New Jersey since the first state list of rare and endangered species appeared in 1971. There have been
2640-449: The Reservation, as well as apocryphal tales of black magic and teenage devil worship. Some arose likely in relation to real-life teenage murder and suicide in the area, such as in nearby Houdaille Quarry ( Jeannette DePalma ). According to one true-crime writer, "Throughout the 1970s and up into the 2000s, there were reports of 'devil worship' in [Watchung Reservation]. There are police reports and newspaper accounts to back that up. So it
2720-454: The Reservation. An abandoned copper mine exists in the Reservation. Some believe exploration for copper in the Reservation may date back to at least the 1600s. About 1736, a frontier settler named Peter Willcocks built a sawmill along the Blue Brook , clearing hundreds of acres of forest to meet the lumber demands of farmers on the frontier. An entire village, Feltville , once existed in
2800-472: The State of New Jersey has been recorded as having occurred in the Watchung Reservation (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1977). There is some uncertainty as to whether the Blue Spotted Salamander still exists in the Reservation. Baird (1955) did not report finding any during his survey. Zappalorti (1978) also did not find any, but reports sightings in 1979. In its 1981 environmental impact report on
2880-494: The United States is Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 as part of his Square Deal campaign to improve the country. At the time, setting aside land for wildlife was not a constitutional right of the president. In 2006, a bi-partisan group of US House of Representatives members established the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus to further support
2960-461: The Virgin Mary. As the only murals [that] de la Selva, who was primarily a sculptor, is known to have painted, these murals are significant to both the history of Feltville and the international art world. Several years after they were painted, the murals were covered by wallpaper, which is how they remained for decades until uncovered in the 1970s. The location of the murals in the Deserted Village
3040-816: The Watchung's western boundary, although climbing is technically prohibited by the county. At the center is the Loop area, a large park with picnic tables and a play area called "'The Loop Playground.'" Built in 1941, the Trailside Nature & Science Center is at the southern edge, along Coles Avenue in Mountainside. It is the oldest nature center in New Jersey. The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County ("RMGUC") are volunteers who provide gardening, land stewardship and horticultural therapy services in Union County. RMGUC
3120-619: The ancient world. According to stone inscriptions found in the vicinity, the king commanded the people not to harm animals or destroy trees within the area. In the United States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , managed by the Secretary of the Interior , is responsible for managing many of the federal nature reserves including the National Wildlife Refuge System . The National Wildlife Refuge System includes areas administered for
3200-458: The area, others having been destroyed, disturbed or altered in some way by human activities. Most springs will have one to three species of salamanders ( Dusky , Two-lined , Red ) that carry out their entire life cycles in the vicinity of the spring. The addition of any others indicates very long periods of stability. The Four-toed salamander is a rare relictual species, the presence of which makes these springs unique. The Long-tailed salamander
3280-782: The best-known is the Kruger National Park , which was announced in 1898, and is the largest, at nearly 2,000,000 ha (20,000 km ). The Kruger Park and Table Mountain National Park are two of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions, along with the Addo Elephant National Park . South Africa also has 10 World Heritage Sites , including four natural sites and one mixed site. And it has provincial game reserves including Shamwari , Londolozi , Sanbona and Lalibela. The country currently has 20 national parks covering 3,700,000 ha (37,000 km ), about 3% of
Feltville Historic District - Misplaced Pages Continue
3360-463: The carriage house built by Warren Ackerman, was restored. The hall served as a cafeteria and lecture hall from 1966 to 1984. Since many of the main structures are no longer standing, an ongoing preservation effort aims to show visitors how the inhabitants of Feltville-Glenside Park once lived. The main missing buildings are the mill, the Felt Mansion, the dormitories, and the school. The foundation of
3440-871: The country's land area. In 1984, the two areas with the highest number of nature reserves were the South (15.2%) and Samaria (the Shomron, 13.5%). Under the Nature Conservation Law, places can be designated as 'wilderness areas', 'nature conservation areas' and 'prefectural nature conservation areas'. In 1995, when the Japanese Government published its information in English, there were 5 wilderness areas, 10 nature conservation areas and 516 prefectural nature conservation areas. There are seven nature reserves in Jordan . In 1966
3520-622: The country's total area. A few of them predate the October Revolution of 1917, but most have been created during the Soviet Union era. There are also natural protected areas where only certain species are protected, or only certain activities are prohibited; those are known as zakaznik (Russian: заказник ). Unofficial sanctuaries can also occur as a result of human accidents; the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has in practice become
3600-428: The county issued a new interactive trail map for hikers to better navigate and to report trail problems. Watchung Reservation, at ecological equilibrium , hosts mostly beech-maple-pine forest. Common native plant species include: Common native animal species include: Because of its location in one of the most densely populated regions of the United States, various alien invasive species have become established in
3680-424: The ecosystems in both types of reserve are allowed to restore and preserve the natural balance, biological diversity and natural ecological processes. Ecological stations are also allowed to change the environment within strictly defined limits (e.g. affecting no more than three percent of the area or 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres), whichever is less) for the purpose of scientific research. A wildlife reserve in Brazil
3760-692: The end of March 2004, there were 215 national nature reserves in England with a total area of 879 km (339 sq mi). The reserves are scattered through England, from Lindisfarne in Northumberland to The Lizard in Cornwall . Nearly every rural county has at least one. Many national nature reserves contain nationally important populations of rare flowers , ferns and mosses , butterflies and other insects , and nesting and wintering birds . Examples include unique alpine plants at Upper Teesdale and
3840-465: The fears of the people caused almost half of the residents to move away. Those that remained never let their children go deep in the woods again without supervision. Watchung Reservation Watchung Reservation is the largest nature reserve in Union County , New Jersey , United States. The Watchung area is located on a ridge within northern - central New Jersey, as it consists mainly of
3920-504: The field of snake's head fritillaries at North Meadow, Cricklade , Wiltshire . There are now over 1,050 local nature reserves in England. They range from windswept coastal headlands, ancient woodlands and flower-rich meadows to former inner-city railways, long-abandoned landfill sites and industrial areas now re-colonized by wildlife. In total, they cover almost 40,000 ha (99,000 acres)—a natural resource which makes an important contribution to England's biodiversity . A good example
4000-429: The first floor interior of the Mexican Cottage. In the late 1920s, during his first trip to the United States, de la Selva spent months in rural Union County painting the murals, which depict native Mexicans at work, play and worship, including statues of both ancient gods and the Virgin Mary. As the only murals [that] de la Selva, who was primarily a sculptor, is known to have painted, these murals are significant to both
4080-479: The history of Feltville and the international art world. In 2013, the murals' site in the Deserted Village was named by Preservation New Jersey as one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey. A popular local legend tells of three ghosts living in the house furthest down the path. The story claims the rumors originated in 1912, when three young sisters all went camping deep in the woods, but did not return. Locals were only able to find their bonnets, and
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#17328557070134160-571: The largest total areas being in Bavaria with 1,416 km (547 sq mi) and Lower Saxony with 1,275 km (492 sq mi). In Hungary, there are 10 national parks , more than 15 nature reserves and more than 250 protected areas. Hortobágy National Park is the largest continuous natural grassland in Europe and the oldest national park in Hungary. It is situated on the eastern part of Hungary, on
4240-550: The laws no. 102/1983 and 4/1994 for protection of the Egyptian nature reserve. Egypt announced a plan from to build 40 nature reserves from 1997 to 2017, to help protect the natural resources and the culture and history of those areas. The largest nature reserve in Egypt is Gebel Elba (35,600 square kilometres (13,700 sq mi)) in the southeast, on the Red Sea coast. On 16 March 1959,
4320-506: The level of protection afforded by local laws. Normally it is more strictly protected than a nature park . Various jurisdictions may use other terminology, such as ecological protection area or private protected area in legislation and in official titles of the reserves. Cultural practices that roughly equate to the establishment and maintenance of reserved areas for animals date back to antiquity, with King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka establishing Mihintale wildlife sanctuary, one of
4400-427: The mill is still visible next to Blue Brook, which runs farther downhill of the buildings that still stand. County staff also provides activities on certain weekends where they have children's games, a demonstration of apple cider pressing, and a display of archaeological artifacts. During the month of October, two weeks before Halloween, there are haunted hayrides for families. They ride through this town, explaining
4480-530: The nation's landmass. Private nature reserves exist with land excluded from private land trusts and maintained at the sole cost of the proprietor. For example, O Parks, WildLife, and Recreation, Or El Ostional Private Wildlife Reserve, was established within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor by retired FDNY firefighter Kevin Michael Shea, who purchased 46 acres (0.19 km ) of land for
4560-433: The north side of the stream. On the south side of the stream are exposures of a highly fractured flow of the base of the Orange Mountain Basalt. The best exposures of the red beds are along the abandoned mill race and along cut banks in the stream and its tributaries. Paleontologist Paul E. Olsen uncovered ancient dinosaur fossils in the Reservation in the 1970s. The Ruth Canstein Yablonsky Self-Guided Geology Trail in
4640-402: The noted people throughout this town's history and of course adding special effects. This is open to the public daily and there is a visitor center where brochures are given. In 1916, the Deserted Village fell into decline upon the closure of Glenside Park. A local civil engineer and travel enthusiast named Edward J. Grassmann purchased a number of properties to serve as a club. Grassmann was
4720-454: The objectives of the unit are compatible with the landowners' usage of the land and natural resources. Public visits are subject to the conditions and restrictions established by the management plan of the unit and are subject to authorisation by and regulations of the main administrative and scientific research body. The Niagara Escarpment and the St. Lawrence River in Ontario are among the 18 nature reserves recognized by UNESCO in Canada. As
4800-440: The organization that would later start Jordan's nature reserves, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature , was founded. RSCN's first efforts involved bringing back severely endangered species. In 1973, RSCN was given the right to issue hunting licenses, giving RSCN an upper hand in preventing extinction. The first step was the founding of Jordan's first nature reserve, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve , in 1975. The primary purpose
4880-456: The plain of the Alföld. It was established in 1972. There are alkaline grasslands interrupted by marshes. They have a sizable importance because there are the fishponds. One of the most spectacular sights of the park is the autumn migration of cranes. Some famous Hungarian animal species live in Hortobágy National Park, such as the grey cattle, racka long-wool sheep living only in Hungary, Hungarian horses and buffalo. Hortobágy National Park has been
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#17328557070134960-438: The property and converted it to a summer resort, called Glenside Park, offering golf, boating, and horseback riding. When the popularity of mountain resorts ended as the Jersey Shore grew as a vacation destination thanks to the automobile, Glenside Park closed in 1916. In 1916, the Deserted Village fell into decline upon the closure of Glenside Park. A local civil engineer and travel enthusiast named Edward J. Grassmann purchased
5040-440: The protection and conservation of fish and wildlife that are threatened with extinction, as well as wildlife ranges, game ranges, wildlife management areas, and waterfowl production areas. The first North American wildlife refuge, Lake Merritt Wildlife sanctuary at Lake Merritt , was established by Samuel Merritt and enacted in California state law in 1870 as the first government owned refuge. The first federally owned refuge in
5120-406: The purpose of restoring the ecological system of a dry tropical forest , ravaged during the Nicaraguan Revolution . The park provides a private nature reserve, wildlife corridor and verified carbon credits . There are around 100 nature reserves ( Russian : заповедник , romanized : zapovednik ) in Russia, covering some 330,000 km (130,000 sq mi), or about 1.4% of
5200-418: The reservation are hiking and horseback riding on its many trails . Fishing, kayaking and boating is permitted on Lake Surprise , Moxon Pond, and Seeley's Pond. Biking on the hilly paved road through Watchung Reservation is popular; off-road mountain biking is illegal. Climbers within the state have been drawn to the bouldering opportunities on the cliffs along the brook and Diamond Hill Road at
5280-709: The salamander species found in the Reservation. Nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge , wildlife sanctuary , biosphere reserve or bioreserve , natural or nature preserve , or nature conservation area ) is a protected area of importance for flora , fauna , funga , or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for purposes of conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research . They may be designated by government institutions in some countries, or by private landowners, such as charities and research institutions . Nature reserves fall into different IUCN categories depending on
5360-405: The total area of South Africa. The Prince Edward Islands , which are South African territories in the Southern Ocean , have been declared a special nature reserve. It is a highly protected area from which all human activity is excluded, except for conservation and scientific research. The area around Mihintale , Sri Lanka , was a sanctuary for wildlife, probably the first of its generation in
5440-429: The upper valley of Blue Brook , between the ridges of the First Watchung Mountain and Second Watchung Mountains . A dam near the headwaters of the creek creates Lake Surprise . The reservation covers an area of 1,945 acres (787 ha), as it is bounded by the city of Summit , the borough of Mountainside , and the townships of Berkeley Heights , Scotch Plains , and Springfield . The Blue Brook has carved
5520-410: The woods in the northwestern quadrant. In 1845, David Felt built a printing factory along the brook. He eventually built a whole town on the bluff above the brook to support the mill operation. Around 175 people were living in Feltville by 1850. After Felt's retirement in 1860, other business ventures were tried but failed, and the town became deserted for a short time. In 1882, Warren Ackerman bought
5600-441: The world's earliest wildlife sanctuaries , in the 3rd-century-BC Anuradhapura Ancient Kingdom. Early reservations often had a religious underpinning, such as the 'evil forest' areas of West Africa which were forbidden to humans, who were threatened with spiritual attack if they went there. Sacred areas taboo from human entry to fishing and hunting are known by many ancient cultures worldwide. The world's first modern nature reserve
5680-428: Was Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States , followed by the Royal National Park near Sydney , Australia, and the Barguzin Nature Reserve of Imperial Russia , the first of zapovedniks set up by a federal government entirely for the scientific study of nature. There are several national and international organizations that oversee the numerous non-profit animal sanctuaries and refuges to provide
5760-509: Was Peter Willcox, an Englishman who moved here from Long Island about 1736. The area then was a frontier. He built a sawmill, but it was demolished as more people came to the area. David Felt, a businessman in Boston , Massachusetts , decided to move to New York City in 1825. By 1844, the production of his mill could not grow fast enough to meet the demands of the merchants he supplied, so Felt began to look for land in New Jersey on which to build
5840-511: Was a mill town, a farming community, and a summer resort. Only three families remain as permanent residents, while the remainder of the site is open to visitors who wish to learn of its history or to simply enjoy the forested surroundings. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1980 for its significance in agriculture, archaeology, commerce, education, industry and community planning. The first settler of this area
5920-429: Was all going on in this hot spot of weird, paranormal activity." Some say 13 witches are buried beneath the stretch of road that runs from Watchung to Scotch Plains by the Reservation. While there are recreation areas within the reservation, much of the 1,945 acre (7.8 km ) parcel is forested, and the reservation is managed for the preservation of its natural resources. The most popular recreational activities in
6000-482: Was bought by Warren Ackerman, who transformed it to a summer resort called Glenside Park. Interest soon dwindled as more people chose to summer on the shore of New Jersey instead. After the place was again deserted, the Union Country Park Commission bought it and included it in the Watchung Reservation, renting the houses to families. The houses were stabilized recently. In September 2011 Masker's Barn,
6080-498: Was described by David Attenborough as "one of the first people anywhere to recognise not only that the natural world was of great importance but that it needed protection as humanity made more and more demands on it". Drachenfels was protected as the first state-designated nature reserve in modern-day Germany; the site was bought by the Prussian State in 1836 to protect it from further quarrying. The first major nature reserve
6160-628: Was established in 1821 by the naturalist and explorer Charles Waterton around his estate in Walton Hall, West Yorkshire . He spent £9000 on the construction of a three-mile long, 9 ft tall wall to enclose his park against poachers . He tried to encourage bird life by planting trees and hollowing out trunks for owls to nest in. Waterton invented artificial nest boxes to house starlings , western jackdaws and sand martins ; and unsuccessfully attempted to introduce little owls from Italy. Waterton allowed local people access to his reserve and
6240-809: Was established in 1909. There are almost 4,000 nature reserves in Sweden. They comprise about 85% of the surface that is protected by the Swedish Environmental Code. In Estonia, there are five national parks , more than 100 nature reserves, and around 130 landscape protection areas. The largest nature reserve in Estonia is Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve , which covers 342 km (85,000 acres). As of 2017, France counts 10 national parks , around 50 regional nature parks , and 8 marine parks . In 1995 Germany had 5,314 nature reserves ( German : Naturschutzgebiete ) covering 6,845 km (2,643 sq mi),
6320-584: Was named by Preservation New Jersey as one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey. Soon after the Union County Park System was formed in 1921, purchasing land to create the Rahway River Parkway to the east, this area was incorporated into the Watchung Reservation. The March 23, 1927, edition of The Westfield Leader describes the creation of new bridle trails in the young park. Stories of paganism and witchcraft surround what
6400-604: Was to create means to breed endangered species, specifically: the Arabian oryx , gazelles , ostriches , and Persian onagers in their natural environment. By the end of 2009 there were 10 nature reserves ( Kyrgyz : корук , koruk ) in Kyrgyzstan covering 600,000 hectares (6,000 km ) or about three percent of the total area of the country. New Zealand has a variety of types of reserve, including national parks , various types of conservation areas (including stewardship land that
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