Forest Health Symposium Report Provides Road Map for Highlands Land Stewardship New Jersey Audubon Society is pleased to announce the release of the Proceedings of the State of the Forest Symposium. This document is now available online at http://www.njaudubon.org/Conservation. The symposium focused on ecological issues regarding Highlands forest degradation and restoration. It was jointly sponsored by New Jersey Audubon Society, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy. The symposium reflects these organizations’ commitment to fostering better stewardship on public and private lands.  The goal of the symposium was to educate land managers, organizations, and individuals about the pressing need to proactively engage in holistic stewardship of our lands. The symposium provided a forum for discussing the current and future health of the Highlands forest. The Highlands region supplies the water supply for over half of New Jersey’s population; it is also home to many threatened and endangered species which are currently facing growing ecological challenges. Proactive land management is vital to ensure the long term ecological integrity of this land for future generations.  Included is a brief account of each speaker’s presentation with literature references. The symposium proceedings provide a legacy document that will serve as a tool in further stewardship efforts. The publication of this document was made possible in part by the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.  This fall’s elections bring with them an exciting opportunity for the Highlands region. A statewide ballot referendum this November would provide a $150 million increase in funding for land acquisition through the Garden State Preservation Trust. Under Governor McGreevey’s visionary plan, $75 million would be earmarked for protecting the natural heritage of the Highlands. The other $75 million would be designated for urban parks. I urge you to support this referendum, as it would ensure the conservation of more of our outstanding forest habitats.  The Highlands Coalition, an organization of local, state, regional, and national groups seeking to conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Highlands, is an invaluable resource in our quest to protect the region’s forests and wildlife. Their website, www.highlandscoalition.org, will continue to provide up-to-date information on the ecological challenges and opportunities in the Highlands.    I hope this proceedings document will serve as a useful guide in future stewardship action. Sincerely, Eric Stiles, Vice President for Conservation and Stewardship New Jersey Audubon Society __________________ PO Box 693 11 Hardscrabble Road Bernardsville, New Jersey 07924 Phone: 908.766.5787 ext 13  Fax: 908.766.7775 Website: www.njaudubon.org/conservation Conserving New Jersey's Natural Heritage Since 1897