The Green Acres Program serves as the real estate agent for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), acquiring land - much of which has been offered for sale by property owners - that becomes part of the system of state parks, forests, natural areas, and wildlife management areas. Green Acres works with the DEP's divisions of Parks and Forestry, Fish and Wildlife, and the New Jersey Natural Lands Trust to determine which lands should be preserved. Green Acres does not own the land it acquires; instead land is assigned to the divisions for management.

The Program's Appraisal Review Section guides applicants through the real estate appraisal process, reviews appraisals, and certifies the market value of property included in local government, nonprofit and state acquisition projects, and in requests for diversions of land from recreation or conservation use.

Green Acres administers the federal Pinelands National Reserve funds granted to New Jersey for open space preservation in the Pinelands , and the "Limited Practical Use Initiative (Pdf Format)," which provides relief to owners of less than 50 acres of land that have been denied a practical use of their property due to Pinelands zoning and environmental regulations.

Green Acres administers the $15 million in "Inland Blue Acres" funds. This money will be used for state acquisition of flood prone lands in the Passaic River basin.

If you are a landowner, click here to learn about some of the benefits of selling your land to Green Acres.

For more information about State Land and Open Space Acquisition, please call (609) 984-0609, or, to email Project Staff click on the "Staff" button, below. For information on State Land and Open Space Acquisition project areas, or to obtain an Offer to Sell Land form, click on the "Project Areas," or "Forms" buttons, below.

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