The Environmental Commission is entwined in the initiatives of the other committees and takes great interest in the potential of our public schools to make Montgomery a more environmentally friendly community. One committee in particular that plays a cohesive role in protecting the biodiversity of our local ecosystems is the Deer Management Committee. The high deer population of Somerset County places an emphasis on the importance of handling the situation as native plants are being consumed by deer which can lead to greater impacts in the local ecosystem. In addition to the commissions of Montgomery, the high school plays a key role in what could possibly be the future of our town. Active long term members of the Environmental Commission have expressed that one of the biggest hopes they have for the town is its youth. They shared their interest in hearing more from younger voices in regards to environmental activism. They believe that the high school could become recognized by the state or even acquire funding for certain projects. In order to create a bigger emphasis on environmental issues within the community, more members of the high school need to become engaged. Students can reach out to members of the Youth Leadership Council or the Montgomery Highschool Environmental Club and ask for more information about when meetings for the Commission will be held and all are welcome to join in on committee meetings. At the meetings students are welcome to express their ideas and ask questions regarding the initiatives of the Montgomery Environmental Commission. One possible upcoming event would be a tree planting, however volunteers are needed and the community must take it upon themselves to engage. Without greater support from the community change will be harder to accomplish.
     Things the Commission is interested in seeing in the future are wider community engagement and greater awareness about recreational areas within the Township. There are parks with paths and trails and public land that the committee is hoping will be brought to a greater focus by the town’s members in upcoming years. The committee is also excited and hopeful that the community will embrace the plastic bag bans which have made their way to state legislation and will be placed into effect in May of 2022. The commission would like to see Montgomery Highschool take a greater stance on recycling and to pursue Sustainable Jersey within our school district. In addition, the commission intends to have more community involvement in open space. Activities like bird-watching, yoga, and scavenger hunts are all ideas of ways they would hope people would get outside and use the beautiful nature that is accessible to them by the town. By getting people into nature they hope people will engage with the land and hope to preserve it for generations to come.

     I believe that the Environmental Committee should become more engaged in local campaigns to spread awareness about how the actions of our township play a greater role in the environmental issues occurring worldwide. Living in an area like Montgomery Township does not just enable us to have the resources to take action but it also should open our eyes to the greater impact we have on the world around us. It is our responsibility to recognize how our circumstances allow us to contribute to greater amounts of waste meanwhile not having to face the repercussions. By acknowledging the effects of our actions, we may be able to make Montgomery a more environmentally progressive township.
     I encourage the students of Montgomery to ask questions and be the driving force for local and global environmental reform. I encourage the parents of Montgomery to comply with the curiosity of the younger generations and help answer any questions they have and to have these discussions with their children. And finally, I encourage us all to speak out and to focus on what we can do as individuals for our community.