Field & Meadow Birds — Blaine Rothauser Wildlife Photography

Restoration of border land between the facility and the Newark Bay’s salt water marsh.

Firmenich Inc. Corporate Restoration

Port Newark, New Jersey

Much of what I do involves the ecological restoration of impacted and abused landscapes. I’ve earned my certification as a restoration ecologist through the Society of Ecologic Restoration (SER), a globally recognized organization dedicated to the repair of natural systems. I suggest that anyone thinking about a career in restoration ecology visit the SER website: https://www.ser.org/ .

One good example of bringing meaning to the phrase “If You can make it here, you can make it anywhere” (ref. Frank Sinatra) is an industrial area occupied by the global fragrance and flavors company, Firmenich, located in one of the most historically abused landscapes in the nation - Port Newark, New Jersey.

It is here where I and other ecologists from GZA have designed and built back a natural system, an extension of the Newark Bay estuary, into the footprint of this industrialized zone. The area, formally cut sod-grass, is now a thriving drop out zone for migratory birds and butterflies.

With help from other ecologists and with support from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Conserve Wildlife of New Jersey, we continue to adaptively manage the area in order to ensure its ecologic viability into the foreseeable future.

Gazebo designed to interface employees at the facility to commune with nature while overlooking the Freedom Tower in Manhattan

Restored sod-grass to native meadow

Rt. 78 Exchange bridge in the background.

Floating Wetland System Installed in detention ponds. Three-season color and pollinator habitat in an otherwise gross water treatment impoundment.