Community Partners Launch Multi-Year BioBlitz at Princeton Battlefield State Park

(Princeton, New Jersey) — Sustainable Princeton, the Princeton Battlefield Society, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and the American Battlefield Trust are partnering to launch the first in a series of annual BioBlitz events at Princeton Battlefield State Park. Using the community science platform iNaturalist, volunteers will document plants, insects, birds, fungi, and other species to create a long-term record of biodiversity as the park undergoes one of its most significant ecological restoration efforts in decades.

The Princeton Battlefield BioBlitz will establish a baseline inventory of wildlife and native ecosystems present across this nationally significant cultural landscape. It will also track the efficacy of natural and cultural resource improvements planned across a multi-year battlefield rehabilitation project led by NJDEP, the Princeton Battlefield Society, and the American Battlefield Trust. Beginning this fall, the project will: 

1. Rehabilitate more than 50 acres of open grassland to native meadow, reducing mowing, removing invasive grasses and woody vegetation, and creating resilient habitat for grassland birds, pollinators, and other wildlife;
2. Make visible and protect important cultural landscape features along the historic William Clarke Lane through the preservation of high-value trees and the selective removal of dead, ash, invasive, and hazard trees along its alignment; 
3. Plant over 200 native trees in areas affected by emerald ash borer, restoring historic spatial character and providing visual screening; and 
4. Install the William and Ann Clarke Commemorative Orchard, with over 50 heirloom apple trees.

Together these landscape treatments will dramatically improve ecological health and historic landscape character, while the BioBlitz, to be conducted at intervals over the next five years, will document biodiversity over time.

“The Orchard is a central piece of the story of the Battle of Princeton, ” Said Will Krakower, Resource Interpretive Specialist for the Princeton Battlefield State Park, “It saw some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the day, and of course is where British bayonets felled General Mercer. We are excited about bringing an orchard back to the park, not just for its historic significance and interpretive value, but for the impact that heirloom apple trees will have on our native environment. Birds, bugs, and mammals will benefit from it, as will the public!”

To track the changes in biodiversity at the park, Sustainable Princeton is engaging members of the community to participate in a “Bioblitz” to catalogue as many species of flora and fauna as possible. A “Bioblitz” utilizes the free phone application, iNaturalist, to identify and catalogue research-grade photographic observations of plants, insects, animals, and fungi. The app is free to download and available for both iPhone and Android users.

“A Bioblitz helps create a snapshot of the ecosystem at a period in time. People start to learn the different species that make up our local ecosystem and begin to appreciate our unique bioregion. The iNaturalist app is great because it also creates a catalogue of observations to be used for ecological research purposes. We hope to track an increase in native species over the course of a few years. This year is particularly crucial because it is creating a baseline before any of the major upgrades begin. The ecological upgrades create habitats, which will increase our native insect population, which provides vital food for native birds and other animals. Natural history is history.” Said Christine Symington, Executive Director of Sustainable Princeton.

The public’s help is essential in making this bioblitz a success. During August, park visitors are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app, join the Princeton Battlefield Bioblitz Project, visit the park, and upload as many photos as possible. Volunteer naturalists will help confirm species observed in photos.

To learn more about the Princeton Battlefield Bioblitz, please visit: https://www.sustainableprinceton.org/event/princeton-battlefield-bioblitz-2026/ 

To learn more about the William Clark Commemorative Orchard, please visit: https://pbs1777.org/apples/ 

About Sustainable Princeton

Founded in 2012, Sustainable Princeton is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire the community to develop and implement solutions that positively impact the environment. We envision Princeton as a model town that examines every action through the lens of sustainability, ensuring a healthy environment, a strong economy, and the well-being of all community members now and in the future. Our office is located at 1 Monument Drive, Princeton, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.SustainablePrinceton.org.

About Princeton Battlefield State Park

One of over 50 state historic sites in New Jersey, Princeton Battlefield State Park marks the place where on the morning of January 3, 1777, Continental soldiers under the command of General George Washington defeated British troops for the first time on an open field. The battle raged for almost two hours across the farmfields of Quaker brothers Thomas and William Clarke, ultimately ending in Princeton outside of Nassau Hall.

For over 50 years, the State of New Jersey has preserved these hallowed fields and championed the education and interpretation of this historic battleground for millions of visitors. You can learn more about Princeton Battlefield State Park at https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/state-park/princeton-battlefield-state-park/ 

About the American Battlefield Trust

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 62,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War, across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org. Since 2016 the Trust has partnered with the Princeton Battlefield Society to advance preservation and interpretive efforts at the park. Learn more at https://pbs1777.org.