Welcome To The Demarest Nature Center
The Demarest Nature Center is located in Demarest, NJ, USA, and is open to all persons, residents and non-residents alike, every day of the year. In addition to preserving and protecting important open space here in the midst of a large metropolitan area, the center seeks to educate young and old alike as to the beauty of nature and the importance of protecting our environment.
We, the trustees of the Demarest Nature Center Association, encourage you to use this site to find out more about the Demarest Nature Center and its programs. Click on the topic of your choice and find out more; the links will tell you about the Center, introduce you to our events and endeavors, and also take you to other nearby nature centers, as well as environmental organizations, National Parks, and suggestions for things to do.
The site is constantly growing and being updated, so we hope you will come back again and again.
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Monica Bond and Derek Lee’s “love and obsession” for giraffes started during a trip to Uganda in 2005. Since then, they said, their mission was clear: return to Africa and more
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JAKARTA — The world’s largest sustainable timber label is under fire for revising how it applies its rules on corporate accountability — a move activists say could let forestry giants more

Santarém’s ceramics grace museums around the globe, yet the city’s heritage remains largely unknown in Brazil. more

New research from China suggests that oysters can be good at removing carbon dioxide from oceans, making the bivalves both an important food source and a potential tool in the more

BAN PONG, Thailand — “Look at these ones over here!” calls Chamran Tahpan, as she crouches next to a mound of damp leaves on the forest floor. A cluster of more
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Nature is taking the stage. The sunset starts to fade on a cloudy summer day next to the Main River in an industrial neighborhood of Frankfurt, Germany. The main artist more

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This is the first installment of Mongabay’s coverage of beaver restoration in California. CHESTER, Calif. — The pictograph, an ochre-red outline with four paws and an unmistakable paddle of a more
The top scientist for the Geneva-based United Nations Environmental Programme said the organization is exploring the topic of climate engineering because “growing concerns about the lack of global efforts to more

COLÓN, Argentina — Darío Larrosa was 15 when he learned to drive a motorboat. Decades later, he still loves taking tourists fishing along the Uruguay River’s sandy shores aboard Abuela more

Nearly 200 shipping companies said Monday they want the world’s largest maritime nations to adopt regulations that include the first-ever global fee on greenhouse gases to reduce their sector’s emissions. more

The Brazilian government is reviewing its legal framework for the trade in sharks. Measures now under consideration include a potential ban on fin exports and stricter rules for shark fishing more

Insects underpin ecosystems worldwide, yet they are disappearing at alarming rates. In this 2019 special series, Mongabay reporter Jeremy Hance traces the global scale of the so-called “Insect Apocalypse,” as more

The Peruvian government is planning to expand the country’s prison system to address overcrowding and organized crime. But one of the facilities it wants to build poses serious risks to more

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Key among the plans is a proposal to build up to 12 advanced modular nuclear reactors in Hartlepool. more

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Republican lawmakers want to use the Congressional Review Act to permanently erase federal land use plans in Alaska — and beyond. more

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Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment predicts more frequent and severe climate hazards. more

A report finds that President Trump’s flagship legislation will grant $40 billion in new subsidies to the oil and gas industry over the next decade. more

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Tankers taking water for US billionaire Stephen Schwarzman have been told to stop by Southern Water. more

Tankers taking water for US billionaire Stephen Schwarzman have been told to stop by Southern Water. more

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AI will soon enable harnessing of the energy that powers the sun and stars, says Chris Wright more
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Results from Nasa's Perseverance rover may show signs left in rocks by living organisms. more
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Many projects such as solar panels and electric school buses may not meet new deadlines for tax credits under the “big, beautiful bill.” more
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Unusual mudstones found on the Red Planet are potentially associated with ancient Martian microbes. more

Unusual mudstones found on the Red Planet are potentially associated with ancient Martian microbes. more
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Trapping the energy of ocean waves to generate electricity has long been an enticing but notoriously difficult endeavor. The first rule of wave power startups is that they always fail. more
A novel solar power project just went online in California’s Central Valley, with panels that span across canals in the vast agricultural region. The 1.6-megawatt installation, called Project Nexus , more
LAS VEGAS — On Monday night in a subterranean hall under the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tesla released an upgraded version of its grid-battery product that will allow developers to more

Thousands of koalas have died from the disease, with some estimates suggesting only 50,000 remain in the wild. more

Controversial approaches to cooling the planet are unlikely to work, according to dozens of polar scientists. more

Controversial approaches to cooling the planet are unlikely to work, according to dozens of polar scientists. more
Chinese solar and wind manufacturers are not only driving a massive buildout of renewable energy in China but also propelling a rapid shift away from fossil fuels in much of more

The technology is needed to limit global warming. But corporations are supporting it in lieu of emissions reductions. more
Talia Boyd was spending over $300 a month to keep her home just outside Asheville, North Carolina, cool this summer. It was an enormous sum for the single-wide trailer she more
Heat pumps can save households money. But the super-efficient, electric HVAC appliances are almost always more expensive to install up-front than gas- or oil-fired options. Jetson , a Vancouver-based heat-pump more
Ahead of a major biodiversity summit set for Armenia, the country has pledged to crack down on the practice of keeping wild bears in captivity. Rescuers are removing Syrian brown more

California’s dream of building a high-speed rail system linking San Francisco and L.A. is a cautionary tale of ambition outpacing funding, planning, and federal support. more
Michael Gillogly, manager of the Pepperwood Preserve, understands the wildfire risk that power lines pose firsthand. The 3,200-acre nature reserve in Sonoma County, California, burned in 2017 when a privately more
Two of the leading startups working on advanced geothermal energy just struck deals with established industrial giants — moves that will help the companies accelerate their efforts to harness the more

Experts in Houston have been studying the idea of building massive tunnels to divert floodwaters. Musk’s company wants a piece of the project. more

Federal tax credits have brought project costs down 30 to 50 percent, advocates say. more
This analysis and news roundup comes from the Canary Media Weekly newsletter. Sign up to get it every Friday. If you didn’t think President Donald Trump’s attacks on offshore wind more

We’ll need to do more than "touch grass" to revive them. more
See more from Canary Media’s "Chart of the week” column . State legislatures saw a torrent of anti-clean energy bills introduced this year — and little more than a trickle more
Three bills have advanced through the California Legislature that are meant to increase the use of virtual power plants as a way to rein in energy costs. While good news more
The Trump administration’s latest attack on an in-progress offshore wind project is now being challenged in court. Two lawsuits announced Thursday — one brought by the wind farm’s developers, the more

The evidence on whether high caffeine energy drinks affect our health. more
So far this year, fires have burned more than 1.5 million acres across northern Portugal and northwest Spain, killing eight people and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. The bulk of more
Known as the data center capital of the world, Virginia offers a crucial test case for electric utilities: Can they meet power demand from the explosion of AI while keeping more
Hundreds of business people, policy analysts, and conservative advocates filled a downtown Cleveland conference hall last week for the National Conservative Energy Summit. One major theme: the need for both more
Colorado is pushing hard to quickly approve a massive amount of renewable energy while the projects are still eligible for federal incentives. The Republican tax and spending law that passed more

Oil giant Shell had to review its assessment after a judge ruled the Jackdaw field was permitted unlawfully. more
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Just over a year ago, the world’s first commercial hydrogen ferry officially set sail in the San Francisco Bay, offering a clean, quiet rebuttal to the noisy, polluting ferries that more
The Trump administration’s latest attack on an offshore wind project could make New England’s electricity less reliable and more expensive. Late last month, the administration halted work on the nearly more

The Terra Nova carried Captain Scott and his men on their doomed expedition to the South Pole. more
This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune. When Texas legislators conceived of the Texas Energy Fund in the spring of 2023, its goal of jump-starting the construction of more
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The Indonesian government is fast-tracking a massive agricultural project that is turning 7 million acres of tropical forest into rice and sugarcane farms. Critics say it is the world’s largest more

The government warns Kemi Badenoch's plans would "only accelerate the worsening climate crisis". more

The government warns Kemi Badenoch's plans would "only accelerate the worsening climate crisis". more

Live explosives on army training sites in the UK countryside mean many wildfires cannot be tackled. more
This analysis and news roundup comes from the Canary Media Weekly newsletter. Sign up to get it every Friday. President Donald Trump has put energy front and center during his more
The Trump administration's order to stop construction of the nearly completed Revolution Wind project is putting hundreds of offshore workers out of a job — including dozens of local fishermen more
Bill McKibben — longtime climate activist, journalist, and author of the new book “ Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization more
See more from Canary Media’s "Chart of the week” column . It sure looks like the Trump administration is not going to let any coal plants close down during its more
Bison have made a remarkable comeback in Yellowstone National Park, going from fewer than two dozen animals at the turn of the last century to roughly 5,000 today. Their return, more

Scientists are decoding the DNA of Britain’s ancient oaks to crack the secrets of their superpowers. more

Scientists are decoding the DNA of Britain’s ancient oaks to crack the secrets of their superpowers. more
Commonwealth Fusion Systems just raised $863 million in additional funding as the company works to achieve the decades-old dream of commercializing nuclear fusion. On Thursday, CFS said that, with its more
The Department of Energy has once again delayed the retirement of an oil- and gas-fired power plant, adding to concerns that the Trump administration aims to prevent any fossil-fueled power more

What’s the evidence behind rat infestation warnings? And farewell to wet wipe island more

The Environment Agency are currently considering enforcement action against the operator, Viridor. more
Animals of all kinds mix and mingle in underground burrows, offering troubling opportunities for diseases to jump species.Read more on E360 → more
AI data centers could flood the overtaxed U.S. power grid with demand and further drive up energy costs for consumers . Or, they could simply agree to use less electricity more
The deadly explosion in Clairton, Pennsylvania , this month shone a light on a niche type of industrial facility: coking plants, which purify coal for use in traditional steelmaking. The more

The Starship rocket is critical to the company's hopes of one day carrying people to the Moon and Mars. more
Every year the Natural History Museum in London honors the best wildlife photographers from around the world, highlighting 100 extraordinary photos of nature. This year, the finalists were selected from more
The Trump administration is making it harder for low-income households to access the money-saving benefits of solar — but hard doesn’t mean impossible. There’s a lot for developers of affordable more
Nippon Steel, the parent company of U.S. Steel, is moving forward with its plans to renovate a giant coal-fueled furnace in Gary, Indiana. The Japan-based steel manufacturer, which acquired U.S. more
There’s no sugarcoating it: A new North Carolina law unraveling utility Duke Energy’s climate goals is a massive setback for the state’s clean energy transition, and it’s being exacerbated by more
A new state law set to take effect next month marks the end of New Hampshire's flirtation with offshore wind — at least for now. The measure , signed into more
Scientists have shown that U.S. oil and gas drilling sites are not just leaking methane but also a host of toxic chemicals that pose an urgent threat to the health more
In “Slaughter-land” — the First-Place Winner of the 2025 Yale Environment 360 Film Contest — two Latin American filmmakers document how hundreds of mega-farms that contain tens of thousands of more
Canary Media’s " Electrified Life ” column shares real-world tales, tips, and insights to demystify what individuals can do to shift their homes and lives to clean electric power. Heard more
For years, anti-renewable-energy advocates have opposed solar and wind projects on the grounds that they take up too much land. Now those talking points, popularized by groups linked to the more
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It happened again. For the second time this year, the Trump administration has halted the construction of a massive offshore wind farm being built to power blue states. On Friday, more
The Rural Energy for America Program has for years helped thousands of American farmers pay for solar panels that lower their energy bills and earn them extra income. The Trump more
This analysis and news roundup comes from the Canary Media Weekly newsletter. Sign up to get it every Friday. If your power bills are getting higher and higher, you’re not more
A growing number of people globally are seeing wildfires encroach on their homes. That is not because wildfires are burning more land, however. Over the last two decades, the number more

The medium-sized herbivore once roamed the floodplains of what is now the Island's south-west coast. more
See more from Canary Media’s "Chart of the week” column . Electricity costs are going up in the U.S. — and the Trump administration’s attempts to choke off clean energy more
Our Mission

According to the 1972 articles of Incorporation, the purposes of the organization are:
- To acquire or lease undeveloped lands and establish thereon educational building(s).
- To develop natural history and conservation education programs in cooperation with schools, colleges, hospitals, youth groups and other organizations which will develop an understanding and appreciation of natural resources.
- To cooperate with national, state, county, municipal and private natural resource agencies in providing an outdoor laboratory in which to demonstrate natural resource problems and management techniques.
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Events
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What We Sponsor
The DNC sponsors numerous programs to bring residents of Demarest and the surrounding areas into closer contact with wildlife and the natural world. Programs have varied, including adult oriented sessions on topics such as hiking the Appalachian trial or composting, family hikes in Harriman Park or along the Palisades, and various children’s programs. Local outdoor activities have been held at the Nature Center, Wakelee Field, various school grounds, and at the Duck Pond.
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Demarest Nature Center
Box 41
Demarest, NJ 07627
Location
Trail Map
You can download a Trail Map here.
Become a Member

Since its incorporation in 1977 the Demarest Nature Center Association has cared for a 55-acre parcel of land bordered by Columbus Road on the west and County Road on the east. The Demarest Nature Center is open to all every day of the year. In addition to protecting woods, vernal ponds, meadows, and a section of the Tenakill Brook, as well as establishing and maintaining walking trails, the center provides educational events for everyone about the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving our amazing forest habitat. Your membership dollars go towards sponsorship of environmental education programs for kindergarten through the fourth grade in the Demarest schools, and a yearly scholarship given to a local high school senior who plans to pursue environment-related studies in college. Your membership also helps support our birdhouse/bird feeder building program, our annual photo contest, Breakfast in the Woods (free to all members), and the Craft Show at Oktoberfest/Fall Festival Event.
The Demarest Nature Center Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, run solely by volunteers and receives no funding from the Borough of Demarest.
Residents of Demarest receive all DNC mailings as postal patrons. Non-resident members receive DNC mailings by 1st class mail.