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 programs throughout DEP, including 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. Land and easement interests in land can be acquired not only by purchase but also by donation and bequests.

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.

Our Survey Section works with surveyors throughout the approval process for surveys and descriptions of all lands to be acquired by Green Acres, Blue Acres (for floodplain buyouts), State House Commission projects, and funded local unit or nonprofit projects.

If you are a landowner, we invite you to learn more about benefits of leaving a legacy through Green Acres and how to sell your land to Green Acres.

For information on State Land and Open Space Acquisition project areas, or to obtain an Offer to Sell Land form, visit our Project Areas or Program Forms pages.