New Jersey Snake Protection Act

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:01]Good morning everyone. My name is Josiah James.

[00:00:04]>> Josiah James is an amazing policy maker assigned to address these endangered species.

[00:00:11]>> The species that we're going to be focusing on to protect wildlife is the smooth green snake.

[00:00:15]>> Smooth green snake is a small non-feminist reptile that is experiencing population declines across its range due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and the food chain disruption. But unfortunately, they are not thriving right now.

[00:00:30]>> Here's why.

[00:00:32]>> Primary threats to the smooth green snake includes habitat loss from residential development and pesticide use in agriculture.

[00:00:42]>> Because of these threats, we really need to do something. And biology experts agree with us.

[00:00:47]>> You must do something. If these threats continue, we could see local extinction of the smooth green snake which is especially vulnerable because it's very specific habitat and food sources.

[00:00:59]>> So therefore, for every problem, we must have a solution. We and my team or now suggest the NJSP, which is the New Jersey Snake Protection Act. Here's how the NJSP will help us. First, we will establish protected habitat zone here.

[00:01:15]These areas will limit development in key grasslands and wetlands, ensuring that the snakes will have a safe place to live.

[00:01:21]>> Pesticide regulation. Second, we will restrict harmful pesticide use near these habitats and promote eco-friendly alternatives. This protects both the snake and its food.

[00:01:30]>> Third, we will create wildlife corridors, safe pathways that connect fragment habitats. These may include green bridges or underground passages, >> monitoring and research. Fourth, we will fund scientific modeling programs to track population recovery, ensure our efforts are effective. I believe that better data leads to better government policies.

[00:01:52]>> Public education. Finally, we will launch a p a public awareness campaign to educate people about the importance of their species and how to protect them.

[00:01:59]>> All those ideas will be in the NJSB and they were presented by real academic students who attend Science Park High School. If this plan passes, it'll pass in December 2026, which is very soon and is sure to make an impact.

[00:02:14]>> Here's what some local students feel after hearing about the NJSP.

[00:02:17]>> I'm a middle school student. Thank you for the NJSB act. I think it's a good first step in helping the environment.

[00:02:23]>> I'm afraid.

[00:02:30]>> Thank you for the NSA SP.

[00:02:32]>> NJSP is very tough.

[00:02:34]>> We love the NJSP. I want to be a snake.

[00:02:37]>> You can help by reducing pesticide use, supporting conservation efforts, spreading awareness. If we act now, we can ensure this species survive for future generations. Thank you all for listening today. The fate of the green snake is in our hands. Even though I'm a policy maker, I'm not the only one who has a role in this. We all have a role in this, and we all need to put our hand together to help the green smooth snake.

[00:02:58]My name is Josiah, and together we can all come together to help the smooth green snake.