The Highlands region covers 859,000 acres (3,480 km2), nearly one-ninth of the state,[1] and is home to 880,000 residents.
The act is intended to preserve both large volumes of New Jersey's fresh water sources for 5.4 million residents and the biodiversity in the area, in the face of increasing development in the exurbs of New York City.
[3] The act was signed into law on August 10, 2004, by Governor of New Jersey James McGreevey.
[2] The provisions of the Act are monitored and controlled by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council.
Legal challenges to the Highlands Act have been filed, including at least one in federal court in Trenton.