Dr. Benjamin Burton

Dr. Benjamin Burton is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, founder of The New Jersey Doctors of Physical Therapy, and leader of one of New Jersey’s largest privately operated environmental restoration efforts. With a long career spanning healthcare, ecological restoration, and community leadership, Ben has built a record of solving problems that public systems often struggle to address.

As the founder of Restore Native Plants, Ben has restored 225 acres of damaged habitat in Northern New Jersey, planting over 83,526 native plants and removing more than 868,453 invasive plants. His team has also removed over 1,400 bags of trash and debris, including abandoned vehicles and decades of construction waste, transforming neglected landscapes into functioning ecosystems. His work protects endangered species, rebuilds healthy habitats, and demonstrates how local restoration can strengthen biodiversity, community resilience, and long-term environmental stability.

Recognizing that opportunities in environmental work are limited, especially for younger people, Ben pioneered a model that provides low-cost housing, real employment, and long-term career pathways for individuals working in restoration and conservation. This unique approach makes it possible for early-career professionals to pursue environmental work without the financial barriers that often drive them out of the field. Employees and interns are able to live affordably while gaining meaningful experiences, creating a stable workforce dedicated to ecological restoration.

To further address the nationwide shortage of hands-on training in conservation, Ben launched a national postgraduate internship program that brings top applicants from universities across the country to New Jersey for immersive, on-site environmental training. Interns receive housing and work alongside experienced field staff as they learn how to restore wildlife habitat, restore native plant communities, identify and propagate native plants, identify and remove invasive plants, design and maintain native plant landscapes and conduct ecological surveys. The program offers real-world experiences and mentorship that universities and public agencies rarely provide, making it one of the only hands-on restoration training pathways of its kind in the region.

Ben’s experience navigating state and local agencies has fueled his commitment to responsible, responsive, and effective government. Through years of work with multiple agencies, he has seen how bureaucratic delays, poor coordination, and lack of accountability can place communities at risk. He believes residents deserve public institutions that communicate clearly, act decisively, and serve the public interest, not themselves.

In addition to his environmental and civic work, Ben has spent years teaching leadership models based on Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB). He has trained healthcare professionals, educators, business teams, and families in communication strategies that reduce conflict, build emotional intelligence, and strengthen community cohesion.

Ben’s philanthropic commitment extends to education and societal welfare. He sponsored the Dr. Ben Burton Native Plant Garden at the Teaneck Creek Conservancy to introduce children and families to native ecology, and he supports urban youth programs through partnerships such as Harlem Grown. His children’s book, available on Amazon, donates all proceeds to no-kill animal shelters.

Across healthcare, environmental restoration, community education, and public advocacy, Ben’s work is guided by a consistent belief: New Jersey can build a brighter future defined by abundance, with healthier land stewardship practices, increased opportunity for young people, more effective public systems, and stronger, more connected communities.