Natural Areas NYC

This past weekend I had the privilege of guiding a forest therapy walk in collaboration with my friend and fellow guide Linda on behalf of Natural Areas Conservancy. The walk took place in Alley Pond Park in Queens. Alley Pond Park is the most ecologically diverse New York City Park. It includes salt marshes along Little Neck Bay to the north and forested areas to the south along Union Turnpike and contains the oldest living creature in New York City, the Queens Giant, a 350 year old tulip tree. The walk had a great turnout, including an appearance by local Council Member Barry S. Grodenchik, an advocate for local parks, a reminder that it takes a village to support our parks.

There are few organizations working harder or more comprehensively to support our local parks than Natural Areas Conservancy, “a champion of NYC’s 20,000 acres of forests and wetlands for the benefit and enjoyment of all. [NAC’s] team of scientists and experts promote nature’s diversity and resilience across the five boroughs, working in close partnership with the City of New York.”

What does it take to champion New York City’s Parks? With 20,000+ acres of natural areas, including more than 10,000 acres within NYC Parks (equating to half the size of Manhattan), there is much to do. Here are examples of just some of NAC’s work:

• Forest Management: New York City’s trees and urban forests not only provide people with a welcomed connection to nature. They provide significant health and environmental benefits, capturing “1.97 billion gallons of storm water runoff and store 1.2 million tons of carbon per year. NYC’s trees also remove 1,300 tons of pollutants from the atmosphere with a savings in health costs of $93.2 million dollars annually.” In collaboration with NYC Parks, NAC has created a the first long-term Forest Management Framework for the 7,300 acres of forests under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks.
• Improve Coastal Resilience: NYC has lost 90% of its historic wetlands owing to development. Wetlands are not only ecologically vibrant resources and the home to migrating shorebirds and native plants and animals; they buffer our communities from storm surges. NAC works to develop wetland restoration projects.
• Research: Information can lead to better management of NYC's ecosystems. One of NAC's current research projects is to "develop a tool that matches species expected to thrive in future climate scenarios and apply the tool to upcoming restoration projects in NYC thus increasing forest resilience."
• Getting New Yorkers Outside: through hikes, tours, trail projects, lectures (and even the occasional forest bathing walk!), NAC connects New Yorkers with the areas abundant natural resources.

It was an honor to collaborate with Natural Areas Conservancy and to learn about and help amplify the great work they do.

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