Biodiversity by Design
Urban biodiversity plays a critical role in building resilient and sustainable landscapes, especially as cities adapt to climate change and ecological challenges. Bayview LA’s founder, Greg Marett, joined industry experts at the ASLA-NY Biodiversity by Design Seminar to explore innovative strategies for preserving native ecosystems in urban environments. Key discussions emphasized the importance of diverse tree populations, climate-adapted plant selection, and creative ecological management techniques like targeted grazing on Governors Island. From the importance of native plant diversity to innovative land management techniques, here’s what you need to know about designing resilient, ecologically sustainable cities.
A huge thank you to the speakers for sharing their expertise and pushing the conversation forward on sustainable urban design.
New Tools for Managing and Designing for Urban Biodiversity
An inventory conducted by SCAPE of Battery Park City’s landscape, led by Kirk Gordon, Associate at SCAPE, recommends aiming for a native plant percentage between 50% and 70%, with 80% being ideal according to WEDG standards, to support resilience and sustainability. Given the constraints of limited maintenance budgets, prioritizing plant diversity within similar maintenance categories is a practical approach, allowing for a rich and varied landscape without overextending available resources and expertise. Incorporating a variety of tree species with differing ages is essential for biodiversity and minimizing the risk of widespread disease, as relying too heavily on a single species could lead to significant losses when they age out or face disease outbreaks. Additionally, when selecting new trees for planting, consider species that are adapted to warmer climates, ensuring they remain viable as climate conditions shift due to climate change.
Applied Ecology for Regions, Cities, and Sites
Habitat loss is a major driver of ecological decline, reinforcing the concern that deforestation for lumber is a significant issue and supporting the use of manufactured decking products as an alternative. As Aiman Duckworth, PLA, Senior Landscape Architect & Ecologist at BioHabitats, emphasized, while replanting trees is possible, entire forests—especially old-growth forests—are irreplaceable and must be protected from destruction. However, some types of wood are specifically farmed, meaning the land has already been designated for timber production rather than being part of a naturally evolving forest ecosystem. Sustainably farmed timber appears to be an important path forward, offering a renewable resource without further depleting natural forests. This approach may be preferable to increasing reliance on synthetic timber, which often consists of petroleum-based materials.
Preserving Biodiversity in NYC Parks
Over the past 20 years, the Conservation and Planning Department in NYC has acquired 2,452 acres to preserve ecologically sensitive zones and dedicate them to natural habitats, contributing to a total of 12,000 protected acres under the "Forever Wild" initiative. As Marit Larson, Assistant Commissioner, and Kristy King, Chief of Natural Resources at NYC Parks, highlighted, the Greenbelt Native Plant Center on Staten Island plays a vital role in advancing these efforts. Operated through the Parks Department, the center provides native plants for sale and offers expert consultation on native plant design, supporting ecological restoration and long-term sustainability throughout the city.
Building Biodiversity on Governors Island
A standard native meadow mix was used throughout the area, consisting of readily available “meadow seed,” but a lack of maintenance prior to 2019 led to significant issues. Invasive species like mugwort and phragmites quickly took over, making restoration efforts more challenging. As Andi Pettis, Senior Director of Horticulture at The Trust for Governors Island, explained, a sheep loan program was introduced from May to September as a sustainable solution. Unlike goats, which proved too aggressive, sheep provided an effective and environmentally friendly way to manage invasive plants. Their presence helped control unwanted species, saved an estimated 800 hours of mowing, and significantly reduced emissions from traditional mowing equipment.
