NYC Nature Goals 2050

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS TO NEW YORK CITY NATURE New Yorkers need and have rights to a local environment that is healthy and whole...We have an obligation to work together to create the social and economic circumstances necessary to lay the foundations for the long-term sustainability of the city's nature. [sign declaration-this is a button] [read more-this is a button]

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All New Yorkers have a right to great nature.
Marine Park, Brooklyn NYC. Photo credit Adam Stoltman

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS TO NEW YORK CITY NATURE

New Yorkers need and have rights to a local environment that is healthy and whole.

We have an obligation to work together to create the social and economic circumstances necessary to lay the foundations for the long-term sustainability of the city’s nature.

 

sign the declaration

We pledge
to meet these
Nature Goals in New York City

·  Biodiversity & Habitat
·  Air & Water Quality
·  Coastal Protection & Resilience
·  Connectivity
·  Inspiration

Learn More

Marine Park, Brooklyn
Our coalition of urban nature professionals collaborated to develop these TWENTY-FIVE TARGETS
to advance the five overarching NATURE GOALS
1.
Expand natural areasBy 2050, New York City Nature will consist of a system of natural areas that have the same extent or more than existed in 2015.
2.
Manage all natural areas wellBy 2050, New York City Nature will have natural areas that are comprehensively managed for ecosystem functions, habitat values, and local genetic diversity.
3.
Encourage ecosystem diversityBy 2050, New York City Nature will contain at least one example of every native ecosystem of the NYC region somewhere in the city.
4.
Manage species wellBy 2050, New York City Nature will sustain populations of all known native species that existed in the city in 2015.
5.
Restore lost speciesBy 2050, New York City Nature will benefit from the natural re-colonization or planned restoration of locally extirpated species of plants and animals.
6.
Make nature policyBy 2050, New York City Nature will be protected and enhanced by decisions about the built environment that are obliged by law, policy, or social norms to conserve or improve ecosystem function and habitat values across the city.
7.
Expand canopy & increase permeabilityBy 2050, New York City Nature will have the same extent or more of canopy cover and permeable surfaces (including green infrastructure) that existed in 2015.
8.
Help mitigate air pollutionBy 2050, New York City Nature will capture 5% of airborne particulate matter with vegetation.
9.
Help control floods and water pollutionBy 2050, New York City Nature will capture 10% of rainfall and snowmelt falling on land.
10.
Help cool the cityBy 2050, New York City Nature will help reduce citywide temperatures and 2-3 degrees near natural areas.
11.
Provide clean and swimmable watersBy 2050, New York City Nature will consist of clean and swimmable waters.
12.
Support sustainable local fisheriesBy 2050, New York City Nature will support healthy and sustainably harvested populations of fish and shellfish.
13.
Expand natural shorelinesBy 2050, New York City Nature will have the same length or more of natural shorelines than what existed in 2015.
14.
Enable shorelines to adapt to sea level riseBy 2050, New York City Nature will provide space for all natural shorelines to migrate upslope with future sea level rise.
15.
Enhance built shorelinesBy 2050, New York City Nature will be enhanced by any new or retrofitted coastal protection structures managed to improve ecosystem functions and habitat values.
16.
Allow species to moveBy 2050, New York City Nature will facilitate the movements of native resident and migratory species, sufficient to support gene flow and avoid inbreeding.
17.
Enable people to access natural areasBy 2050, New York City will facilitate the movements of New Yorkers to natural areas through a well-integrated system of transportation modes and a formalized system of trails on land and water.
18.
Make natural areas welcoming for allBy 2050, New York City Nature will be inclusive, welcoming and safe for all New Yorkers.
19.
Encourage environmental stewardshipBy 2050, New York City Nature will be supported by active environmental stewardship groups in all neighborhoods of the city.
20.
Get kids into natureBy 2050, New York City Nature will be supported by environmental activities that can engage 100% of NYC schoolchildren at least once per year.
21.
Provide jobs in natureBy 2050, New York City Nature will provide employment to 10% or more of the New York City labor force.
22.
Highlight local natural spectaclesBy 2050, New York City Nature will be celebrated by the recognition of at least five exemplary native floral or faunal spectacles each year.
23.
Create big quiet starry spacesBy 2050, New York City Nature will provide and preserve at least one natural area in each borough large enough for the sounds of the city not to be heard, buildings not to be seen, and some stars visible at night.
24.
Recognize nature nearbyBy 2050, New York City Nature will provide a natural area or notable example of nature within half-mile of every New York residence.
25.
Celebrate nature in artBy 2050, New York City Nature will be regularly celebrated in artworks of various kinds.

Respond to Targets

No tract of land is too small for the wilderness idea. – Aldo Leopold.