OUR OPPORTUNITY
The United States is the only country in the world that is not part of the United Nations "Paris accord for nature" treaty. This absence is New York City's opportunity.
OUR MISSION
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) nectaring on Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) in the wilds of Staten Island.
Building a Biodiversity Agenda for New York City
To be truly resilient, New York City needs a clear ecological mandate. Currently, it is the only global city without a comprehensive biodiversity agenda, even as it has an office and advisory panel on climate change.
The mission of the New York City Biodiversity Task Force is to promote the preservation of the city's rich natural resources and the expansion of New Yorkers access to it. Our focus is on local solutions to the extinction crisis through policy initiatives and neighborhood activations.
To achieve this, our task force is drafting recommendations to:
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advance local policy to value ecosystem services, affirm nature equity and promote public health
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scale up local action
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engage with national organizations and international municipalities
Launched February 2024, our report will be released June 2025. Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on our announcements.
By integrating the value provided by nature, New York City can fundamentally transform urban life. Our well-being and local wildlife depend on native species and open spaces. Healthy, functioning ecosystems provide flood protections and the very air we breathe. Yet currently the city has no systems in place to value and prioritize these "free" services.
The Task Force is focused on key areas, including prioritizing ecosystem services, creating sustainable landscapes, and advancing biodiversity justice in economically-disadvantaged neighborhoods. The preservation of indigenous flora and fauna fosters natural systems that help both wildlife and local communities thrive.
OUR IMPACT
Habitat Preservation
Natural areas are essential to the health and well-being of City residents. This critical ecological infrastructure supports thousands of plants, animals, and fungi, while also mitigating the impacts of extreme weather. Yet these forests, dunes, and wetlands are often overlooked. Compounding the issue, NYC Parks, the department responsible for managing much of this land, receives less than 1% of the City’s budget, leaving it significantly under-resourced.
Biodiversity Justice
Conservation, investment, and stewardship decisions can often be inequitable, even as many New Yorkers seek more opportunities to connect with nature. Task force goals are for the City to expand access to local wild spaces and integrate biodiversity into the fabric of everyday life. First-hand experiences with nature can make its value tangible and foster greater public demand for its protection.
Nature Valuation
Ecosystem processes also provide human health and wellness benefits. Decades of research have demonstrated how people live longer, experience fewer illnesses, engage in more physical activity, socialize more, and enjoy better cognitive and emotional health in greener neighborhoods and with access to high quality, nearby nature.
OUR TEAM
Our Task Force members represent environmental justice not-for-profits, parks' advocacy groups, organismal researchers and habitat experts, organizations serving youth, civic/business associations, universities, and City government.
Our reviewers and supporters represent wide-ranging expertise and locations around the world.
The Task Force is led by Georgia Silvera Seamans of Local Nature Lab and Marielle Anzelone of NYC Wildflower Week.
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