Sustaining The Nature of New York
A new course is offered this spring at CUNY Institute for Virtual Enterprise. [more]

Cleaner waters
Hudson River Foundation issues report showing that health of New York Harbor has improved. [more]

Real-time monitoring
Stevens Institute of Technology launches New York City's first marine observatory. [more]

Deep Urban Nature
Explore some of New York City's best nature preserves with the Parks Department. [more]

The latest Buzz? Rooftop Honey
Wild Honey Bees roam the Cityscape in search of flowers to pollinate. [more]

A Cooler New York
Learn how green roofs can bring temperatures down and improve water quality. [more]

Understanding urban ecology - our Ecological Footprint

Until recently, the science of ecology was traditionally aimed at studying and protecting the world’s more pristine wildernesses. Today, with more than half of humanity living in urban areas, cities such as New York - given their residents’ lifestyles and consumption patterns - are affecting not only regional biodiversity and watersheds, but the planet’s most remote environments and resources.

• What is an ecological footprint ?
• Calculate your ecological footprint
• Compare ecological footprints of different countries.
• Read how the human footprint has affected the planet.

Tools for action

• NYC residents can help reduce the ecological footprint by supporting local agriculture and farmers markets.
• The Environmental Defense Fund is looking for practical solutions to the ecological challenges facing cities.
• In NYC, the Regional Plan Association and the Natural Resources Defense Council support initiatives on cities and greener living.