Our country turns 250 years old tomorrow, but the land (and trees) are much more ancient than that! 🌳 Meet the Alley Pond Giant, a tulip tree estimated to be around 350 years old, making it the oldest living tree in New York City. 📸 PC: Brian Kelley/Gathering Growth

"The challenge now is recognizing nature as infrastructure — as essential to affordability and stability as roads, bridges, power systems..." writes Bill Ulfelder for Crain's New York Business: https://www.crainsnewyork.com/opinion/commentary/cny-op-ed-nature-affordability-20260608/

We're so proud of the work we've done with the Friends of Spuyten Duyvil, led by Jodie Colón, to restore Spuyten Duyvil Shorefront Park and open the trails to the public. Read more about this historic achievement: https://bit.ly/3QnjwJW

🐝 Buzz buzz, it’s #PollinatorWeek! 🦋 Learn more on our blog about specific pollinators and the summer wildflowers they rely on: https://naturalareasnyc.org/4-common-summer-wildflowers-and-their-pollinators/

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate #NationalTrailsDay with us last weekend! It was a gorgeous day for hiking and appreciating our city's beautiful natural areas. Come hit the trails with us next time: naturalareasnyc.org/events/

Are you participating in @nytimes.com "Touch Grass" challenge? Head to one of these parks in your boro to get a dose of nature: Inwood Hill Park, Van Cortlandt Park, Wolfe's Pond Park, Marine Park, Forest Park 🌱 Sign up for the NYT challenge: bit.ly/4e8V0UH

In the spirit of #NationalTrailsDay, we want to celebrate our city’s beautiful natural areas and the trails that connect New Yorkers to them. Read our blog post to learn more about what makes a trail universally accessible, and for a list of specific trails that meet the requirements: bit.ly/4e0tZ5W

Join Urban PATH staff members Melissa and Gabe for a 🌱 Plant Scent Test 👃✨ in Spuyten Duyvil Shorefront Park! Can Gabe guess Melissa’s plant samples by their scent? Watch to find out which plant finally stumps him! www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx1r...

Hit the trails on #NationalTrailsDay on June 6! With the beautiful summer weather finally arriving, there’s no better time to grab your hiking boots and explore NYC natural areas across the five boroughs. Check out our blog for a list of free events and how to RSVP: bit.ly/4dEF5yK

"There are still many more parks workers who will lose their jobs in July, left in the limbo of the budget negotiations," writes @ny4p.bsky.social Adam Ganser for @citylimitsnews.bsky.social. Read the full op-ed to understand where parks currently stand in the city budget: bit.ly/4e8rIqw

It was a privilege to be included in Center for an Urban Future's panel last week on "Harnessing NYC Natural Areas"! Our Executive Director, Oded Holzinger, had the opportunity to speak about how to increase safe access to natural areas through our trail system and ways to engage youth in nature.

On Saturday, we planted over 500 trees in Forest Park, Queens! 🌳🪏 That's a lot of trees...and we couldn't have planted them all without the help of the over 100 volunteers who showed up! Join us next time. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date: bit.ly/nac-news

We are grateful for our network of supporters who took the time to add their voices to our advocacy this year; this couldn’t have been done without you.

Getting out in the field and learning how to maintain and build trail structures is one of the most meaningful ways you can connect with community and nature in our city! We'd love to see you at our next #Pathkeeper training: naturalareasnyc.org/events/

Thank you #ColumbiaSpectator for highlighting the 7.5-acre forest restoration project in West Harlem that we're excited to embark on with Riverside Park Conservancy! Read the full article to learn more about our work in Riverside Park: bit.ly/4wcbK5J

We need your help planting 500 trees in Forest Park! Join us on 2 upcoming volunteer days: 🪏 Friday, May 15: Planting-Site Prep Day from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. RSVP: bit.ly/4tCdmUK 🌱 Saturday, May 16: Tree Planting Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP: bit.ly/4tMymZ4

We had such a fun corporate volunteer day at NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center and Nursery (PECAN)! Volunteers supported the nursery’s operations by planting seedlings and germinated acorns, which will eventually grow to be trees lining the streets of NYC! 🌱 www.youtube.com/shorts/Aum_j...

We love hearing our colleagues talk trees on the radio! 🌳 Excellent segment on #BrianLehrer celebrating Arbor Day and the release of the Urban Forest Plan. Listen to the full @wnyc.org segment: www.wnyc.org/story/tree-c...

We thank City Council for their focus on our city’s 300-mile network of nature trails with last week’s passage of Intro. 0577! ✅ This bill will require NYC Parks to regularly update public-facing maps of nature trails. Read our full statement: www.instagram.com/p/DXhLHfGgFvQ/

Congrats @nyclimate.bsky.social on the release of the City’s first-ever, comprehensive #UrbanForestPlan! We were proud to support the development of the #UFP, and look forward to further strategic investment, which will be a critical component of successfully achieving the goals of the plan.

We're deeply alarmed by the USDA plan to restructure USFS. Our forests are invaluable living infrastructure and provide an array of benefits. We share the frustration of our peers and ask that our federal legislative branch protect our longtime USFS colleagues. Learn more: https://bit.ly/427PNXM

Join the NAC and @riversideparknyc.bsky.social for a community kick-off event celebrating a new $3.25 million grant to restore 7.5 acres of forested parkland between West 143rd & 153rd streets. There will be a special appearance by the Riverside Park Goats! RSVP: bit.ly/3OhZW0S

The weather here in New York City is slowly but surely warming up! 🌞 🌸 If you're itching to get outside, there are plenty of #EarthMonth events across the city throughout the rest of April. Check out our latest blog post for a curated list of nature events and their links to sign up: bit.ly/4cpOOXU

New article via @newyorker.com, @ericklinenberg.bsky.social explores how cities use blue & green infrastructure to manage stormwater: bit.ly/3PMfxWW While this is part of the solution, we conducted research last year that found #naturalareas absorb as much as 17% of NYC stormwater: bit.ly/4qz3MB4

Yesterday, the NAC’s Gabriel Cummings (Training Manager, Urban PATH program), testified at the City Council legislative hearing which considered Intro. 0577—legislation that would formalize NYC’s 300 mile trail network. Add your voice to this cause—submit testimony at council.nyc.gov/testify

Today, at the #ForestsinCities workshop, over 100 attendees explored Atlanta's natural areas! Thanks to the Atlanta team for taking us on tours of #HerbertGreene and #LakeCharlotte Nature Preserves. It's a pleasure to explore another city's green spaces. Learn more about FiC: bit.ly/4sNdSPs

“On the campaign trail, Mamdani said he’d dedicate 1% of the city’s annual budget to the parks dept... But his first budget proposal as mayor didn’t just fall short of that benchmark — it would actually reduce the amount of money,” writes @Liam Quigley for @gothamist.com: bit.ly/3NFwS33

Earlier today the NAC’s Executive Director Oded Holzinger spoke at the #PlayFair coalition rally for parks! We stand with our partners on calling upon the Mayor to allocate at least 1% of the city budget for parks. This funding is critical to ensure we can properly care for our natural areas!

You can take action for #NYCParks and natural areas! 📣 Not sure what details to advocate for? We've got you covered—check out our latest blog post for a breakdown of the NAC's main #budget asks, what to include in your testimony, and tips for calling your #CouncilMember: bit.ly/4smbRcQ

🌱 It's starting to feel like spring! 🌸 Join us this Sat from 10 am to 1 pm for a guided ecology walk at Alley Pond Park! We'll walk the nature trails and explore the first signs of spring, from amphibian activity to early spring ephemerals, and the first buds bursting on trees! RSVP: bit.ly/4cI10ov

"Climate change is such a cross-cutting issue that really does have a daily impact on how people can feel safe, how people can feel healthy, and how people can live a life with dignity," says Louise Yeung, the Mayor's new chief climate officer. @insideclimatenews.org spoke to Yeung: bit.ly/4rrtGpF

⭐️Alumni Spotlight ⭐️ In 2025, Sarah Maloney was our UFP Community Engagement Fellow! In this role, she interfaced directly with community members in NYC’s parks and natural areas and gained a unique perspective on how NYers perceive and use our green spaces. Read our Q&A with Sarah: bit.ly/4cvjvwh

We're #hiring a Biological Field Technician for the summer! You'll work as part of a team responsible for collecting data in wetlands across all 5 boroughs. We're specifically looking for candidates with local plant ID skills and exp in ecological monitoring. Sound like you? Apply: bit.ly/NAC-jobs

Remember to sign up to the #ForestsinCities Workshop by Mar 16! It will cover protecting and managing natural areas, mapping, public access and use, innovations in #forest mgmt, and how data can be harnessed to create national awareness of forested natural areas. Register: bit.ly/FIC-2026-wor...

While you may not think to notice plants in the wintertime, several trees & shrubs are a delight to admire this time of year! Some hold onto fruit in the winter, providing vibrant colors, while others are seed-bearing, offering delicate formations. Read our latest blog post for more: bit.ly/4aHEycE

NAC was excited to be in Albany yesterday for a legislative #advocacy day! Over 150 advocates from across #NY came together to speak with elected officials about the significance of the Environmental Protection Fund. Thank you to the state for the continued support of our #reforestation efforts!

A recent article in @washingtonpost.com showcases research that suggests a 14-day intervention of observing nature daily can increase levels of satisfaction. In NYC, you have 20k acres of forests and wetlands to choose from! This is your sign to step outside. 💚 Read more: bit.ly/4tr2BF2

Registration is now open for NAC's #ForestsinCities workshop in Atlanta, from March 30-31! For the first time, we are inviting practitioners and researchers outside of the network to join us. This 2-day intensive conference is a tree-mendous opportunity. Secure your spot: bit.ly/FIC-2026-workshop

Full house at the annual NYC practitioner restoration symposium! NAC staff presented data and findings from our Forest Management Framework update, which outlines how NYC forests have changed over time, and how the scale of public investment has impacted maintenance. 🌳🫶

A fresh snowfall offers a chance to investigate animal tracks! 🕵️‍♀️ 🐾 Keep your eyes peeled in your local natural area, and you might find clues from your neighborhood wildlife. Check out our latest blog post for common animal prints to find in NYC, and how to tell them apart: bit.ly/4kbf1N5

The NAC celebrates the NYS FY27 executive budget proposal that was released by Governor Hochul! Following cuts in federal funding, state leadership is now more important than ever. We urge our NYS decision-makers to ensure this funding makes it to the FY27 Enacted Budget. Learn more: bit.ly/49LW7sL

As NYers wait for Mayor Mamdani's preliminary #budget for FY27, it's clear #parks are a top priority! "Advocates have spent more than two decades trying to get mayors to spend more money on the city’s 1,700 parks," writes @elizabethkim.bsky.social for @gothamist.com. Read more: bit.ly/49TqzQm

Kick off your New Year with one of these #natureevents happening in #NYC! From spotting bald eagles and tracking white-tailed deer, to tending to trails and exploring #forests—there’s plenty to do this #winter. Register for these events: bit.ly/4sYZ4Og

It's a new era of leadership for @nycgovparks.org! Congrats to Tricia Shimamura on her appointment as NYC Parks commissioner! We look forward to working with Commissioner Shimamura on prioritizing our city's beautiful natural areas and green spaces. Learn more: bit.ly/4a4g3qE

Last week, @nytimes.com polled readers on how NYC could be improved— the top suggestion had 35,551 votes: increase funding to parks and public libraries. As the new mayoral administration takes office, it's clear NYers want cleaner, healthier, and more resilient green space: bit.ly/3ZerV3a

Last call for NYC high school students to apply to our SUN #internship program for summer 2026! 🚨The deadline for applications is this Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Apply today: bit.ly/3MKGnNo

Don't miss a thing in 2026! The Natural Areas Conservancy is your source for all things urban forests, wetlands, and local environmental advocacy. Get all the necessary updates in your inbox once a month! Sign up for our mailing list: https://bit.ly/4dzji9V

Running into 2026 like... 🏃‍♂️🫶 ✨ Happy New Year from the Natural Areas Conservancy! 🎆 Who's ready to hit the trails in 2026?

Just TWO days left to make an impact! 💚 Before you ring in the New Year, help us forge the path ahead for urban forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Donate: https://bit.ly/4oHGE1M

☃️ Happy Holidays from the Natural Areas Conservancy! ☃️ Wishing you a cozy winter season with magical snowy vistas. Thank you for joining us to care for urban nature. We are grateful for each and every one of you! 💙