Listen to a clip from yesterday evening’s segment of #CityWatch on @wbai.org. Our Senior Manager of Applied Research Jeffrey Clark spoke to host Jeff Simmons on our recent publication of the #stormwater report and how natural areas benefit run-off capture. Listen to the full episode: bit.ly/4my61B9

NAC is proud to have contributed to the development of the #PlayFair coalition's mayoral platform "Parks 2030"—which outlines what a future mayor could achieve by allocating 1% of New York City's budget to Parks. Read the @cityandstateny.bsky.social article to learn more: bit.ly/3IFhkJX

Catch the NAC's Senior Manager of Applied Research Jeffrey Clark live on air this Thursday at 5 pm on #CityWatch on @wbai.org. They'll be chatting with Jeff about the NAC's stormwater report, as well as connecting with Julie Tighe, President of @nylcv.bsky.social. Listen at wbai.org.

A vibrant fall color display is happening in NYC's #saltmarshes. Salt marsh plants are preparing for winter by losing their green chlorophyll and unmasking the hidden red, orange, and yellow pigments. Read our latest blog post for the top 4 natural areas to view fall salt marshes: bit.ly/4mpkvDC

It's not easy work building rock steps! ⚒️🪨👷‍♀️ This past Saturday, the NAC hosted its first Pathkeeper rock step training at Seton Falls Park! 5 enthusiastic volunteers joined us to learn surveying, moving rocks, excavation and setting the steps. Learn more: bit.ly/3VSx9jw

Our NYC Nature 5k is coming up on Oct 4! Grab your running or walking shoes, and hit the trails with us in Forest Park. All proceeds from this fundraiser will directly support the NAC’s mission. 🏃‍♀️ Sign up and start fundraising with just a few clicks: naturalareasnyc.org/nyc-nature-5k/

#ClimateWeek is coming up from Sept 21-28! With 100+ events across the city, it can be hard to pin down your itinerary. We've created a curated list of 10 free events across the 5 boroughs that center natural areas and stewardship. Read our blog post for more details: bit.ly/467Ypzb

Mayor Adams promised 1% for NYC Parks but never delivered. “That’s been, for a lot of us in this sector, one of the most disappointing outcomes of the past almost four years now,” Emily Walker, NAC's senior manager for external affairs told @insideclimatenews.org. Learn more: bit.ly/41Es55J

Join @srijb.bsky.social for a webinar on Monday exploring monitoring protocols for natural and nature-based features in NY State! Presenters Cate Collinson & NAC intern alum Caitlin Lynch will share their experiences using the protocols for ecological function assessment. Register: bit.ly/4g9OBsY

The @naturalareasnyc.bsky.social report is the first to quantify the stormwater capture capacity of the city’s forests, wetlands, and grasslands—helping prevent untreated sewage from overflowing into local waterways. bit.ly/4p1jVOG

In NYC, there are over 5,000 acres of wetlands! What makes the city unique is the various types of wetlands within the five boroughs. Read our recent blog post to learn more about what kinds of wetlands you can visit in the city and specific recommendations on where to go: bit.ly/3JyvoVU

What was once known as a dumping ground for NYC's trash is being transformed into beautiful #FreshKillsPark! @newyorker.com chronicles how this 2,200 acre urban park is already offering habitat for a slew of species like foxes, deer, and grasshopper sparrows: bit.ly/4fXERlR

“If we wait for things to degrade, we wait for trees to start to die, then the amount that we'll need to invest is going to be a lot greater than if we start working right now,” Jeffrey Clark (NAC), told @gothamist.com. Read the article for insights into a study from Yale and NAC: bit.ly/4lNi4KJ

Urban heat is delaying spring in NYC's parks. ☀️ 🌳🌆 Researchers from the NAC and @yalee360.bsky.social, published a study that proves warmer winters reduce what is called 'chilling accumulation' in trees, an important step that triggers the transition from dormancy. Learn more: bit.ly/41ggolE

Last week, our high school SUN interns presented their research at the @amnh.org as part of the NYCSRM Consortium's research symposium. Over 500 students from 25 programs participated from across the city! Our interns shared how they employed inquiry-based methods to assess urban forest health.

Excited to announce that FIVE new cities have joined the Forests in Cities Network in 2025: 👏 -Cleveland, Ohio -Detroit, Michigan -Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas -San Antonio, Texas -Syracuse, New York Read more about these cities and their organizations in our recent blog post: bit.ly/3JkROcV

Last night our interns in both our high school and college programs presented their summer research findings! 🪱🦌🔬🌿 We are so PROUD of our interns for their hard work this summer, and can't wait to see what they do next in their budding environmental careers. 👏

💧The Journey of a Raindrop💧 Turns out a raindrop could go many places in an urban landscape! The below graphic shows how different land cover types and city infrastructure impact stormwater retention. Explore our #stormwater report: bit.ly/nac-stormwater

Join NAC's Senior Ecologist Helen Forgione in Staten Island to check out a scrub shrub swamp! Learn about the vegetation and animals that call freshwater swamps their home, and signs to look out for that indicate this type of wetland: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE1j...

Below are 3 main methods utilized by cities to manage stormwater—gray, green, and blue infrastructure. Urban natural areas are often left out of the conversation but are incredibly effective at absorbing runoff, saving the city up to $760 million in water treatment. Learn more: bit.ly/nac-stormwater

Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands meaning they only hold surface water in the springtime. Join NAC's Senior Ecologist Helen Forgione in this next episode #WetlandWise! She explains the properties of a vernal pool, and shares clues to look out for in the off season to identify them: bit.ly/41lyEd2

Our recently published #stormwater research shows that healthy forested natural areas—with intact canopies and understories— absorb almost 10% more stormwater than degraded forests, stressing the importance of management of these spaces. Read more: bit.ly/nac-stormwater

We’re excited to announce the publication of a new report! Explore how urban natural areas play a critical yet often overlooked role in mitigating stormwater impacts: lnkd.in/eUk3p7kM Check out a blog post by lead author of the report Jeffrey Clark, for a breakdown of key findings: bit.ly/4fexMgf

Join NAC's Senior Ecologist Helen Forgione at Lemon Creek in Staten Island! Learn about the unique features of a salt marsh and the species that rely on them for habitat: www.youtube.com/watch?v=csCF...

The #NYCBiodiversityTaskForce released steps to protect natural areas. But with lack of funding biodiversity suffers. “[Parks] aren't able to do this work on their own. Nor should the topic of biodiversity be siloed into just Parks,” said the author in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social: bit.ly/3GGSDvY

New research from #YaleSchooloftheEnvironment uses eDNA to track human-wildlife interactions within urban spaces. With this method, researchers were able to identify how urban parks have different species composition based on ecological and anthropogenic factors: bit.ly/3TQTSLR

#GRWM Get ready with our Community Engagement Coordinator Melissa Rosenthal as she preps for a field day at Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan: youtu.be/p2a_Hx3LMIc Join us on the trails next time! Find an event near you: naturalareasnyc.org/events/

Unlock your environmental career with the Urban NEST Workforce Fellowship! This year-long program bridges the gap between college and green jobs for current established #CUNY students. Apply by August 8, 2025! Learn more and apply: naturalareasnyc.org/internships/

Read @fastcompany.com's take on how getting creative with greenspace can potentially have the power to cool surrounding areas in cities: bit.ly/4nILTOS (Hint: trees are involved!) 🌳 Also revisit the NAC's cooling report to delve deeper into the cooling power of urban forests: bit.ly/46vlxJG

Today is the last day you can submit the UFP questionnaire! We're looking to hear from NYers from all 5 boroughs to ensure the plan addresses the unique needs, concerns, and strengths of all our neighborhoods and communities: inform.urbanforestplan.nyc

Mark your calendars for #CityofWaterDay! On July 12, dozens of events across New Jersey and New York City will take place to celebrate a resilient and equitable waterfront! Show your support by joining an event near you: www.cityofwaterday.org/eventsmap

Later this month, the NAC's Senior Manager of External Affairs Emily Walker will be speaking to the National Association of Wetland Managers about coastal resiliency in New York City. NAWM members can join July 30 to hear about wetlands mitigation and restoration: bit.ly/4kdAO5d

We congratulate @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on his likely primary win! The heat NYers faced yesterday reminds us of the value of natural areas to cool us in extreme heat! We urge the next administration to view natural areas as a common sense investment. Read @thecity.nyc for more: bit.ly/3HYpKvt

A new report from the CDC asserts that flooding is the most pressing public health threat in NYC. Heavy rainfall and rising sea levels are contributing to this increased risk. NYC must look for solutions—and natural areas could be one. Read the @thecity.nyc article for more: bit.ly/3HUSGVa

Sarah Charlop-Powers and Deputy Director Alia Soomro of @nylcv.bsky.social co-authored an op-ed in @crainsnewyork.bsky.social on why investing in natural areas is imperative now more than ever. Read the full article: bit.ly/43TFPLo

Our Pathkeepers installed 8 ft. of puncheon in Pelham Bay Park! We will be returning to the site for our first "Trail Work Friday" open to the public on July 25! Join us for this free event and learn about puncheon construction: bit.ly/4jNGuCJ

This week, City Council and the mayor's office will be entering final negotiations for the FY26 budget! We encourage you to contact your local CM and ask them to ensure that city hall permanently restores $3M in funding to bring back 51 critical natural areas staff lines: bit.ly/4e80KOr

Adventure is only a hop, skip, and a jump away! Located in the Greenbelt of Staten Island, Latourette Park offers nature trails through gorgeous woodlands and wetlands that truly feel wild. Find your way to adventure: bit.ly/4jsFxQB

Incredible reporting by journalist @robtsullivan.bsky.social for @nymag.com on the threats to NYC's urban forests and how foresters and activists are working to save them. You can find NAC staff and our NYC Park colleagues featured in this comprehensive exploration: bit.ly/3SMZlTt

This Thursday, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy and Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay are hosting and event on the state of the bay. NAC's Elizabeth Jaegar will be on speaking on a panel on workforce development in support of coastal wetlands. 🌊 Register: bit.ly/3SKwyyU

This Saturday, June 7 is National Trails Day! Celebrate by hitting a local trail near you! 🥾 We've compiled a blog post with the best trails in parks and natural areas in each borough. Find your trail: bit.ly/4kVaJbT

Inspiration awaits! NYC has 300 miles of nature trails, and you could find yours in breathtaking Forest Park, Queens. In our 500-acre sprawling park, discover a century-old pine grove, the largest continuous oak forest, and peaceful kettle ponds. Learn more: bit.ly/4jsFxQB

A study from the University of Maryland and World Resources Institute says forests globally in 2024 disappeared at a rate of 18 soccer fields per min, reports @nytimes.com. The devastating effects of forest fires have exacerbated loss, making the future of our forests uncertain: bit.ly/4jrhWz8

Nature awaits—right here in the city! #DYK that NYC has 300 miles of nature trails within the five boroughs? Find yours! Access parks and trail recommendations near you: bit.ly/4jsFxQB

Terrific article from #BronxDaily on cycling greenways and parkways in this beautiful borough! The Bronx has many tremendous natural areas, and what better way to experience them then hopping on your bike this summer. Read the full article: bit.ly/3H1crtD

Coming up is one of our favorite days of the year! June 7 is #NationalTrailsDay— an initiative developed by @americanhiking.bsky.social to bring awareness to trails and encourage connection with the outdoors. Check out our list of 10 free NYC events that offer ways to get involved: bit.ly/3SLKrg2

Learn from NAC's Senior Ecologist, Forgione Helen, on how to identify three maple trees by their spring flowers! Check out the video on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3m6... Be sure to subscribe to our channel for weekly nature content: www.youtube.com/@naturalarea...

"How can we meet a 30% canopy target for the city of New York without staff to care for trees that we have?" NAC's Emily Walker spoke at the budget rally yesterday: bit.ly/43DAGG7 You still have time to testify and make your voice heard too! Submit testimony by Friday: council.nyc.gov/testify/

How are NYC forests doing? The results from our second citywide Ecological Assessment (EA 2.0) are in! While analysis is ongoing for salt marsh and freshwater wetlands, initial forest findings reveal a complex picture: bit.ly/43rahw3

Join the #PlayFair coalition next Tuesday to rally for NYC Parks and natural areas! Show your support for baselined funding for forest restoration and management in the City's budget: bit.ly/5-13-PlayFair-Rally