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! 💙

The #PlayFair Coalition's "First 100 Days for Parks" agenda outlines steps Mayor-elect Zohran Kwame Mamdani can take to reverse historic disinvestment in New York City Parks and immediately improve quality of life citywide. Read more in New York Daily News : bit.ly/48KCBuI#PlayFair#ParksPower #NYC

The federal gov proposed changes to the #EndangeredSpeciesAct, that would curb wildlife protections. "A plover without habitat cannot exist," Chris Allieri, founder of NYC Plover Project told The Revelator: https://bit.ly/48SEBkH. Sign NYC Bird Alliance's petition to oppose: https://bit.ly/491w3rT

Thank you @insideclimatenews.org for covering the impact of the Community Reforestation (CoRE) grants! “This funding is really filling a gap in NYC around urban forest and natural areas care,” said Clara Pregitzer, the NAC's deputy director of conservation science. Read more: bit.ly/4pyC8mJ

We're excited to announce the selection of Oded Holzinger as our new ED! He comes to us from Groundwork Hudson Valley, a regional environmental nonprofit whose mission and programming align with the NAC. We look forward to starting this next chapter with you, Oded! Learn more: https://bit.ly/4rQuWUx

Thank you to this jolly group for coming out to our Winter ID Walk in Inwood Hill Park last weekend! Participants had fun learning how to identify woody plants with our Community Engagement Coordinator Melissa, and soaked up the tranquil forest vibes! ❄️ Join us at an upcoming event: lnkd.in/eXdY8RcM

You can spot delightful birds in winter if you know where to look! Our latest blog post highlights 5 species to look for, and which natural areas you can find them: bit.ly/48yrtRx Ready to get out there? Join @nycbirdalliance.org for a #ChristmasBirdCount event on Dec 13 & 14: bit.ly/4axfjuR

On #GivingTuesday gifts to the NAC are doubled! 💚💚 Leanna & Giselle share highlights from our HS & fellowship programs. 2025 marked a special year, with our interns conducting the most projects ever and the fellowship completing its 1st year! Help us grow the next gen: bit.ly/4oHGE1M bit.ly/4rz1MJw

While most leaves have fallen off trees in NYC, we can still enjoy the crunch beneath our feet 🍂🍁… and test our #treeleaf ID skills 👀 In this one photo taken in Forest Park, Queens, there are at least 7 species on display! Can you identify them? Answers can be found on our IG stories: bit.ly/4rKrrz4

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁 We're grateful for so much—our dedicated staff, supporters, and the beautiful natural areas in NYC we strive to protect. Show your gratitude for NYC's green spaces by signing on to the #PlayFair Coalition's #Parks2030 mayoral platform at https://bit.ly/3XNGOsu#PlayFair#Parks2030

We're disappointed in the EPA's planned rollback of protections for nearly 85% of the country's wetlands. The value of our wetlands is immeasurable. Clean water should be the standard for every community nationwide. Read more about the ruling: bit.ly/3X9K0yx Contact your local rep: bit.ly/4plWsqM

On beautiful fall days like this, we're reminded of the value of parks and urban forests! We're proud to support the #PlayFair's "Parks 2030" platform—which outlines what the City could achieve by allocating 1% of NYC's budget to Parks. Are you with us? Sign on to the platform at playfair.nyc!

Do you know a rising high school junior or senior with an interest in #urbanecology? We are now accepting nominations for the Natural Areas Conservancy's Student Urban Nature (SUN) Program, and we would love your help in identifying strong candidates. 🌞 Nominate a student: lnkd.in/et9Ps2rr

We’re honored to be a grantee of NYS DEC’s #CoRe grant program. $7M has been awarded to NYC orgs, making it possible to plant over 21k trees across the city! Today, we celebrated this significant win for our city by planting the first trees in Forest Park! Learn more: bit.ly/3LHndri

Congrats to @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on the mayoral win! We look forward to working with Mamdani's administration to prioritize NYC's parks and natural areas. We're proud to amplify the #PlayFair coalition's #Parks2030 platform. Sign on here: bit.ly/47YTZN6

Join our team! 💚 The NAC is #hiring two full-time positions: 🌱 Restoration Ecologist 🌳 Senior Manager of Applied Science and Partnerships Learn more and apply for these positions: bit.ly/NAC-jobs

Horseshoe crabs are a vital species that support vulnerable birds—but they are at risk! Help us turn a proposed protections bill into law. Urge Governor Kathy Hochul to pass legislation through @nycbirdalliance.org's campaign: bit.ly/47Mw2Zs

Fall migration is happening right now in NYC, and many #birdwatchers have flocked to the city’s natural areas to glimpse our feathered friends. We've put together a blog post of tips for #birding in the city's natural areas: bit.ly/478vUTS

Congrats to our intern alumni and NAC staff who presented at the Student Conference on Conservation Science at @amnh.org! 👏 Learn more about our Urban NEST internship programs: naturalareasnyc.org/internships/

Great feature by @johnsurico.bsky.social of @nycfuture.bsky.social and Nick Underwood in @nytimes.com that explores NYC's flood resiliency. Our #stormwater report, outlines how natural areas capture 17% of runoff in the city! Learn more: bit.ly/3LkkvHT Revisit the stormwater report: bit.ly/4qz3MB4

We are thrilled to have Ethan Crenson, President of @newyorkmyc.org as an expert guest writer for NAC's Understories blog! 🍄 Ethan shares 5 of his favorite NYC tiny fungi and provides tips for identifying each; where you might spot them; as well as detailed insight into their biology: bit.ly/473stfK

#DYK each year, New Yorkers get to decide how capital dollars are spent in their neighborhoods? Through a process called #ParticipatoryBudgeting, the power to propose and vote on infrastructure projects across the five boroughs is placed directly in the hands of residents. Learn more: bit.ly/48qbOpd

It may be surprising NYC is home to 20k acres of natural areas. Along with parks, these spaces provide substantial climate benefits and respite. But our precious green spaces are chronically underfunded. We're fighting for #1Percent4Parks: bit.ly/4qgClvN Read the NYT article: bit.ly/48Tj3WP

The hottest ticket of the year just dropped! 🐸🦎 Join us next Wednesday for "Herp Happenings" at Cunningham Park for a walk led by NYC Parks’ Wildlife and Fisheries Ecologist Neha Savant to learn about herpetology in NYC. RSVP (it's free!): https://bit.ly/48d6d5A

From cooling our streets to creating community, New York City Parks are essential infrastructure for a livable city. 📰Read about the #Parks2030 platform in City & State NY#Parks2030 bit.ly/4nrmOas ✍️Learn more and add your name: playfair.nyc #ParksPower #NYC

This past summer, the NAC's Urban NEST fellows completed research projects which marked the end of an impressive year-long effort! Fellows conducted intensive research, data collection, and analysis in a wide array of topics. Read our summary blog post to learn more: bit.ly/4mExv8g