Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back each week for new roundups and items.
Urban Nature: How to Foster Biodiversity in World’s Cities
“A few years ago in Baltimore County, Maryland, environmental staffers were reviewing a tree-planting proposal from a local citizens group. It called for five trees each of 13 different species, as if in an arboretum, on the grounds of an elementary school in a densely-populated neighborhood. It seemed like a worthy plan, both for the volunteer effort and the intended environmental and beautification benefits. Then someone pointed out that there were hardly any oaks on the list, even though the 22 oak species native to the area are known to be wildlife-friendly. Local foresters, much less local wildlife, could barely recognize some of the species that were being proposed instead…Though it may be too soon to call it an urban wildlife movement, initiatives focused on urban biodiversity seem to be catching on. The U.S. Forest Service, which once laughed off the idea that anything urban could be wild now supports a growing urban forest program.”
A Dose Of Nature Helps City Dwellers Fight Their Need For Instant Gratification
“Self-centered, shortsighted, and likely to trade future gains for immediate satisfaction. That describes a great deal of human behavior. It may be the best way to change human nature is to give it a dose of actual nature–strolling through the woods or even a glimpsing green through a dingy urban window can push the brain to consider the long-term future, a new study shows. Inspired by E.O Wilson’s biophilia hypothesis, scientists recently investigated whether nature helps people better value their future… People gravitate toward natural environments, seeking out the most abundant collections of trees, water, or mountains available to them. The affinity appears to strengthen behaviors. People who watch plants grow exhibit better spending impulse control. Inner-city girls with views of green space from their window have proved more adept at concentration, impulse inhibition, and delay of gratification.”
Discovering Pinnacles, America’s Newest National Park
“If you’re seeking a spiritual experience, this is the place where you’re likely to find one. Eerie jagged spires, Stonehenge-like monoliths, implausibly round boulders and otherworldly caves are just a sampling of the colossal formations at America’s newest national park. And it’s one of the few places to glimpse the endangered California condor, the spectacular bird that resembles a robed Supreme Court justice sporting a nearly 10-foot wingspan. “This place is full of ‘national park’ moments,” says Gavin Emmons, a wildlife biologist who has lived in Pinnacles National Monument for several years.”
14 Reasons We All Need Nearby Nature in 2014
“Everyone deserves access to the outdoors. Unfortunately, many of our communities do not have nearby nature or safe places to explore and enjoy the natural world close to where we live, learn, work, worship and play. Only one in five kids can safely walk to a park or a playground, and access is even less available in low-income communities. Individuals and communities with inadequate opportunities to experience nature are missing out on a whole host of benefits. That is why Sierra Club recently launched a Nearby Nature initiative, protecting and establishing parks and green spaces in urban and suburban communities to ensure access to nature is increasingly equitable. There are many reasons we all need nearby nature.”
