New York, NY

10,000 BCE - present

New York is one of the most densely inhabited cities in the country, with a population of 8.38 million across its five boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island. New York harbor is also one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Manhattan is adapted from the name Mannahatta which was given to the land by the native Lenape people. The ports of New York Harbor became popular when Dutch colonists arrived in the 1600s. From then, the city became a major supplier in the fur trade as the pelts of native species were highly desired. New York was once a dense network of native plants and wildlife. Since the leveling, industrialization, and inhabitation of the region, much of this native life has been lost. Presently, New York is in a great state of rehabilitation. It has long been one of the country’s largest contributors of pollution. City officials and local organizations are working to remedy the city’s air pollution problem, keep trash and chemical waste out of the harbor, and return native wildlife to healthy populations.

The territory of New York City falls within the ancestral homelands of the Lenape people.

Territorial recognition: https://native-land.ca/

Most Pressing Issues

Oyster decline

The New York Harbor once contained 220,000 acres of oyster reefs. These reefs keep the other marine life safe by providing habitat for the smaller, more vulnerable species, and reducing flooding and erosion during large storms. Oysters also have filtering abilities which remove pollutants like nitrogen from the sea water, keeping algal blooms from forming. When oysters were plentiful, they were inexpensive and consumed in abundance. The oyster industry provided work for both harvesters and individuals in the then-blossoming restaurant trade. The rising demand for the crustacean eventually exhausted the reefs, and diseases from invasive species in the harbor further ravaged the population. Today, many organizations work to rehabilitate oyster reefs in the New York Harbor, for the sake of the species and the health of its dependent marine life.

Deforestation

The temperate deciduous forest of New York was once densely populated with close to 60 species of trees, including sugar maple, American beech, oaks, and hickory varieties. The earliest record of tree removal describes colonists clearing small areas for farming plots. As populations grew, more of the forest was harvested for lumber and larger agricultural purposes. By the late 1800s, as Manhattan was quickly becoming the industrial center it is known as today, the land was leveled and cleared of nearly all its native trees. The timber was replaced by an artificial, “urban forest,” consisting of young street trees lining sidewalks and pathways, and shade cover for public parks.

Pollution

New York City has long been one of the largest contributors of pollution in the country, consuming more fossil fuels than any other state. In combination with engine exhaust from cars and the city’s network of public transportation, New York’s wildlife and human populations face dangerous health impacts. Along with airborne chemicals, the city’s infrastructure cannot support necessary garbage disposal demands. Trash is often improperly disposed of, ending up in the streets and, eventually, the harbor. In recent years, city officials have been focused on cleaning up and rehabilitating the New York Harbor, as well as cutting down on air pollution. Many industries in the New York area are also making plans to switch to electric power instead of fossil fuels, many of whom have already achieved this goal. The harbor is said to be the cleanest in 110 years, and native marine life such as whales and dolphins are returning to the waters in large numbers.

Wildlife population decline

New York City is home to a vast community of birds, mammals, fresh and saltwater marine life, amphibians, and reptiles. After years of over consumption, fish make up a majority of the area’s endangered species. However, all of New York’s wildlife populations have suffered from hunting as well as habitat loss. New York City ports were popularized during the height of the fur trade, as animals such as beavers and rabbits were exceptionally sought after for their pelts. Climate change has disrupted native marine populations, specifically cold-water sea creatures. As temperatures rise for longer periods each year, warm water species like scup, black sea bass, and summer flounder are extending their migratory patterns where they may not have historically been able to survive, thus narrowing the habitat for non-migratory species. Many land animals, both native and nonnative species, now depend on city parks as their habitat. Some of these include the bald eagle, the piping plover, and the terrapin.

How You Can Help

Billion Oyster Project

Billion Oyster Project is a nonprofit organization working to restore one billion oysters in the New York Harbor by 2035. They also offer educational opportunities to students, volunteers, community scientists and restaurants about New York’s oyster history and their work in restoring the New York Harbor.

ElectrifyNY

“ElectrifyNY is a statewide coalition of advocates for environmental justice, public transportation, social justice, and good jobs fighting for a clean, equitable electric transportation future for New York.”

The New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden works to foster a connection and education for visitors with the plant life living within the facility. The organization also conducts research into the resilience of plant life to better protect and preserve native species.

The American Littoral Society

The American Littoral Society organizes volunteer-led coastal cleanup efforts for all of New York State’s beaches. They identify sites for cleanup, recruit volunteers, and distribute supplies. The organization also collects data on the health of the beach from volunteers out in the field.

Sources:

“Ecosystem Engineers,” Billion Oyster Project.

Eric Spitznagel, “Why New York harbor is the cleanest it’s been in 110 years,” New York Post, August 10, 2019.

“How NYC Parks Protect Rare and At-Risk Wildlife,” New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Lucy Levine, “From beavers to banned: The history of New York City’s fur trade,” 6sqft, June 6, 2019.

Peter J. Smallidge, “New York’s Forests – Then and Now,” ForestConnect, December 1996, 1-3.

Renee Cho, “How Climate Change Affects New York Plants and Animals,” Columbia Climate School, January 6, 2017.

Richard Howe, “Notes on the Deforestation of Manhattan,” Gotham, March 1, 2012.

Skip Davis, “A List of Animals Native to New York,” Sciencing, November 22, 2019.

Talor Gruenwald and Stephen Mushegan, “New York Emits more building Air Pollution Than Any Other State,” Rocky Mountain Institute.