Study maps all tree and plant life found within Battery Park City, including each species’ characteristics and ecosystem benefits
Digital TreePlotter platform provides education tool for public to explore and learn about Battery Park City’s vegetation while BPCA will use software for future horticulture management
Battery Park City’s Urban Tree Canopy & Biodiversity Assessment maps the distribution and abundance of all tree and plant species found within Battery Park City and offers recommendations for horticulture management that will enhance biodiversity. The public can also explore these findings using BPCA’s new TreePlotter tool, a digital mapping platform customized to include in-depth information on all trees and plants found within Battery Park City.
To complete the survey, Battery Park City’s 13 parks and streetscapes — comprising 10.5 acres of vegetated area within the neighborhood’s 36 acres of open space — were inventoried. The study assessed the neighborhood’s urban tree canopy and plant inventory, examining each species’ contribution toward biodiversity, resiliency, habitat and wildlife support, and the overall health of the neighborhood. The analysis also calculated each species’ ecosystem benefits in relation to stormwater capture, air quality, and carbon capture. To track and monitor these observations, all data was uploaded to the publicly-accessible TreePlotter digital platform.
The study identified:
– More than 1,750 living trees, comprised of 70 species
– Honeylocust as the most dominant tree species, comprising nearly a quarter of all trees in Battery Park City
– More than 900 plant species, including 358 native species
Using these findings as a baseline, the Authority will target higher biodiversity, improve the health of existing vegetation, manage future plantings, and implement strategies to protect Battery Park City’s planted areas from environmental stressors. To do this, BPCA will increase native species, diversify the urban tree canopy, promote longer bloom periods to support pollinators, and ensure vegetation is protected against climate change threats such as flood-risk and higher temperatures.
The Urban Tree Canopy & Biodiversity Data Audit was developed by the BPCA in coordination with SCAPE Landscape Architecture and AKRF, with guidance from primary consultant Buro Happold. Field work for the tree and plant species inventory was completed in the spring and summer of 2023.
The Battery Park City Sustainability Plan puts forth a holistic vision for environmental sustainability. The work described here was conducted to support two goals in particular:
– The Biodiversity and Habitats goal aims to enhance the biodiversity of plant and animal life at Battery Park City and ensure that the wildlife is resilient to the changing climate
– The Quality of Life goal aims to improve the environmental quality and pedestrian environment of Battery Park City by addressing air quality, noise pollution and the urban heat island effect
Through its urban tree canopy and biodiversity assessment work of this project, BPCA has made significant progress toward meeting these goals. The Authority also plans to conduct future plant and tree species inventories to continue monitoring the landscape.
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