Climate Week NYC: The Carbon Potential of Urban Forested Natural Areas in New York City

Celebrate Climate Week NYC with us on Thursday, September 24 as we host a virtual event from 6:00pm to 7:00pm that explores the findings of the NAC’s recent analysis of carbon storage and sequestration in NYC’s forests and highlights how our organization is advancing climate adaptation and forest management in New York City.

New York City is home to over 7,000 acres of ecologically diverse, native forest — a vast natural resource that plays a large role in how the city adapts to challenges presented by climate change. When we think about carbon, the value of rural forests in mitigating climate change and offsetting emissions is well understood. However, in urban settings, the contribution of forests in capturing and storing carbon is not well quantified.

In 2019, the NAC used extensive forest assessment data to calculate the amount of carbon sequestered and stored in New York City’s forested natural areas. We completed this study to better understand the value of this resource in mitigating climate change and to evaluate the role of restoration and management in influencing carbon capture. Spoiler alert: New York City’s urban forests have a lot of potential to be part of the climate solution.

This event is limited to 100 spots through Zoom. Please only sign up if you plan to attend. This event was made possible through support to the Natural Areas Conservancy from Con Edison.