Why do we study natural areas?
Through our research projects and partnerships, the Natural Areas Conservancy is gaining a better understanding of the value of urban natural areas and their role in combating climate change, both in New York City and nationwide. We’re developing resources and tools that help advance the planning, restoration, and conservation of natural areas now and into the future.
From the cooling effects of trees to funding trends for natural areas, our environmental research digs deep into the economic, public health, and climate benefits of forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Our goal is to fill gaps in scientific knowledge about these critical areas, improve their care, and make the case for preserving them.
See Our ResearchWhat we study
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Climate -
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Urban Ecology -
Public Policy
Recent publications
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Climate June 14, 2024 Forests in Cities Climate Tool
What is this tool? The tool below uses summarized data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration () to help users visualize changes in climate variables - including maximum temperature and precipitation - over time. This no code approach to figure creation allows for individuals to create custom figures for a broad ...
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Climate March 05, 2024 Climate Change and Urban Nature
Opportunities, Solutions, and Risks
With more frequent extreme weather events and higher average temperatures, there is a clear need to address the impacts of climate change. These impacts are especially high risks for urban areas, as these landscapes already experience higher temperatures and risk of flooding due to the large amounts of ... -
Urban Ecology January 18, 2024 Protecting Urban Forested Natural Areas: Strategies for Conservation in Cities
This report summarizes the main threats to one type of urban natural area–forests–and the strategies cities use to minimize or negate these threats. Overall, this report shows that cities use various tactics such as ordinances, zoning, land acquisitions, and federal protections to preserve natural areas. The most successful approaches feature o...
More about our recent work
The Ecological Impact of NYC’s Spotted Lanternflies
By Jeffrey Clark, Senior Manager of Applied Climate Research Invasive, non-native, or pest? When talking about the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), opinions vary on how best to classify the species. T...
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Our partners in environmental research
Recent collaborative work
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The Environment and Planning division at NYC Parks manages 12,000 acres of natural areas and is a foundational partner on many projects.
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Yale School of the Environment is a key academic collaborator on environmental data analysis, climate research, and mapping projects.
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The City University of New York (CUNY) is the primary academic partner for our internship program, which recruits CUNY students to participate in our many research projects year-round.
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We work closely with local nonprofits like the Central Park Conservancy, Prospect Park Alliance, Riverside Park Conservancy, Forest Park Trust, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, and Seton Falls Preservation Coalition, among others.
From joint research projects to public programming, the NAC strives to work closely with these partners as well as other organizations focused on the preservation and management of natural areas.
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Explore our hub for national research
Our Forests in Cities Resource Library assembles research from our 21-city network of practitioners, researchers, and policy makers.
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Start your environmental research career here
The NAC has seasonal and year-round internship opportunities that support both our independent and collaborative research and data analysis efforts.
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Support our research by giving today
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