The document discusses strategies for ecological restoration at urban sites, focusing on enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem functions while managing resources and costs. It highlights various challenges, including invasive species, poor soil quality, and a lack of community support, alongside some successes in urban restoration projects. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of balancing ecological and engineering goals to foster resilient habitats.

7. Ecological Opportunities Restore natural heritage of the site Restore ecological functions Minimize, but not eliminate, management needs and costs Improve biodiversity in surrounding areas Add ecological resiliency for the future

10. Ecological influences on birth and death Recruitment of seedlings Gene flow by seeds Gene flow by pollen Habitat change/special requirements Management actions/inactions Finding the right genotypes

12. Urban Soils Variable Compaction Hydrophobic crust Elevated pH Restricted aeration and water drainage Nutrient cycling and soil organisms Pollution Higher soil temperature

17. Genetic Communication in Plants Gene flow by seed Gene flow by pollen Dispersal by clonal fragments

33. California Geographical Survey, http://geogdata.csun.edu/NYpage1.html New York City Parks, http://www.nycgovparks.org New York City Flushing Meadows Park, Corona, Queens NYC N

36. GENERAL Physical properties of site were poorly characterized Removal of Phragmites was not permitted Stolen plants Arson No vegetation management or monitoring lack of funds after 3-yr period No public access or education plan Public access now impossible No community interest or support group exists The Story: Problems

37. GENERAL Biodiversity increased from initial survey Habitat complexity is greater from straight Phragmites to mosaic of uplands, wetlands, herbs, lake Increased understanding for future urban restorations Site closure has eliminated vandalism ( i.e., arson, dumping, theft) a trade-off in urban environmental management may be necessary? The Story: Successes

40. Protocol….. Identify collection sites Collect abundant seed Grow thousands of each species at the Greenbelt Nursery Identify experiment sites Plant experiment gardens Maintain, monitor, and collect data Analyze at Rutgers University laboratory

41. Sites for experimental gardens Fresh Kills Landfill, NYC Drier-Offerman Park, NYC Belt Parkway, NYC Duke Farms post-agricultural fields Brownfield at U.S. EPA site, Edison, NJ (NYC Parks & Rec; Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Rutgers University)

42. Brooklyn Bridge Park: Proposed Habitats (Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates) East River Brooklyn Heights

43. Proposed Habitat Types Woodlands and shrublands Freshwater wetlands and swales Meadows Dunescapes Salt marsh Submarine habitat Rookeries

44. Current Brooklyn Waterfront

45. Proposed Promenade, Brooklyn Bridge Park

46. Ecological Constraints Dispersal into the site is limited Degraded plant and animal communities Soil quality and biota is poor Invasive species are lurking Changed, stressful climate

47. Regulatory Constraints Engineering goals are not congruent to ecological goals Rooting zone is poor Disturbance regimes lacking Phasing of construction not driven by ecological rules alone

48. Social Constraints Beauty and the eye of the beholder Different strokes for different folks The numbers game I vant to be alone Here comes the sun