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Natural Areas Conservancy

Climate Change Challenge: direct effects on species

Grant Award: $248,193; Year Awarded: 2016

New York City sits at the confluence of three ecoregions that include forests which provide valuable recreational opportunities to the city’s residents and visitors and are a haven for both permanent and migratory wildlife. Forecasted temperature increases could cause the range of many tree species to shift northward, while an increased frequency of disturbances by extreme weather events can disrupt habitat connectivity in an already fragmented system. Using climate science models and species composition data the Natural Areas Conservancy will develop a tool that matches species expected to thrive in future climate scenarios and apply the tool to upcoming restoration projects in NYC, thus increasing the resilience of the city’s urban forest. increasing forest resilience.