In the concrete jungle, it can be hard to remember that between the bustling streets lives a thriving ecosystem.
New York City’s fauna extends far beyond rats and pigeons. A few weeks ago, 36 third graders from P.S. 56 in Clinton Hill traveled to Westchester County to release more than 30 juvenile trout they had raised in their classroom since October. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Garcia praised the initiative: “The Trout in the Classroom program teaches students from pre‑K through high school about where their drinking water comes from, and the importance of protecting the watershed lands that provide the world‑class water we enjoy every day.”
Birds (of all kinds) flock to Brooklyn parks such as Brooklyn Bridge Park and the open waters of Marine Park Salt Marsh, where Gerritsen Creek provides an important refuge for ducks, geese, and other waterfowl.
Flora flourishes here, too. In our parks, there is such natural abundance that people can forage from natural bushes and trees. On the streets and sidewalks, thousands of fruit trees live and produce pounds of fruit each year. The Marine Park Salt Marsh, a massive wetland park, includes upland meadows, waterways, and tidal flats. The parks provide animals refuge from the summer sun, and blossoms attract pollinators that then help other plants to grow, enabling other animals to eat and make nests.
Protecting this natural world takes work. The Department of Environmental Protection helps fight invasive plant species. Volunteer tree stewards branch out around the boroughs to protect and maintain street trees. The city, which just announced that it would plant more trees, is also an important player in caring for New York’s animal kingdom.
Our zoos help rehabilitate animals. This year, the Coney Island Aquarium hatched an endangered African penguin and is raising the chick — one of only a few thousand left in the world. A red fox that somehow slipped onto a cargo ship from England to New York is now in the care of the Bronx Zoo. The Prospect Park Zoo created a program specifically for saving the threatened Pallas’s cat species.
Hundreds of groups, both large and small, work to protect and preserve the natural habitats and the delicate ecosystem in the city. The work pays off wonderfully — our parks are beautiful, our waterways are cleaner than ever, and animals are thriving. In a way, there’s no better place to celebrate Earth Month than right here in Brooklyn.
– Michaela Keil, Editor, Bluedot Living Brooklyn
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Climate News, In Brief
Green Jobs: The New York City Department of Environmental Protection and The Doe Fund joined forces on Earth Day to reveal a $4.5 million three-year pilot program to train New Yorkers for green jobs.
Pollinator Garden: M.S. 407 School of Technology, Arts and Research was awarded a $5,000 grant by the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Energy and Sustainability to create a pollinator garden at John J. Carty Park on Fort Hamilton Parkway and 97th Street. The school held a ribbon-cutting for the garden on Earth Day.
Laughter to Fight Climate Change: “Joy is what made our species survive in the first place,” said Jiaying Zhao, a professor of psychology and sustainability at the University of British Columbia. A new theory wants to harness happiness to empower those fighting to curb the burning of coal, oil, and gas and the heat-trapping gases they emit, causing Earth to warm.
Looking for Input: The city Department of Transportation seeks public input on where to locate a new batch of 25 e-bike battery-swap and charging stations.
Legalization for Bodega Cats: New legislation introduced to City Council would pave the way for the legalization of the city’s many beloved bodega cats and create a program offering free spaying, neutering, and vaccination to working cats.
Mount Prospect Park. Photo: Friends of Mount Prospect Park
The Mamdani administration on Tuesday released a plan to expand the tree canopy to cover 30% of the city by 2040.
“To reach this 30% goal, it’s going to take work from every actor in the entire city,” said Jessica Einhorn, chief of forestry programs at the Department of Parks and Recreation. “This program planting trees, especially in the high [heat vulnerable] neighborhoods, is really critical towards that equity angle.”
In those riskier areas, the tree canopy — or the area of the city currently covered by trees and their leaves — currently stands at 19%, compared to about 26% in others, City Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung told the City Council in March. (Overall, tree canopy covers just over 23% of the boroughs according to the last count in 2021. That was after a net increase of 1.2% since 2017.)
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Mother’s Day often centers on caring for others. This year, we’d like to encourage any mother reading to do something nice for herself. Forget dropping hints. Instead, treat yourself to something you’ll genuinely enjoy. Shop now through April 30 and save 10% sitewide with code EARTHDAY10.
A staple of traditional Chinese medicine, the gua sha helps ease facial tension and support circulation. UpCircle’s stainless steel version is non-porous, easy to clean, and won’t break if dropped. A couple of minutes of use can help reduce puffiness and leave skin looking more refreshed. ($20)
Activist Skincare offers a focused, effective line with a well-designed refill system. The Sea to Skin Cleansing Gel softens and balances the skin, while the Active Hydration Vitamin C+ Antioxidant Serum helps brighten the complexion. Try applying the Precious Oils Active Infusion with the gua sha. ($28+)
No Tox Life’s Eucalyptus Steam is just the thing on mornings when you’re having a tough time getting started. Put one in the shower, and it will release energizing eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils into the steam. ($16+)
Dear Dot,
Help me build a small garden bed. I would also love some tips to help the vegetables grow more prolifically and heartier.
– Royce Ann
The short answer: A small vegetable garden requires selecting a sunny spot, protecting it with fencing from animals, and boosting soil nutrients with compost and garden soil. Stick to space-efficient plants you actually enjoy eating, such as herbs, root vegetables, leafy greens, and climbing plants on trellises, while avoiding sprawling crops like squash and melons. Maintaining healthy soil through annual composting and organic fertilizers is key.
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BLUEDOT LIVING KITCHEN
Mr. Howard Mocktail. – Photo courtesy of Seedlip
Raise a toast to more sun, warmer days, and, of course, our beautiful Earth. This mocktail is a refreshing and citrusy drink that lands somewhere between a daiquiri and a paloma — perfect for a spring afternoon.
BROOKLYN BIRD WATCH
On a warm summer day, nothing beats a refreshing splash of water — and birds know it, too. They'll splash and dash their way through puddles, water-filled leaves, birdbaths, and even swimming pools. Birds will turn whatever water they can find into their own personal spas. Unlike us, though, they're not just cooling off; for birds, taking a dip is essential.
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The Bluedot Brooklyn newsletter is edited by Michaela Keil. If you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, or want to tell us what you’re doing, email [email protected].
