New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into three "green" bills, one intended to increase the city's native biodiversity. The biodiversity measure mandates that the parks department adopt a policy favoring plants native to New York over exotic plants, which can out-compete native species and drive animals dependent on them into extinction, on all city-owned property. This marks a trend of cities looking to better control plant life in their territory.
One of the other laws similarly restricts the city's planting policy. The parks department will have to start choosing more storm water-tolerant plants for the city's green spaces, in order to sponge up runoff and decrease flooding and pollution. Every year, the law states, more than 27 billion gallons of sewage and dirty rainwater are discharged into New York Harbor when sewers overflow during storms.
Stormwater-Resistant Plant Manual To Be Available To Public
Under Intro 75A, the city Parks and Recreation Department must create a storm water resistant plant manual that will help reduce severe flooding events like that experienced by the city in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
"This bill is part of our ongoing efforts to manage and reduce runoff from big storms that cause catastrophic damage to many low-lying areas. By directing city parks to identify and install plantings that capture rainwater, we will reduce the occurrence and severity of these flooding events while also beautifying the city," said NYC Councilmember Jim Gennaro, Environmental Protection Committee chair.
"Soil and plants together act as a big sponge and help to manage water. In this post-Sandy time it is so important that our elected leaders are focusing on the power of plants, "said Susan Lacerte, executive director of the Queens Botanical Garden. "With global warming and the shifting of where various plants grow it will be important to update the suggested plant lists as noted in the legislation, and that managers continually adapt their practices so that we can draw from all plants to solve current needs."
Increasing Native Plant Use: The Future Of Big City Planning?
Intro 399 increases native biodiversity in public landscapes by requiring the city's Parks and Recreation department to revise its planting design manual to maximize the use of plant species native to New York City.
"Invasive plant species cost the City millions of dollars a year to eradicate and out-compete native plant species which are important to the City's native biodiversity. The Parks Department has made efforts to ensure that plantings done within the City increase native biodiversity whenever possible," Bloomberg said. "This legislation will require that the Parks Department update its design manuals to increase biodiversity in its landscape practices. Beginning next spring, all plantings conducted by the Department will conform to this manual. In addition, the Parks Department will create a native-species planting guide that will be available to the public. The planting guide will advise the public on suitable native plants, their characteristics, and compatibility with other plants."
"This legislation promoting local biodiversity is an exciting first for New York City. Native plantings in public landscapes will provide beauty, create ecological corridors and support a sense of place. Stormwater sensitive plantings will enhance resiliency and encourage on-site groundwater recharge. Working in concert with nature to build a stronger city is a cutting-edge idea, one I'm thrilled to see being embraced here in New York City," said Marielle Anzelone, urban ecologist and executive director of NYC Wildflower Week.
