Biodiversity Education and Urban Wildlife Initiatives
Educators examine aquatic specimens in hands-on training workshop
Biodiversity and conservation of natural resources are urgent issues facing the planet. Habitat destruction and fragmentation cause the loss of species, which in turn negatively impact ecological, agricultural and human systems. These issues often are not addressed in urban neighborhoods, although they remain as critical. Diverse biological systems require thriving native habitats along migratory corridors, which include urban, suburban and rural areas throughout New York State. There is a great need for education and community action to preserve and restore these habitats, to enable the survival and diversity of native species.
CUCE-NYC'S Urban Environment Program Area is currently working to address these issues by developing new education initiatives focused on biodiversity in urban landscapes and urban wildlife through:
- Development of new educational tools, learning strategies and outreach materials
- Training and support for formal and nonformal educators, and
- Establishment of local networks for collaborative work.
Aquatic Ecology Outreach Involving Staten Island Youth
More than 100 children from public housing developments in Staten Island considered the negative impacts of litter on marine organisms and birds caused when litter gets into local waterways at a recent fishing clinic. Samples of litter, also known as 'floatables,' were collected from a NYC beach in the Rockaways for a demonstration provided by Cornell Urban Environment's Extension Educators. Most every item was easily recognizable by the children. Plastic juice bottles, six-pack plastic rings, plastic bags, fishing line, foil snack wrappers, and the remains of helium balloons that drifted from land onto the bay's or river's waterways were on display.
Cornell University Cooperative Extension-NYC's Urban Environment 'educational station' was among those included in a fishing clinic sponsored by the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) on August 23, 2007, for the children enrolled in its summer camps. The clinic, conducted on the Fishing Pier at Midland Beach in Staten Island, included stations to teach baiting, casting and reeling, and fishing, in addition to the environmental stewardship and ethics station conducted by Cornell Extension. The day's events were coordinated by Eugene Kitt from NYCHA. Among Mr. Kitt's assistants was Cornell Hampton, also from NYCHA. Mr. Hampton participated in training sessions almost 10 years ago provided by Cornell University Cooperative Extension-NYC that focused on aquatic ecology, sportfishing, outdoor ethics and conservation, as well as appropriate strategies to use in working with youth audiences in environmental educational activities. We are proud to see that Mr. Hampton has applied what he learned from Cornell Extension in helping NYC's youth learn about and care for their urban environment.
See the Cornell Chronical article, NYC youth learn about harbor litter at fishing clinic, published October 22, 2007
For more information, please contact Urban Environment Staff.