Author: Janice Lee

There was a larger emphasis on human ignorance and destruction of nature in chapter 7, “Weathering,” of City at the Water’s Edge. McCully’s overwhelming imagery exemplified her biases on the “efforts” people have made to attempt to calm climate change and protect themselves from future storms. I enjoyed the brief anecdote that connected people currently with the Dutch in the 1400’s. It reemphasized the point that history repeats itself and we should learn from our previous mistakes. The Dutch eventually realized that the best way to balance nature was to attempt to restore the natural habitat. It is pointless for humans to battle with nature because all of our attempts make conditions harsher.

The statistics she provided in the chapter were, as always, shocking, especially the drastic increase of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Apparently if we do not halt the rate at which we burn fossil fuels, carbon dioxide levels can increase between 30 to 150 percent. Initially, my mind focused on the superbly high “150 percent;” my second thought was how could there be such a large range? Upon doing some more research, I realized that McCully was referring to altering atmospheric compositions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxide. She should have clarified on that statement as it could be misleading. However, the statement itself is a cry for attention to society.

We can no longer live the way we do and expect the land we live on to continue to support us. Serious reprimands by the government and the people need to be made in order for the natural restoration of the environment to return. She emphasized that we can not accurately compare our technological period with the Ice Age because we are no longer the simple hunter-gatherer society anymore. Humans have developed into a complex urban society, where money and material items are more important than the environment in which we live. We only seem to care when something, such as a catastrophic natural disaster, occurs that directly impacts us, usually negative. If people sincerely cared for the environment, there would be larger efforts to solve the beach erosions and flooding in the long-term, instead of continuously covering up the problem at costly expenses.

This was one of the first readings that we had to read that did not focus on plants or trees. It was refreshing yet still slightly morbid to learn about different ways that humans have destroyed the environment – now focusing on New York City’s water. The author seems to highly advocate the belief that all of our ecological issues are attributed to the Europeans who first settled in New York. How else would New York City uphold the reputation it does now if the Europeans had not barged in and drained the wetlands for cropland and later industrial purposes? Without this deforestation and draining, New York City would not be at its technological and financial advancement. However, I do believe that the Europeans initiatives were too aggressive.

It was extremely surprising to read that New York used to have a plethora of shellfish before humans over harvested and polluted the waterways. I guess that is why I never would have guessed that New York was plentiful in oysters and other shellfish. Some of the information that McCully provided about dumping and water pollution was very interesting, especially the fact that numerous outbreaks of typhoid were caused by consumption of toxic oysters. Although many bans and government regulations were instituted to prevent and reduce over harvesting and toxic dumping, it became hard to enforce them. The government implemented the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and Clean Water Act of 1972, which appeared to be somewhat successful as declining species began to repopulate the waters.

Overall, the general theme is the same: humans need to coexist with nature. However, when we continue to live in a world dominated by large  corporations that still illegally and carelessly dump poisonous chemicals into our water, it is difficult to make any long-lasting progress.

I found this chapter of the book to be less … interesting than the rest of the articles and chapters we have read so far. I was initially confused as to how cutting down the trees and other wildlife that grew over the Floyd Bennet Field would be considered environmentally conscious. However, reading further into the chapter, I realized that grasslands are important to maintain due to all the other plant and animal species that can live in this ecosystem.

I was extremely shocked (and saddened) to read about the more recent human destruction of Staten Island’s environment. In such a short amount of time (approximately 60 years), humans were able to eliminate almost 450 native plant species. I am more affected by this information because of its more recent occurrence compared to the 400 years we have to “imagine” back to when reading about the arrival of the Europeans. Considering that this loss of native ecology is due to the construction of bridges and urbanization of Staten Island, it is easier to empathize and understand how these changes are taking place.

I really liked the idea on page 109 that humans are just another tool for carrying and migrating various plant and animal species to new lands. It puts things into nature’s perspective for once.

When I think of an ecosystem, I imagine a forest with an abundance of trees, shrubbery, flowers, and animals. However, I forget that cities consist of ecosystems as well, seven to be exact. Interestingly enough, street trees are defined as its own urban ecosystem. It seemed like a lot of the issues the authors mentioned in Ecosystem services in urban areas could be potentially mitigated with vegetation. An increase in urban vegetation would filter air pollution, regulate the climate, reduce noise levels, and absorb run-off rainwater.

It is difficult for a city as large as Manhattan to allocate more land space for vegetation when the city’s inhabitants are more focused on constructing more buildings or streets. People believe that already established parks, such as Central Park, are sufficient for their recreational purposes, but they forget the major importance of nature on our lives. We could be living in a less polluted and stressful environment (and even be more cost-efficient in certain situations such as water drainage maintenance) if we learned to balance between our urban and natural landscape.

This article was very informative and in favor of an increase in urban ecology. The authors briefly mentioned several negative aspects of the various ecosystems such as the release of compounds that add to issues in the ozone layer; however, there was a higher emphasis placed on the positive attributes that vegetation and eutrophication can have on a city. People should become more educated and inclined to live in a city with more ecosystems because the benefits of these natural services can help prevent further harm to the environment.

 

It is interesting how selective the human eye can be. After reading chapter 9 of the City at the Water’s Edge, I realized how little I paid attention to the various breeds of birds in New York. I love walking through Central Park yet I did not even know that it is a haven for birds – although I should have realized. Instead, I pay attention to the joggers, the picturesque view of the skyline and reservoir at sunset, the flowers blooming in the spring.

McCully portrays the birds with vivid auditory and visual imagery, i.e. the bird calls and mating dances. This chapter seemed to have more of an impact on me than the other articles we read because of the sympathy humans lend to animals and babies. Therefore, the differences between the attitudes’ of the Native Americans and Europeans disgusted me. We should incorporate some of the Native Americans’ values such as their reverence for nature and reduce our wasteful habits.

Why is it that I have never noticed the birds? Perhaps it is because I have no interests in bird watching or is it that I have never had the opportunity to fully appreciate the environment as a child?

 

Unlike the previous articles we read, the Biodiversity Assessment Handbook for New York City by Erik Kiviat and Elizabeth A. Johnson provided insight on policies and legislations that can or already is implemented to conserve and prevent further destruction to the environment. The handbook reiterated information and facts discussed in class about the importance of preserving the natural wildlife in New York. However, the authors also highlighted that many species adapted to New York City’s current urban biodiversity, citing the nesting of the peregrine falcons on skyscrapers, bridges,or church steeples. I found it fascinating to imagine the thousands of rare species existing in New York City. Living in New York my whole life, the only birds that came to my mind were pigeons, yet there are so many different types of birds solely in Central Park. It is so easy not to acknowledge things that we are not knowledgeable in or personally do not find interesting. The handbook discusses bedrock in New York City. Reading about all the different types of rocks and soil brought flashbacks to Earth Science, where my class was shown pictures or given small samples of some of the rocks. However, the experience would have been much more imprinting if perhaps the class took a field trip to Central Park and distinguished the different compositions.

There are various perspectives on land usage and many people argue for the construction of buildings for office space or housing to cater to the city’s impending population crisis. The only way serious change can be enacted is if people recognize the importance and benefits of conservation and restoration. People do not understand that these natural habitats are necessary for our survival. First step: education and appreciation.