Tag: reading response

“Green Roofs as a Means of Pollution Abatement” Response

This paper definitely contained a lot more hard science than many of the other ones that we have read, especially when it came to discussing some of the biology and chemistry in the methods of pollutants being removed and the results of the dozens of experiments and studies being performed. There was even a whole section dedicated to explaining the criteria for the selection of articles to be used as references for the paper. Despite this, Rowe clearly demonstrated the many benefits of having green roofs, other than the most apparent one, which would probably be their aesthetic appeal resulting from lush, verdant vegetation covering up once-useless wood and shingles.

Green roofs reduce air, water, and noise pollution, mitigate the effects of the urban heat island, take up less space in landfills, release less carbon dioxide, and provide countless positive outcomes to many aspects of human health, especially physiological and psychological. One particular statistic that I found interesting was that “emissions from coal fired power plants could be reduced by 350 tons of NOx per day in Los Angeles by reducing the need for air conditioning…[this] results in a savings of one million dollars per day” (Rowe 2102). Los Angeles might have a much different climate than New York (mild, wet winters and bone-dry, warm to hot summers) and topography (with all of its valleys and mountains), but its metropolitan area has more than eighteen million people, so this proves that green roofs can be implemented on a large scale in some of the most populous urban conglomerations in the world.

Not surprisingly, green roofs are not foolproof and have a few drawbacks. It was mentioned that “particulate matter cleaned from the air that adhered to leaf surfaces will be washed off by rain and eventually leach into the stormwater system, thus trading air pollution for water pollution” (Rowe 2104). Furthermore, only the magnitude and frequency of precipitation, mostly rain, was discussed; what about snow, sleet, hail, ice, or other meteorological events, such as extremely hot or cold temperatures and wind? Lastly, it seems that green roofs will take a giant amount of time and effort to plan, ranging from engineers and architects discussing the design appropriate for the building to botanists selecting a certain group of species to other workers maintaining the green roof for years to come. Regardless, this idea looks extremely promising, and a cost-benefit analysis will likely allow green roofs to enter the mainstream if they have not done so already.

“City at the Water’s Edge Chapter 6: Muddied Waters” Response

I personally found this chapter to be the most depressing and pessimistic of the ones that we have read in the book. The only humorous part was probably the reference to the blues singer Muddy Waters in the title of the chapter. The content itself just reinforced McCully’s scathing condemnation of the practices that European colonists and even recent inhabitants of the New York City metropolitan area have carried out in the waterways that have been a major part of our history, culture, and geography. From personal experience, I am a resident of Northern Queens, and whenever I travel during low tide on Astoria Boulevard or the Whitestone Expressway by Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, I have to deal with the ungodly stench of decades-worth of dumping. I never would have thought that so many fish, mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic plants, amphibians, and reptiles once called places like these their homes, which are now wastelands deprived of oxygen and nutrients and full of materials toxic even to us.

All of the habitats that McCully discusses in other chapters, when taken as a whole, highlight the rich biodiversity that we take for granted, but this chapter in particular shows how our own population has been directly affected by our destruction of the environment, not solely the other organisms and non-living components. For example, the water pollution caused by dumping from factories located along the water has sickened and killed hundreds of us over the years, but the same cannot be said of deforestation, over-exploitation of the natural flora, or the hunting of birds. This does not even take into account the 2,215,890 fish and billions of fish eggs and larvae destroyed by the Indian Point nuclear power plant in 1977 (McCully 88). One would think that this would have encouraged us to do something about this issue before it got out of hand, but despite its severity, it has been treated with the same negligence and indifference as many other ecological problems. Also, since water flows all around the globe and is not static like a forest or grassland, McCully emphasizes this by saying that “Industrial wastes combined with commercial and domestic wastes – a total of 50 million gallons of untreated wastes – were discharged into the river daily, polluting the waters upstream and down. No longer confined to the New York metropolitan region, the problem now concerned the whole watershed.” (McCully 86).

At least the government has passed some legislation to combat this situation, including the creation of agencies to regulate dumping and advocate transparency and accountability, as well as sewage treatment plants to render the areas cleaner and more suitable for species to live and breed. Many of these have worked, and the amount of different species in areas has grown exponentially in just a few decades. On the other hand, building a sports complex in the Meadowlands has definitely not helped biodiversity; the fact that a deal had to be made to develop part of the land in exchange for restoring other parts of the land demonstrates the preference for short-term profits to benefit a few instead of long-term solutions to benefit everyone. Hopefully this mindset can shift in the right direction, but as history has shown, not even the dire, devastating effects of water pollution can ring the bell loudly enough for immediate change.

 

“City at the Water’s Edge Chapter 7: Footprints” Response

In this chapter, McCully discussed the importance that plant species of all kinds, from flowers to weeds to grasses, hold for humans and other organisms, and how ecosystems such as prairies or grasslands are often seen as barren wastelands, but that they are critical ecosystems themselves. We often overlook this fact since we are only concerned about the potential benefits that nature has to offer us, but it will stop supplying us if we do not take a serious look at the effects of our actions on our environment, which seem to grow monumentally every day.

Similar to the discussion in chapter eight, which was titled “Forests for Trees”, McCully mentions how “nature could be tunneled, quarried, mined, leveled, straightened, drained, and diked; wild lines – like wild men – could be subjugated and domesticated” (McCully 103). The comparison to slavery is a very heated topic, so I do not want to discuss it without generating some sort of controversy, but the main point that she is trying to get across is that we torture nature for its secrets and once one portion of it is drained dry of knowledge, we do the same thing to other areas. On the other hand, Native Americans lived harmoniously and equally with nature; it was considered something to cooperate with, since it was vital to understand the balance between its effects on their livelihoods and the effects they personally had on it. Parts of forests that were chopped down would be replanted or burned down to clear weeds, underbrush, or other undesirable plants, and trees that held some sort of spiritual or geographical purpose would be revered and preserved. European colonists instead sought to extract precious oils and herbs to create precious elixirs in a strictly economic sense. The fact that a plant like sassafras was treated as a cure-all and exported by the ton (McCully 101) demonstrates how companies were willing to profit from stripping nature until nothing was left; even more remarkable is that it was thought to be a panacea for just about every imaginable disease, but one does not need to be a scientist to understand that this is impossible.

On a more positive note, I was amazed by how hundreds of species came over unintentionally to the New World from Europe and possibly Africa and Asia by attaching to the clothing or shoes of the colonists and then being spread by wind or birds all over the continent. Of course, some plants and animals were brought over on purpose, but how else could one explain how bluegrass, which is now a symbol of the state of Kentucky and closely associated with country music, is actually of European origin? Even though nature has been extremely impacted by human activities, it is true that it has shaped and influenced our culture, and it would be wonderful if we as a whole can get together and reach an equilibrium point that satisfies our needs and protects our environment at optimal levels.

“Ecosystem Services in Urban Areas” Response

The main idea in this article by Bolund and Hunhammar is that nature and cities are not mutually exclusive. As New Yorkers, we always like to say that we want to go upstate, to Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or even New England to experience the “great outdoors”, and it is true that many of the resources that we use in our city come from far outside our metropolitan area, such as water from reservoirs in the Catskills. At the same time, our city contains an abundance of ecosystems and even rare species that cannot be found outside of cities, such as birds that nest on skyscrapers or those that pass directly over New York City along their migration routes.

The authors did an exceptional job at detailing the different types of ecosystems that occur in cities, making reference not just to the organisms that inhabit it, but the crucial non-living components as well, such as water, rocks, and other landforms. They made a good point by stating that “it is difficult to generalize a discussion like the one in this paper to reflect the importance of the ecosystem services in all cities of the world. Both the actual service and its value are site-specific and can vary significantly around the world” (Bolund and Hunhammar 294). But I do not think that Stockholm, or any other city for that matter, can serve as a good comparison for New York City. Even though both are located near bodies of water, Stockholm’s metropolitan area serves 1.5 million people compared to more than 23 million for New York City’s metropolitan area, has a much milder climate, is not part of a landmass that is as large as North America, and has different cultural practices, history, and demographics. Thus, some of the processes that are mentioned may not work as well in New York City. For example, air pollution may be filtered out due to vegetation, but it may be trapped in a valley like the Hudson; New York City has a much larger population density relative to its suburbs and consequently a greater urban heat island effect; lastly, New York City has many large buildings that may actually funnel winds and accelerate them, not slow them down.

Nevertheless, some of the proposals that the authors alluded to can definitely work in New York City. In addition to micro climate regulation, I noticed that all seven urban ecosystem types can generate local and direct services for recreational and cultural values (Bolund and Hunhammar 299). This sector is probably the most directly related to humans, since it affects us not just physically but also psychologically. Cities often make us feel blasé and uninterested in our surroundings, so we should definitely preserve our biodiversity for aesthetic and health reasons, build parks and leisure areas not just for vegetation but to relax and participate in fun activities, and even use land in innovative ways, such as in medians in roads or shoulders for traffic calming procedures. As always, political corruption and the desire for profit by corporations can hinder progress, but every step taken to emphasize the importance of our relationship with nature will eventually add up in the end.

Chapter 9 Response

Similar to the last chapter, this one started off with beautiful imagery. It stated how NY can be  safe haven for all these species of birds to land and rest in between flights. Central Park being a green oasis in a concrete jungle. While reading this I was felling slightly jealous of her and her husband’s journey to see all of the birds. It made me want to look up more and observe nature. Not only nature in regards to trees but also the wildlife that depend on the greenery as a safe haven.

Then all of this imagery has taken a turn.  The reading describes the difference in approaches the Europeans and Natives had in their environment. The Europeans would just look up and unload bullets into a flock of birds in the air. This systematic annihilation of the birds lead to the extinction of many species. The Natives however saw their environment and nature as a blessing. They made sure to never over hunt any one species.

The ending was really poignant. “What has been destroyed can never be created again.” That quote has stuck with me after reading this chapter.

“City at the Water’s Edge Chapter 9: Urban Flyway” Response

I was excited that the subject of this chapter of “City at the Water’s Edge” was about birds in New York City, especially since I have been paying close attention to the species in my neighborhood. The synagogue next door to my house has a blackberry tree that is taller than my three-story house, and its branches are sturdy enough to support a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, squirrels, and even wasps. Every morning for the past several months, my dad has been leaving out breadcrumbs for the birds to eat; at first, I thought that there would just be pigeons and sparrows, but I was thrilled to have encountered rare blue jays, European starlings, American robins, a Northern cardinal, a mourning dove, and a dark-eyed junco (I have photo evidence if anybody is interested). Ever since then, I have been trying to identify birds that I am unfamiliar with by searching based on their plumage, size, calls (if I hear them) and other identifiable features.

I am not a birdwatcher like McCully and her husband are, and I do not think that I would enjoy staying in the same spot for hours just watching birds fly by, regardless of how many species there might be. Nevertheless, I still have a soft spot for birds, along with most other people, most likely because of their aesthetic appeal, graceful flight, and beautiful songs. However, their variety probably sparks the most interest; to be honest, I did not think that the avian portion of biodiversity in New York City would be such an issue, but I was completely wrong. In this chapter, McCully mentions the passenger pigeon and heath hen becoming extinct over a century ago, so we probably only have crude drawings or black-and-white photographs to remember them. They met their demise by businesses trying to satisfy the fashion fads of the time or even hunters not hunting for food or survival but for sheer fun. This is yet another example of how people will take in everything that their environment offers them to the point that there is nothing left.

Despite the extinction of at least two species, McCully discusses how many harmful pesticides have been banned and how conservation organizations such as the National Audubon Society continue to function today. As great as this has been, some populations have been increasing tremendously, including the black-crowned night heron, growing from 1105 pairs in 1992 to 1887 pairs just a year later, and the double-crested cormorant, growing from 585 pairs in 1985 to 3528 pairs just a decade later (McCully 136-137). These birds may actually cause harm with their toxic droppings, nesting on private properties, and predation of insects that benefit us, such as bees, so their populations should be reduced to sustainable levels. The chapter is interestingly ended with a bittersweet quote that “what has been destroyed can never be created again” (McCully 145); extinct species cannot be brought back under normal scientific means, but we can definitely restore places to almost exact replicas with a few differences, and learn from our mistakes to provide for future generations.

“A Biodiversity Assessment Handbook for New York City” Response

The United States is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, mainly due to its size which supports a wide range of habitats and species. Urban areas are typified by everyday pests such as pigeons, rats, and squirrels, but after reading the handbook, I was thoroughly surprised that our metropolitan area was home to some species that cannot be found anywhere else. New York City’s biodiversity is often promoted for marketing or aesthetic reasons, but as inhabitants, it is crucial to our survival; for example, without the hundreds of different types of bees to pollinate our flowers, we would not have clean air to breathe or fresh crops for food, home products, or other manufacturing purposes. Furthermore, Times Square may be the “Crossroads of the World” in an entertainment and cultural sense, but according to the handbook, New York City is located along the paths of many migration routes for birds and the boundaries of forests, salt marshes, freshwater marshes, and beaches. Without its unique geography, topography, geology, and weather patterns, our area would likely never have been colonized and became one of the most important cities on the globe.

As has been the case with most of our other readings, as humans, we seek to extract nearly everything from our surroundings to satisfy our ever-increasing needs, and these environments have taken a toll, namely through pollution, the introduction of invasive species, habitat destruction, and other factors. Preserving our unique set of ecosystems – not just for our sake but for all of their respective flora and fauna as well – is described in great detail in the handbook. The authors narrowed down biodiversity in general to biodiversity in cities and then specifically New York City; they outlined issues and ways for all of us to get involved. For example, in the section titled “How to Perform a Habitat Assessment”, the table is divided into categories of habitats and species to document, and non-expert and expert roles. This emphasizes how everybody already has the capability and the basic knowledge to lay the foundations for a more biodiverse and eco-friendly city for many generations to come. Also, the quote “By the time species have become rare enough to be listed statewide or nationally, recovery can be impossible” (Kiviat and Johnson 33) highlights the urgency of doing something about threats to biodiversity now, and can be connected to the listing of habitats and species in the back that may be actually rare in the common sense but not classified as such after going through a long, tedious, and risky bureaucratic process.

As well-organized, coherent, and easy-to-follow as this handbook was, I felt that the authors did not stress how some species may actually be harmful to us, and are most likely not worth conserving. They did mention how some man-made products are actually shelters to snakes, salamanders, and other reclusive animals, and how tall skyscrapers can harbor many rare species of birds. However, many of these species, especially birds and insects, can transmit diseases, some of which are probably not well-researched. They alluded to invasive species in the sense that some species threaten the welfare of other species, but not how they have been invasive to us. At the same rate, we humans are a vital part of nature as well, and like all other species, we have a role to ensure equilibrium; we just have not found the right balance yet.

Chapter 8 Response

While reading this chapter I was thinking off all the discussions we had in class and they fit right into this chapter. This chapter did a great job in not only throwing facts but by telling facts within anecdotes and easy to read stories.

Trees have long been ignored and just seen as a resource. It has been used in the past to build massive ships and homes. There was never a connection between Europeans and nature like the natives shared with nature. The main reason Europeans came was because in their land, trees have already been close to depletion. This is also shown in the last reading where letters have been sent back stating how great of a land America is to exploit.

If only we can now share the connection that Native Americans had with their environment and seeing the true necessity and history trees can have, then maybe our world can look very different.

“City at the Water’s Edge Chapter 8: Forests for Trees” Response

Trees are one of the organisms that we New Yorkers take for granted, coming across hundreds of them, every single day, but not knowing how long they have been there, what types of animals inhabit them, or even what species they are. To our colonial ancestors, they were a constant source of wood for building ships, houses, factories, and tools, but we continue to deplete them today since they often get in the way of our development projects. They are just another example of the tremendous impact that we have on our environment just to fulfill our insatiable needs.

Our area used to be home to chestnut, beech, ash, linden, sycamore, maple, tulip-tree, and at least a dozen other different types of trees (McCully 116), many of which I have probably encountered but did not know what particular type they were. McCully does an excellent job at recounting the chronological history of the decline of forests, from colonial times to the revolutionary war and even time periods such as the Industrial Revolution with inventions like the steam engine. By doing this, she emphasizes how the rich biodiversity of our area was one of the main reasons colonists, especially from England and the Netherlands, decided to settle here.

McCully also interestingly compares their callous treatment of the forests to the reverence that the Native Americans showed by strategically burning areas to kill weeds and underbrush and leaving historic, sacred trees alone. However, I wish she would have included more about conservation techniques, which constitute only a few paragraphs on the last page of the chapter. It is important to identify that a problem exists with the environment, but rather than condemn our ancestors, I think it is also important to highlight the importance of trees to our lives, not just for clean air and resources, but since they are such relevant markers in time and space, with some very lucky ones lasting for more generations than we can count with our fingers.

Mannahatta Response

While reading this article I couldn’t help being astonished by the facts. The huge drop from 99% of natural areas in the city to just 3% is tremendous. It is difficult to imagine Manhattan now considered a concrete jungle to have once been comprised of jungles.

When I think of Europeans moving into New York, I think of the conflicts between the whites and Indians that were previously living here. I think of the constant wars and winnings of people but not of nature. Not only were the native people of Manhattan displaced but a huge amount of native plants and animals were lost.

This reminds me of last semester’s IDC seminar where we studied gentrification and the moving of people from their own neighborhood. I believe that this class fits well since it gives an additional perspective to the destruction of the environment and movement of the animals that were once roaming the area.

The establishment of Manhattan was destructive but has lead to many great achievements. Manhattan is now seen as a hub of culture and diversity. Many immigrants have come here from around the world with dreams to make it in this vibrant city. If only we can then learn from how other areas in the world coexist with their environments and apply it to this great city.