Biodiversity

Woodlands

An App for Teaching Forest Management

Augmented reality shows what the forest would look like with a full complement of biodiversity.

December 27, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mountain Lion

The Best Locations for L.A.’s Mountain Lion Freeway Bridges

A coalition of researchers have identified one area near the 101 and other near I-15 that would help keep the big cats alive and healthy.

May 28, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Flame Towers

Mapping the Collision Course of Sprawl and Biodiversity

The expansion of the built environment proceeds with little regard for the loss of biodiversity, and the planning field isn't doing enough to help.

February 9, 2018 - ASLA The Dirt

Tropical Beach

Islands of the World Get Their Own Smart Congress

After six years of successful Smart City Expo World Congresses in Barcelona, the island of Majorca will host one that focuses exclusively on islands. It will focus on technology and innovation, and address unique challenges islands face.

March 25, 2017 - Cities of the Future

Bosque de Chapultapec

Rewilding Cities: Wellness and Nature

When nature is integrated into urbanism, wellness surges. Hazel Borys looks at the benefits.

January 17, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Minneapolis Riverfront

The ASLA's New Guide to Resilient Design

The American Society of landscape Architects is promoting a new guide to resilient landscape design, which examines hundreds of case studies for examples of infrastructure that works with nature, instead of against it.

September 20, 2016 - ASLA The Dirt

Mexico City

'Native Plants' Won't Save Urban Biodiversity

Part literature review, part political appeal, this article makes the case for rethinking the concept of what makes plants native—especially in the face of climate change.

June 20, 2016 - UGEC Viewpoints

Lizard

How Lizards Can Teach Planners About Designing Cities

Ecologists offer scientific lessons in how to better build cities for humans and wildlife.

January 19, 2016 - Steven Snell

Banff

Add Complexity to Your Life

The City of Calgary aims to restore 20 percent of its open space to increase biodiversity. Complex nature is—and needs to be seen as—foundational to our day-to-day lives, both for our well being, and the health of nature itself.

December 10, 2015 - Steven Snell

Friday Eye Candy: Explore Manhattan in 1609

A new online interactive project allows new access to the history of Manhattan before Dutch settlers began taking residence on the island in 1609

October 2, 2015 - CityLab

Study: Astounding Loss of Global Biodiversity in Last 40 Years

According to a newly released study by the World Wildlife Fund, the Zoological Society of London, and other NGOs, the world has lost half of its biodiversity, particularly in fresh water ecosystems and in developing nations.

October 7, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Massive Swan Kill Planned in New York

“Across millennia [mute swans] symbolized transformation and devotion, light and beauty,” says a recent article in Wired. Not so much in New York City, where the city’s population of mute swans will be reduced to zero to protect other native species.

February 7, 2014 - Wired

The Wicked Problem of Urban Biodiversity, pt 1

Biodiversity is not something “out there”, studied in labs, outside of our cities. It is a borderless organism that resists complete solutions to the problems arising in such interconnectivity.

January 6, 2014 - Steven Snell

Another Story of a City: Biodiversity

The short-sightedness of overarching proclamations for the right city form obscures the very context in which cities are built and expanded. City planning must become reconnected to its environmental context.

October 16, 2013 - Steven Snell

Conserving the Biodiversity of Massachusetts in a Changing World

BioMap2 is designed to guide strategic biodiversity conservation in Massachusetts over the next decade by focusing land protection and stewardship on the areas that are most critical for ensuring the long-term persistence of rare and native species.

April 27, 2013 - Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built + Natural Environments

How Much Are Ecosystems Worth?

A Swedish research center has been tasked by the government with valuating the services rendered by ecosystems and educating the public on the importance of biodiversity.

February 28, 2013 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Global Urbanization's Threat to the Global Environment

In the developed world, increased urbanization can be a net boon for the environment. Yet, writes Bryan Walsh, if not planned for carefully, the rapid urbanization of developing world could have a dramatic impact on climate change and biodiversity.

September 24, 2012 - Time

Urban Sprawl and Development Threatening Biodiversity in Animals

Habitat fragmentation linked with urban sprawl and development has been shown to negatively impact biological diversity in animals, according to new research.

September 27, 2010 - San Diego Union Tribune

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.