Joseph Himmelfarb ’24, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Joseph Himmelfarb ’24

Major

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Project Title

Urban Biodiversity and Conservation at NYC Parks

Presentation Link

View Joseph's Presentation

Cities are commonly regarded as ecological deserts, but they are often overlooked refuges for biodiversity. For my internship, I worked on conserving native plant species in New York City with the conservation team of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation’s (NYC Parks) Natural Resources Group. My primary responsibility was to draft conservation action plans (CAPs) for several locally sensitive wildflowers. CAPs provide ecological and biological details on how to protect and conserve specific species. I studied the scientific literature on the target wildflower species and their close relatives to compile information that would be useful for conservation efforts. I also assisted in fieldwork, traveling to a range of parks across the five boroughs to conduct rare-plant surveys and manage existing populations. I experienced the ongoing efforts by NYC Parks to conserve and restore natural areas, from salt marshes to woodlands. My internship provided an opportunity to conduct both the research that enables species management and the fieldwork that pushes that research forward. I learned firsthand the value of urban conservation, and I am eager to continue learning about the ecosystems that persist alongside industrial landscapes.