Nature and Biodiversity Friendly Communities

One of our goals is to better understand wildlife, biodiversity and conservation issues locally through science based projects we would like to undertake. We would also like to find models for creating Biodiversity andConservation Friendly Communinities, similar to the Climate Smart Communities model.

Announcement: Habitat Gardens, Youth Plots and Bioblitz at Thompson Mazarella Park

We are so excited that Starr Library in Rhinebeck has donated space on their property to create an educational Habitat Garden (Birds and Pollinators). We hope to get this established in spring 2021 and will hold an event to work with students in the schools and the community. If you would like to help mentor, maintain, or work on the educational signs, let us know! We hope this will complement efforts to establish gardens in our local school district. The Community Garden has also gotten approval to create a youth plot for learning about food systems, pollinators, and climate capture. Finally, we will be organizing a bioblitz in partnership with the Community Garden at the Thompson Mazarella Park in Sumemr 2021.

Climate Smart Communities

The NY State Climate Smart Communities Framework provides for a number of actions that address nature and ecosystems. Youth can get involved in the CSC process in many ways. This webinar we did for the Catskill Youth Climate Summit explains how.

In Rhinebeck, we are creating a Nature-Based Solutions Working Group under our CSC Task Force! Our proposal is here. We are about to start our Natural Resource Inventory in collaboration with the Rhinebeck Conservation Advisory Board.

Following are examples:

Starting with PE6 Action: Natural Resources Inventory 6.2 Incorporate Smart Growth Principles into Land-use Policies and Regulations 6.7 Adopt Land-use Policies That Support or Incentivize Farmers’ Markets, Community Gardens and Urban and Rural Agriculture 6.18 Develop a Local Forestry or Tree Planting Project or Program 6.19 Preserve Natural Areas Through Zoning or Other Regulations PE7 Action: Watershed Assessment PE7 Action: Restoration of Floodplains & Riparian Buffers PE7 Action: Conservation of Natural Habitats 7.17 Conserve Wetlands and Forests to Manage Stormwater, Recharge Groundwater and Mitigate Flooding

Creating Conservation Friendly Communities

Following are some activities and models we will consider in developing a Biodiversity and Conservation Friendly Community Framework. Let us know if you have some ideas and check back here as we build this.

Bird Friendly Communities

Audubon's guidance and programs on creating communities that support and protect bird habitats.

Conservation & Land Use Program: Hudson River Estuary

An excellent set of resources from the NY DEC to help communities incorporate natural resources into land-use planning and decision-making.

Wildlife Habitat Communities

National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat Program (gardens)

hudsonvalleywild@gmail.com