Cities Are For Songbirds: Conservation and Coexistence in Biophilic Cities

About our topic

Tim Beatley will present the contours of an emerging vision of cities, Biophilic Cities, that at once emphasizes the health and ecological benefits of nature for humans, but also the inherent moral worth of nonhuman life. Cities must be designed as multispecies habitats and with coexistence and biodiversity conservation as priorities. A special focus in the talk will be given to birds and the important ways that cities can be designed and planned to be bird-safe and bird-friendly (building on the ideas and stories presented in his recent Island Press book, The Bird-Friendly City). Beatley will also discuss the creation of the international Biophilic Cities Network, now more than a decade old, and provide examples of innovative practices, policies and projects that aim to include nonhuman life.

About the speaker

Timothy Beatley is the Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for the last twenty-five years. Much of Beatley’s work focuses on the subject of sustainable communities, and creative strategies by which cities and towns can fundamentally reduce their ecological footprints, while at the same time becoming more livable and equitable places. Beatley believes that sustainable and resilient cities represent our best hope for addressing today’s environmental challenges. http://timbeatley.org/ and http://biophiliccities.org/

Natural Habitat Evanston, a program of Climate Action Evanston, is an all-volunteer community group of about 1,300 members, spreading the word on creating habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife. We aim to change the culture of lawns: leaving your leaves is the simplest first step; the second step is adding a native shrub or tree to shrink your lawn. We show how to transition from turf with low-cost cardboard methods, which keystone native plants to choose for year-round forage, that insects chewing on leaves is a ‘win’ (rather than cause to reach for pesticide), how turning off unnecessary lights saves insect and birds (and human health), and how to make your windows bird-friendly (because if you are going to invite birds to your yard, let them visit safely). We plant a lot of native trees and shrubs, especially at schools and in the 5th Ward.

We encourage people to think outside the lawn with No Mow May. Our Pollinator Pledge is a central focus of all our outreach and education, and a great way to spread the word to your neighbors.

We encourage people to think outside the lawn with No Mow May. Our Pollinator Pledge is a central focus of all our outreach and education, and a great way to spread the word to your neighbors.