With 2.5b more people expected to move to cities by 2050, supporting urban biodiversity is becoming increasingly urgent. Global wildlife populations have declined by 70% in the last 50 years. Cities are getting bigger while wildlife habitat is disappearing.
The Birds and the Bees Project is identifying opportunities to strengthen habitat networks in downtown Seattle by mapping existing habitat, locating gaps in connectivity, and evaluating where strategic interventions could support birds, pollinators, bats, and other urban wildlife.
By creating and connecting networks of native vegetation, urban landscapes can support biodiversity while delivering benefits for people and communities. Native plantings help reduce urban heat, lower building energy demands, improve air quality, and manage stormwater by slowing, filtering, and absorbing rainfall before it reaches local waterways.
Stay tuned for this new project supporting new native habitat, bird-safe materials, and urban biodiversity research!