An introduction to thee Urban Oases Site Selection Tool: Created by Audubon Connecticut with assistance from a GIS Consultant/Research Assistant at the Harvard Forest Essential input provided by the New Haven Harbor Watershed Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership and the Advisory Council The majority of maps and data layers used to create the tool are publically available Our Goal: Identify nature-deprived areas, address community access to open space, clean air, and clean water, and promote efforts to restore local habitat for birds and people. The process is transferrable! set up meetings created opportunities for partner and council to provide input made sure there was transparency Give yourself enough time as working with more people takes longer
The Urban Oases Site Selection Tool 1.0 Primary Goal: To select sites where habitat restoration will benefit migrating birds and provide opportunity for communities to connect with nature and engage in conservation in New Haven. The tool includes: A biodiversity model which combines data such as distance to the coast and major rivers, the Index of Ecological Integrity (North Atlantic LCC), southern exposure, etc. to predict whether an area is likely to be used by migrating songbirds. Social data layers selected with the goal of identifying communities that will benefit from habitat restoration. The layers were suggested by the Urban Wildlife Refuge partners and advisory council members.
Goals for the Urban Oases Site Selection Tool 2.0 Expand area to include the entire New Haven Harbor watershed Incorporate social data from the EJSCREEN: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool. Develop a social data model, similar to the biological data model that predicts which neighborhoods/communities are most likely to benefit from an Urban Oasis.
Where do migratory songbirds concentration? Distance to the Coast Distance to Major Rivers Southern Exposure
Where is high quality habitat available? Index of Ecological Integrity Percent Tree Canopy + + + = Southern Proximity Exposure to wetlands
Biodiversity Model 2.0 Where Urban Oases are most needed! Ideal stopover habitat
Developing a Social Model What social factors do we want to consider in selecting Urban Oases locations? How do we define Environmental Justice? What social/environmental justice data do we want to include in the Social Model?
How do we define Environmental Justice? Access to meaningful natural resources Equal access to environmental education, nature, and gardening programs Clean air and clean water Lots of trees, parks, and places to play and learn
Communities without Environmental Justice: More concrete/pavement/asphalt More vulnerable to climate change, pollution, and other environmental stressors (lack resources) Youth suffer because there are not adults who can teach them about the environment Barriers to full participation and enjoyment of natural resources
Data included in the Social Model Social Need Underserved, at-risk communities Pollution (environmental risks) Need for Nature High population density Percent impervious surfaces Limited tree cover Limited access to meaningful open space
Developing a Social Model
Social Need
Creating a Need for Nature Layer Percent NOT Tree Canopy
Creating a Need for Nature Layer Lots of parks and opportunities to learn about nature Limited access to meaningful natural spaces
Final Social Model
How might the Site Selection Tool be used? The Tool provides towns, not-for-profits, community groups, and others with information on which communities have limited access to healthy environments and where creating habitat might benefit migratory songbirds. The tool could be used to answer the questions: Where in my town would a new park most benefit residents? Which communities would be negatively impacted by conversion of natural lands to developed land cover? Where would habitat restoration be most likely to benefit migratory birds? Where would habitat improvement most likely benefit birds and people? Social model Biodiversity model
Thank you!!!