Julienne Schaer
Governors Island Nature
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GovÂerÂnors Island Nature fosÂters visÂiÂtor engageÂment with GovÂerÂnors Island’s 120 acres of natÂurÂal and built open spaces and proÂmotes horÂtiÂculÂture pracÂtices employed by the Trust for GovÂerÂnors Island that supÂport bioÂdiÂverÂsiÂty. Through learnÂing, pubÂlic proÂgrams, and stewÂardÂship projects, GovÂerÂnors Island Nature aims to eduÂcate visÂiÂtors about horÂtiÂculÂture, bioÂdiÂverÂsiÂty and the impacts of cliÂmate change on our natÂurÂal surÂroundÂings, while proÂmotÂing GovÂerÂnors Island as a sancÂtuÂary for all beings.
The work of GovÂerÂnors Island Nature and the Trust’s horÂtiÂculÂture team is led by the firm belief that anyÂone can develÂop meanÂingÂful conÂnecÂtions to the natÂurÂal world in an urban setÂting, underÂstand our shared ecoÂlogÂiÂcal responÂsiÂbilÂiÂty, and help comÂbat bioÂdiÂverÂsiÂty loss. Our team employs a wide range of innoÂvÂaÂtive, experÂiÂmenÂtal methÂods to culÂtiÂvate native habiÂtats with a goal of mitÂiÂgatÂing the harmÂful effects of habiÂtat destrucÂtion and cliÂmate change. With a mix of hisÂtoric and newÂer, manÂmade landÂscapes — many of which were creÂatÂed to mitÂiÂgate the impacts of cliÂmate change — GovÂerÂnors Island proÂvides New YorkÂers with a unique opporÂtuÂniÂty to witÂness and parÂticÂiÂpate in nature-based cliÂmate soluÂtions and native habiÂtat restoration.
Get Involved
- VolÂunÂteer with us.
- Join the Trust’s horÂtiÂculÂture team for comÂmuÂniÂty sciÂence events durÂing the spring, sumÂmer, and fall months. Click here for an event calÂenÂdar. Make sure to creÂate a free account with and log your plant and wildlife obserÂvaÂtions durÂing your visÂit — this creÂates useÂful data that helps track and increase bioÂdiÂverÂsiÂty around the world.
Resources & Updates From our Team
- The Trees of GovÂerÂnors Island: EffecÂtiveÂly ManÂagÂing an Urban Forest
- The Trees of GovÂerÂnors Island: SurÂveyÂing Our Diverse Canopy
Resources & Updates From our Partners
The Trust works with a growÂing comÂmuÂniÂty of year-round and seaÂsonÂal tenÂants and othÂer partÂner orgaÂniÂzaÂtions. See below for resources and updates from sevÂerÂal on-Island partners.
- a guide from the Bee Conservancy
- a guide from Earth MatÂter NY
GovÂerÂnors Island Nature is supÂportÂed by City GarÂdens Club of New York City and STIHL Inc. Tree plantÂiÂng sponÂsorÂships are genÂerÂousÂly proÂvidÂed by JPMorÂganÂChase and The MetLife Foundation.