biophilic cities network | seeds, roots + shoots
2021 annual report
Toronto Ravine. Image by Matt Forsythe.
Connecting Cities + Nature
The Biophilic Cities Network is a global collaboration of partner cities, organizations and individuals committed to working in concert to conserve and celebrate nature in all its forms and the many important ways in which cities and their inhabitants benefit from the biodiversity and wild urban spaces present in cities.
Empowering a Connected Network
Facilitated by a network platform, partners collectively pursue eight grand challenges and curate a growing library of science and study supporting the implementation of biophilic city planning and design.
From Plastrik, Taylor, & Cleveland. 2014.
Biophilic Cities Network Platform
Grand Challenges
Partner Accomplishments
Through annual reporting, partners communicate progress towards biophilic aspirations and network grand challenges.
Abundant Biodiversity
Toronto, Canada
At the forefront of biophilic policy, Toronto has been taking strides to enhance climate and biodiversity actions for all new planning applications by adopting Version 4 of the Toronto Green Standard.
Norfolk, VA
As a coastal community with a rich history, Norfolk is addressing the threat of sea level rise through biophilia. The city’s Green Infrastructure Plan has incorporated Action Plans for Threatened and Endangered Species to ensure the protection of biodiversity as they plan for the future.
Creating a Movement
Arlington, VA
Arlington County is creating a movement by educating county staff and stakeholders about the importance of Biophilia. A 2-day webinar held in July 2021 focused on integrating the county’s Biophilic Goals into plans, policies, projects, and operations.
Reston, VA
A partner since 2018, Reston was founded on principles of preserving natural beauty. Reston has continued to pursue this mission, encouraging residents to become engaged in the movement by creating a report of Best Practices for the Management of Invasive Plants to aid homeowners.
Nature Based Resilient Communities
St. Louis, MO
The Green City Coalition is increasing resilience by improving vacant parcels with rain gardens, butterfly gardens, native tree plantings, prairies, and other greenspace uses.
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Located in a biodiverse region, Vitoria-Gasteiz is continuing to improve environmental and social services through their Urban Green Infrastructure Strategy.
Ecological Wonder
Reston, VA
Reston continues to connect its residents to nature, inspiring awe among children through the Young Naturalists program, teaching them about nature and connecting them to the outdoors.
Flourishing Health and Wellbeing
Austin, TX
Austin has prioritized environmental protection within the city. Opening the first phase of the Waterloo Greenway in downtown Austin will provide an opportunity for residents to improve their health and wellbeing by connecting them to biophilic and urban ecology experiences.
Curridabat, Costa Rica
The city’s Ciudad Dulce (“Sweet City”) program has continued to enhance wellbeing by expanding urban gardens throughout the city, with 10 urban gardens and 4 more in progress.
St. Louis, MO
Located along the Mississippi River, the city’s Forest Park Forever installation has provided 17-acres of nature for city residents to explore.
Markets for Social Impact
Miami-Dade County, FL
Home to many endangered species and abundant with biodiversity, Miami-Dade County is supporting Biophilic initiatives through the Fiscal 2021-22 budget.
Norfolk, VA
A new tree preservation/replacement strategy is helping the city achieve their goal of establishing and maintaining an aggregate tree canopy of 30%.
Equitable Nature
Birmingham, UK
As critical component of providing access to greenspace to support the health and wellbeing of residents, Birmingham has recently completed a City of Nature Plan to ensure equitable access as new holistic standard for parks across the UK.
Plans and Projects
Norfolk, VA
Norfolk is taking steps towards a more biophilic future through implementation of the PlaNorfolk 2030 General Plan and its goal an aggregate tree canopy of 30%. Recognizing the tremendous value of urban forests, the city has adopted new rules to require minimum tree canopies for new development and to incentivize additional planting.
Toronto, Canada
Through its adoption of the C40 Nature Declaration, Toronto seeks to further its commitment as a partner in the Biophilic City Network and plans to report annually on 5 self-identified indicators to assess and evaluate Toronto’s biophilic progress over time.
Austin, TX
Austin is prioritizing health and environmental outcomes in the city’s New Strategic Plan, Strategic Direction 2023, which focuses on Biophilic related indicators such as parks and trail access, creek and lake health, and tree canopy cover.
Arlington, VA
The Arlington County Board has approved 8 site plans in the past year which include elements of biophilic design such as nature walls, planted terraces, and green roofs, creating a more symbiotic built environment for the future.
Birmingham, UK
The city is transitioning from a historic industrial city of 1,000 trades to a city of 1,000 green spaces through their new City of Nature 25 year Delivery Framework, which includes a Nature Recovery Network ambition map.
Edmonton, Canada
Edmonton is planning for the future by performing a Natural Asset Inventory, identifying the city’s natural assets and including details about the services they provide, as well as the risks they face.
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
City Council has begun an interdepartmental project to naturalize school yards, improving biodiversity and connecting children to nature.
Norfolk Resilience Park
Biophilic Indicators
Austin, Texas
TREE CANOPY COVERAGE
Toronto
+ TREES: 10 year (2008 to 2018) 2%-5% increase in tree canopy coverage + addition of 1.3 million trees + improvements in street tree diversity and size distribution
+ TREE PLANTING: In 2021 (through October), 299 events + 370 participants + 876 volunteer hours
Austin
+ TREE CANOPY: Since joining BCN in 2016, increase from 30% to 36% tree canopy coverage
Reston
+ TREES: net increase in number of trees in 2021
BIODIVERSITY
St. Louis
+ MONARCH BUTTERFLY: ~420 gardens registered + 31+ acres of pollinator / butterfly habitat + ECO-LITERACY: assessed increased from 2014 to 2018
Toronto
+GREEN ROOFS: In 2021 (through October), 951 green roof permits with total area of 850K sq meters
WETLAND RESTORATION
Norfolk
+ SHORELAND/WETLAND RESTORATION: 7-year total (2010 to 2016) of nearly 400K sq ft + LEARNING BARGE VISITATION: 6.8K visitors in 2018
EDUCATION
Reston
+ WALKER NATURE CENTER: so far in 2021, over 150 programs with 2,200 participants + iNATURALIST: so far in 2021, 861 observers and 4.3K observations
Toronto
+ iNATURALIST: In 2020, 4160 observers (increase of 1K from 2019)