Nature as a Human Right and How Green Spaces Have Saved Us
Nature is a Fundamental Human Right
The pandemic showed us how crucial Nature can be. When there was nowhere else to go we still had our parks, our shores, our gardens. But millions of people in cities around the world had little to no access to green spaces, and still don't. The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is changing that. NYRP is working in all five boroughs of New York City to ensure that every New Yorker has equal access to Nature. By transforming abandoned lots into gardens, clearing trash, restoring parks, creating community gardens and community outreach programs, and advocating for greater access to green space, NYRP is growing our relationship with the Earth and the natural world one New Yorker at a time. Why does this matter? We won't protect what we haven't connected to. We need the Earth but without understanding how and why we won't fight to preserve what we have. With each garden, each green space, each restored park, NYRP is reminding us of the bond and the responsibility we have to the natural world.
What you can do today
Learn more, volunteer, donate, and get involved at https://www.nyrp.org/en/.
Follow NYRP on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
If you live in New York City, visit New York Cares to look for volunteering opportunities in NYC Parks
Challenge
The Green challenge. Offer something to your favorite green space in the form of a donation, volunteering time, appreciation of it, or care for it. Pick up trash every time you’re there or remove weeds. If you don’t have a favorite green space in your local area then go find one. Or support a natural space that you love or that you’ve always wanted to visit – a national or state park.Giving back to a place you appreciate it forms a new relationship with it- you’re now part of its story. Nature gives us so much, let's give something back.
Resources
Kathleen Graham Trust and The PFC Trust founded by Northern Irish lottery-winners Patrick and Frances Connolly
GoFundMe page for “Muddy” Mildred Wilson who completed a mud-filled 5K to raise funds for fresh water well drilling in Africa
Sherman Creek Park on NYC parks website