Understanding and Acting on the Health Benefits of Nature
Resilient by Nature Project (RxN)
The positive physical and mental health benefits of regular exposure to trees, green spaces and the outdoors are indisputable–and today, they are better documented and understood than ever before by researchers from diverse fields. More and more, a growing body of data asserts the connection between nature and human health. With this quickly growing evidence in hand, how might we use this knowledge to more significantly improve the design and function of urban areas like Chicago?
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
The Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) is a partnership for coordinated action on key issues facing trees. It is the largest such initiative in the country, with leading organizations and agencies from across the seven-county metropolitan region working together. CRTI leverages funding, knowledge, skills, and expertise to build a healthier, more diverse regional forest.
Using Green Infrastructure to Enhance Urban Biodiversity in the MMSD Planning Area PDF
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)
Recognizing that its activities to provide water reclamation and flood management services directly impact urban biodiversity, MMSD wrote this plan, with the support of local stakeholders, to help protect and restore native biodiversity within their planning area through the application of green infrastructure.
Employing NBS to Repurpose Vacant Lots
Resilient by Nature Project (RxN)
There are more than 32,000 vacant lots in the city of Chicago. Once viewed as a symbol of disinvestment, such properties are increasingly being reclaimed and converted into creative community assets–both in Chicago, and around the world. Approaches to this work can range from simple improvements by neighbors to professionally designed, multi-functional spaces.