Why is there a forest in the middle of the city?

How many times have you gone to a new city and noticed a park in the middle of an urban area that seemed well kept, similar to a small sanctuary, and nearly staged? You might think of Central Park in New York City as one place like this. If you've been to Portland, Oregon, and had time to explore, you may have seen many parks that also closely resembled forest. This is likely because of urban naturalization, which has taken native plant species and replanted them in urban areas to help bring the land back to its original form, create a natural location in an urban setting, and create an appealing area for those that may come across it. 

Below is a video about an organization called Evergreen that is based in Canada. While this video is older, it will show you a small glimpse of what this is all about.

In the picture below from their website you can see the impact their work has had in their area. From this more than one person or institution benefits from urban naturalization. While this work is great it is also key to remember this work does not completely support itself. Funding is key, maintenance is still required at times, and the Earth can constantly change even just based on seasons. When a community shares the responsibility of maintaining an environment like this, generations are impacted and communities can come together to learn more about the world around them. 

Take the time to check out Evergreen's website and work they have done if you want to learn more about what you can do to get involved right where you are. We can enjoy the world around us at the same time we give back to it and make it a better place!