Conservation for Cities: How to Plan & Build Natural Infrastructure

By Robert I. McDonald

Book Overview

Urban growth and climate change are reshaping the way cities function--and how they must adapt. As traditional infrastructure struggles to keep pace, forward-thinking planners, engineers, and conservationists are turning to natural systems to help meet urban demands for clean air, safe water, flood protection, and livable neighborhoods.

Conservation for Cities lays out a practical roadmap for weaving nature into the urban fabric. Robert McDonald, a leading scientist at The Nature Conservancy, shows how cities can harness ecosystem services by integrating green and grey infrastructure--from restoring wetlands to cooling heat islands with tree canopy. Through real-world examples, he explains how to identify the most valuable ecosystem services for a given place, weigh tradeoffs, and design cost-effective solutions that work with nature rather than against it.

Each chapter tackles a specific service--stormwater management, water quality, climate regulation, biodiversity, and more--offering insights into policy tools, funding mechanisms, and implementation strategies. For urban planners, landscape architects, engineers, and conservation professionals, Conservation for Cities serves as a clear, actionable guide to building resilient cities with nature at the core.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1610915224
• ISBN13: 9781610915229
• Release Date: August 2015
• Publisher: Island Press
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"