Even though Southern California has a reputation for being a concrete jungle, the vast urban region is also home to one of the nation's most diverse bird populations.
"Defying its reputation as a concrete jungle, the [Southern California] region holds a lofty status in the bird-watching world as home to more species than all but two states in the nation...
[A] 225-acre reserve near the intersection of the Ventura and San Diego freeways [is a] wildlife oasis. [Built] in phases between 1979 and 1998 at the edge of a massive flood control basin, is one of many bird havens in the region that act as a buttress against development that has slowly consumed Southern California's once-abundant avian habitat. Such havens also make bird-watching as accessible as visiting a mall.
...the total number of species spotted in the region is growing even as some individuals continue to be threatened by pollution, development and habitat loss...Some of the credit for the region's profusion has to go to the birds themselves for showing adaptability in the face of a growing concrete-and-steel environment...From an ecological standpoint, no one can be happy that once abundant species are now crowded into limited habitat."
FULL STORY: Flights of Fancy
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.
California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.
Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland