Our Approach
The Bronx River Watershed Health & Resilience Program is guided by four interconnected components that translate knowledge into action and build lasting capacity across the watershed.
Bronx River Watershed Health & Resilience Program
The Bronx River is both an ecological corridor and a lifeline for the communities along its banks. As climate impacts intensify, coordinated, place-based approaches are essential to protect the river, reduce risk, and ensure that restoration and resilience efforts deliver equitable benefits.
NYBG’s Bronx River Watershed Health & Resilience Program aims to leverage the expertise and resources of NYBG Science, Horticulture, and Education teams to support and amplify the ongoing work of cross-sector partners and community land stewards across the Bronx River Watershed. Together, we are strengthening the ecological health of the river while advancing the well-being, resilience, and environmental equity of the communities it touches.
Rooted in collaboration and place-based knowledge, the program responds to the intertwined ecological and social challenges facing the watershed—such as flooding, climate change, biodiversity loss, and unequal access to healthy environments—by aligning research, stewardship, education, and partnership.
Plant-Based Strategies
We promote nature-based solutions by advancing the planting of native species and sharing practical horticultural skills, beginning in the Thain Family Forest. Invasive plant management and ecological restoration are core to this work. NYBG supports the identification, management, and replacement of invasive plant species that degrade riparian and upland habitats across the watershed. By pairing coordinated removal with native replanting, we help restore ecological function, improve habitat quality, and strengthen the Bronx River’s resilience to flooding and climate stressors.
Current Projects
- Bronx River Riparian Forest Restoration Project: Supported by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Community Reforestation (CoRE) Grant Program. This multi-year restoration effort focuses on regenerating native riparian forests, enhancing biodiversity, and improving water quality and recreational landscapes at six sites across the Bronx River Watershed, including locations in Bronxville, Mount Vernon, North Castle, and Yonkers.
Community Engagement & Education
We co-develop educational and public-facing programming across NYBG that builds knowledge, skills, and long-term stewardship across the Bronx River Watershed. Through certificate programs, professional development for educators, and place-based experiences, we support residents, teachers, and emerging leaders in translating watershed science into climate action and environmental justice. Our public programs also animate the river through educational walks, field workshops, stewardship events, and community science collaborations that deepen local understanding of watershed ecology and climate impacts.
Actionable Science
Starting in the Thain Family Forest, NYBG Science is working to generate and share research that demonstrates how urban forests support the health and resilience of the Bronx River, while informing on-the-ground decision-making. Building on long-standing collaborations highlighted through NYBG’s Bronx River Research & Partners work, we will translate ecological data into accessible, decision-relevant insights that guide land management, conservation planning, and flood resilience across the watershed.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
We convene a growing network of stakeholders from the Bronx and Westchester, including community organizations, municipalities, academic institutions, and public agencies, who share a commitment to the health and resilience of the Bronx River Watershed. By fostering coordination and knowledge exchange, we help align efforts across boundaries and scales.
Supported by
