About this Event
What did New York look like before it was a city? Ecologist Eric W. Sanderson has spent two and half decades researching the landscape, waterways, and wildlife of New York as it existed over 400 years ago, before the first contact between the Indigenous Lenape and European settlers. His work reveals the ecological diversity and abundance of New York’s past—and that despite the immense changes to the land and ecosystems wrought by urban development, the historic landscape of wetlands, springs, ponds, and streams has a persistent impact on how our city and its water systems look and function today.
On March 20, Eric W. Sanderson will give a talk on the indigenous landscape of New York and how knowledge of our ecological history can help us plan for the future impacts of climate change in a city shaped by water and facing increasing flooding events. Following the talk, Sanderson will be joined for a conversation with urban planner, climate policymaker, and artist Daphne Lundi.
SPEAKERS
Eric W. Sanderson is Vice President for Urban Conservation at the New York Botanical Garden. Formerly he was a Senior Conservation Ecologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society. Sanderson is the author of the best-selling book, Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City (Abrams, 2009). The Mannahatta Project, conducted over a decade, investigated the historical streams, ponds, springs, shores, hills, forests, and wildlife of Manhattan Island on the eve of Henry Hudson’s discovery in 1609. Sanderson is currently pursuing the Welikia Project, on the historical and contemporary ecology of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and surrounding waters. Sanderson holds a Ph.D. in ecology, with emphasis in ecosystem and landscape ecology, from the University of California, Davis. The sequel to Mannahatta, Before New York: An Atlas and Gazetteer, covering all five boroughs, is expected in 2026 from Abrams.
Daphne Lundi is an urban planner, climate policymaker, writer, and artist. She currently runs an independent consultancy where she works with cities, nonprofits, and universities on climate and urban planning initiatives. Previously, Daphne served as Deputy Director at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, leading a team focused on shaping climate policies on extreme heat mitigation, open space access, and transportation sustainability. Beyond policy, Daphne also works in the arts, exploring the role of craft in storytelling about the built environment and the impacts of climate change. She was an inaugural Public Scholar at the Moynihan Center at The City College of New York, and is currently a New City Critic with The Architectural League and Urban Design Forum.
This program is part of Water Works, a new yearlong series exploring the city’s water systems and our connections to water. The series is produced with lead agency partner NYC Department of Environmental Protection and with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more program details, visit https://ohny.org/activity/eric-sanderson/
A limited number of community tickets are available for nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities in New York City and students and teachers at New York City schools. Community tickets are pay what you can, with a suggested donation of $5 per ticket. To request community tickets, please complete this form.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, New York, United States
USD 11.49 to USD 16.74
