Cities have important roles to play in protecting and developing biodiversity. Read about Toronto’s innovative PollinateTO Grant Program and how the latest Toronto Green Standard incorporates biodiversity. 

Discover the regional conferences as Grey to Green explores green infrastructure in Toronto and Boston, fostering knowledge and showcasing remarkable tours, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities

Learn about six different scenarios for biodiverse cities which reflect the complexity and dynamism of urban systems and ecosystems and represent more positive futures for the world’s megacities. 

Pocket Forest Projects based on Miyawaki principles are springing up across North America as a way for communities to engage in biodiversity restoration and climate resilience. The Town of Ayer, Massachusetts provides an outstanding example of the multiple benefits of these projects. 

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with Assistant Professor Scott Macivor of the University of Toronto to discuss the critical role of insects in the natural world, how climate change affects insect communities and populations, and the ways in which green roofs and green infrastructure can support and enhance those communities in our urban environments. Join us for a conversation on biodiversity and its role in our society, how insects support and influence the natural environment, and how we can develop comprehensive ecosystems.

Biodiverse green roofs require specialized bio-regional maintenance planning and knowledge on the part of the maintenance teams, says Cynthia Pohl who shares details of her maintenance practices in Alberta, Canada.

Discover the latest developments in green roof training with new in-person and online programs, along with a comprehensive policy resource manual. Learn how to create sustainable green spaces for a greener future.

Discover how lettuce cultivation thrived on a shallow substrate, overcoming temperature extremes and low fertility. Learn about the impact of fertilizers and weather conditions on crop productivity.

In this feature, an area in southern Ontario is reviewed to illustrate the important collaboration between ecologists and landscape architects to produce ecologically-informed landscape plans that can increase the biodiversity of the site, among other benefits. The project priorities are to retain ecology, restore habitats, replace habitats, and to recover species at risk.

The European Union’s draft Nature Restoration Law contains binding targets for the greening of the EU’s ecosystems and its cities for 2040 and 2050. Its very ambitious and progressive but it is facing an uphill battle to become law and upcoming elections are complicating matters. 

Discover five somewhat surprising reasons we are not ‘separate’ from nature, but deeply interconnected, and how this knowledge can help us improve the design of our buildings and communities.

The Rooftop farm above the expansion of the Javits Convention Center incorporates numerous sustainable innovations including an orchard, water reuse and more.

Toronto Metropolitan University is using its two rooftop farms to advance the practice of rooftop farming through multiple research projects, while also supporting food justice. See also the podcast with Arlene Throness, Urban Farm Manager, and Nicole Austin, Black-led Programs Coordinator.

With contributions from Emily Ahlstedt and Nicole Semeraro, Andrew Mihalchick provides a concise overview of the reasons for proactive maintenance and an outline of the major tasks involved and why they are worth doing. 

Learn about GRHC's new Installation and Maintenance training and certification, developed over 3 years by an expert committee.

The Landscape Architecture Foundation has released IGNITE, a scholarship-internship-mentorship program for Black, Indigenous and people of color to increase their participation as Landscape Architecture professionals.  

The performance requirements of the soil/growing medium on rooftop farms are complex. Learn more about the different requirements from the experts at rooflite.  

K-12 schools, universities and local businesses are great places to have edible and healing rooftop plants which provide a wide variety of educational and edible benefits. Take a tour of these diverse projects and learn what they have to offer.

This episode, Sustainable Futures is joined by Nicole Austin, Black Student Engagement Coordinator, and Arlene Throness, Urban Farm Manager, to discuss their work with the urban rooftop farms at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Here is the most comprehensive list of rooftop and urban farms in North America ever assembled.