Future Nature: Rethinking Public Landscapes as Resilient Systems
Future Nature: Rethinking Public Landscapes as Resilient Systems is part of Engaging Nature: Dialogues on Urban Ecology, a four-part virtual public program series that will illuminate the practices and expertise driving the High Line’s contributions to the domains of ecological horticulture, urban biodiversity, and climate resilience.
Thomas Rainer is a leading voice in ecological landscape design and co-author of Planting in a Post-Wild World. Thomas challenges traditional approaches to urban green spaces and advocates for dynamic plant systems designed for climate resilience. Drawing on his own work in the field, he’ll share how landscapes like the High Line are moving beyond ornamental gardens to become self-sustaining, adaptive ecosystems that thrive amid environmental stress—transforming our parks and public spaces into vital habitats for a greener future. Thomas will be joined in conversation by Azzurra Cox, a landscape architect and assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania who studies how urban green spaces foster collective memory and belonging.
