Wild Animals in Urban Spaces

Cities are often thought of as distinctly human environments. Yet, a wide variety of wild animals continue to make their homes in and around dense urban areas. Experts increasingly accept that human, animal, and environmental health are intrinsically linked. In this vein, cities have the opportunity to consider how they can adapt their built infrastructure to promote the wellbeing of the human as well as nonhuman residents that share these spaces. 

This panel will bring together experts in local policy, building sustainability, and wild animal welfare to discuss how cities and other local actors can shape their policies for land use and the built environment to better promote the welfare of wild animals. As part of the discussion, researchers from NYU will present findings from a newly-released report that identifies promising policy options for cities to consider, ranging from bird-friendly building materials to green infrastructure design and prohibitions on gas leaf blowers.

Read the full report here

Read the highlights here

SPEAKERS

Alexandra Silver, Director, New York City Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare

Alisa White, Legal Fellow, Guarini Center

Cecil Scheib, Chief Sustainability Officer, NYU Office of Sustainability

Dr. Mal Graham, Strategy Director, Wild Animal Initiative

Jeff Sebo (moderator), Co-Director of the Wild Animal Welfare Program & Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, New York University

REGISTRATION

This event is open to the general public. Advance registration is required. Non-NYU visitors should be prepared to present a valid government-issued photo ID to security for entry into the building. Non-NYU attendees should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early in order to avoid security delays.

To attend in person, register here.

To attend virtually, register here.

SPONSORED BY

Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law, NYU School of Law
Wild Animal Welfare Program, New York University
Law, Ethics & Animals Program (LEAP), Yale Law School