According to standard ecoregion mapping of North America, New York City falls squarely within the eastern broadleaf forest—an ecosystem characterized by an overstory of tall, broadleaf trees, like American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and white oak (Quercus alba). The on-the-ground reality, however, is made obvious in the air: a plane flying low into LaGuardia International Airport offers its passengers a view of the city’s expansive network of yards and parks, roads and parking lots. After generations of urbanization, New York City’s tree canopy represents a mere 21 percent of its land cover. A comparable percentage is, in fact, represented by mixed grassland vegetation—the turfgrass in public parks, golf courses, and soccer fields. The city’s cemeteries also house a significant portion of that vegetation, totaling an area of more than five Central Parks.
展开▼
