Fairmount Park is one of the nation’s largest urban parks, encompassing over 9,200 acres that claim 10% of the land in the city and county of Philadelphia. It also harbors 63 regional and neighborhood parks within its boundaries as well as more than 4,000 acres of forested land.
The Park’s recreational features connect thousands of urban dwellers with nature while its varied habitat provides food and shelter for local wildlife and a haven for birds in particular. In recognition of the latter, Fairmount Park was named an “Important Bird Area (IBA),” in 2005 by the National Audubon Society. IBAs are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of bird, including sites for breeding, wintering and/or migrating birds.
The Zoo, which is also situated within Fairmount Park, has been working in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation staff to:
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Restore native wildlife habitat and improve forest connectivity;
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Slow global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide through reforestation;
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Involve the local community in the preservation of natural resources and;
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Increase appreciation of local wildlife and understanding of climate change impacts.
Philadelphia Zoo and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation staff have worked with over 100 volunteers to plant trees across key sections of Fairmount Park. By returning native tree species to mowed areas or to those that are overrun with exotic invasive plants, we will improve forest connectivity and enhance habitat for local wildlife species such as migratory and resident birds, and a variety of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
In addition to the wildlife benefits they provide, these same trees will absorb carbon dioxide, assist with stormwater management and help to reduce the urban heat island effect, all goals outlined in the City of Philadelphia’s Greenworks sustainability plan.
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The Zoo is also working with Temple University’s Landscape Architecture and Horticulture Department at Ambler Campus on a “Head-Start Program” to propagate saplings that will ultimately be planted in Fairmount Park.
As part of their coursework, Temple students gather seeds of native tree species from which the saplings will be germinated. Because seeds collected will have dropped from healthy trees found locally there is an increased chance they will thrive in our area.
Of the more than 800 trees planted to date, close to 150 have been “head-started” through this partnership program.
The Philadelphia Zoo is an official chapter of FrogWatch USA, a national citizen science program that encourages community stewardship by training volunteers to listen to and report the breeding calls of frogs and toads in their communities. Our goal as a chapter is to incorporate this opportunity into our educational programs; to engage staff, volunteers, teachers and partners in local conservation activities and to facilitate action that saves wildlife.
We're working to protect amphibians in Fairmount Park and at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge through habitat reforestation and programs like FrogWatch. Internationally, we are committed to the protection of amphibians in Haiti, where many unique and amazing species are threatened by extreme habitat loss.
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Inspired by the collaboration between the Philadelphia Zoo, Temple University and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to restore habitat in Fairmount Park, one of the Zoo’s own staff members decided to expand our efforts by developing a wildflower meadow adjacent to a tree planting site.
Among the assortment of seeds planted– no less than 21 varieties! - is milkweed, an important plant for Monarch butterflies. Monarchs are the only insect that migrates to a warmer climate that can be as far as 2,500 miles away. But shifting rainfall and temperature patterns resulting from climate change are causing deaths in adult Monarchs and lessening food availability for their caterpillars. As a result, many populations are in decline.
“Lori’s Meadow” will help resident and migrating butterflies in our area find the food they need to survive while reducing emissions from gas powered lawn mowers and providing a beautiful reminder of how
saving energy can save wildlife.