<
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/how-lower-ninth-ward-residents-created-haven-birds-and-people>
"For Rashida Ferdinand, stepping into Sankofa Wetland Park is like walking back
in time. Growing up in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Ferdinand and
other neighborhood children spent their days exploring the wetland. But slowly,
over time, the land fell into disrepair due to decades of state neglect, which
only worsened in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Now, thanks to a collaboration between local residents and the Sankofa
Community Development Corporation (CDC), which Ferdinand founded in 2008, the
area has been restored to its previous natural glory and is officially known as
the Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail. A nonprofit focused on community
health and creating economic opportunity in the Lower Ninth, Sankofa CDC has
worked closely with the residents over the past few years on the project.
Looking at the ambling paths and thriving cypress trees winding around the
park’s central pond, it’s hard for even Ferdindand to believe the area was an
overgrown lot filled with trash not even 10 years ago. “Seeing butterflies,
birds, and other pollinators in the park is a sign of a healthy ecosystem,” she
says. “All we had to do was create the right conditions.”
In 2017, Sankofa CDC entered into a partnership with the City of New Orleans
to develop the 40-acre vacant plot along the Lower Ninth’s northern edge with a
bold vision: to restore the wetland ecosystem as a buffer against flooding
while also bringing economic development to the area. Sankofa CDC does not own
the land in the form of a deed, eschewing transactional definitions of land
ownership for something more collective. Now in its final phase, the park has
become not just a rejuvenated green space, but an oasis for wildlife and
residents.
The Lower Ninth’s infrastructure challenges tell a story of historical neglect.
Crumbling roads and insufficient drainage systems have long plagued the area.
Coupled with its low-lying elevation and proximity to the Mississippi River,
the ward remains particularly vulnerable to flooding after extreme storms.
Wetlands—known for their ability to absorb stormwater—are a much-needed
resilience measure against increasingly severe weather fueled by climate
change."
Via
Fix the News:
https://fixthenews.com/create-the-right-conditions/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
