Join us for an evening celebrating Philadelphia’s urban forests. Deputy Mayor Michael DiBerardinis will explain how the Parks and Recreation Department’s new Parkland Forest Management Framework will be a key tool for guiding the management of the city’s natural resources over the next decade, and how local stewards can participate in this work.

Featuring:

• Emma Marris
  Author of Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World
• Michael DiBerardinis
  Philadelphia Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources

With a Special Appearance by Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Recipient of the 2013 Ruth Patrick Award for Environmental Stewardship

Featured speaker and author Emma Marris will highlight her important insights on the new face of nature in the 21st century. She calls on citizens to tend the urbanized environment as a “rambunctious garden,” a hybrid of wild nature and human management. Copies of Rambunctious Garden will be on sale at the Academy Shop, and Marris will sign copies of her book following the program.

The evening will include the presentation of the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Ruth Patrick Award for Environmental Stewardship to Mayor Michael A. Nutter in recognition of his administration’s leadership in environmental stewardship, including the launch and implementation of Greenworks Philadelphia. This plan sets 15 sustainability targets in the areas of energy, environment, equity, economy, and engagement to make Philadelphia the greenest city in America by 2015.

The Ruth Patrick Award for Environmental Stewardship was established in honor of the work of pioneering Academy ecologist Dr. Ruth Patrick. It is presented to a person or organization with demonstrated leadership and commitment to sustainability, a 21st- century outcome of Dr. Patrick’s work. 2013 marks the initial presentation.

Sponsored by the Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Free and open to the public – Pre-registration requested.  Please visit http://urbannature.eventbrite.com/