CURE was invited to contribute the ecological and botanical components of the competition entry by Sasaki Associates, based in Boston, who coordinated the competition entry. In addition, the Tsinghua University Urban Planning and Design Institute in Beijing is part of the team, providing design and administrative functions.
"The complex ecological design aims to maximize biodiversity on this site, which is surrounded by the huge city," says Dr. Steven Handel, director of CURE. "Solving issues of re-introduction of native plants and animals, habitat fragmentation, invasive species control, water management, and plant-animal interactions is critical for long-term success."
Dr. Steven Clemants, vice president of science, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and co-director of CURE, said "This is a great opportunity to, not only create a park, but also to better understand what the native biodiversity of the region is and to essentially, re-introduce that native biodiversity to the citizens of Beijing."
In addition, "A key part of the CURE proposal is for capacity building, which will be accomplished through continuing education courses to train the next generation of Chinese land managers in the principles of restoration ecology," says Handel. "University exchanges and scientific workshops are also being planned for sharing skills between United States and Chinese scientists. Along with funds from the Beijing organizers, it is hoped that various international foundations and agencies will support the training activities.
"The Games are scheduled for August, 2008, and much of the park must be built by then for the enjoyment and education of the thousands of visitors to the Games," Handel continues. "The park will become a central feature of Beijing's natural environment, adding ecological services and biodiversity to the capitol of the world's most populous country. The park will be a major tourist attraction, exhibiting the natural history of Beijing, and will complement the many cultural sites of the ancient city," he explained.
The ecologists, botanists and landscape designers will work together in groups that address plant, animal, and landscape issues. The team draws upon the expertise of faculty from a broad assortment of disciplines at Rutgers, Cook College and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Michigan State University, Beijing University and Tsinghua University. Participants include Rutgers faculty from CURE; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute; and Cook College's Departments of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources; Plant Biology; Environmental Sciences and Landscape Architecture.
Founded in 1910, Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is an independent non-profit institution committed to education, research and the display of horticulture. BBG serves communities in New York City and internationally through its world-class gardens, extensive research collections, publications and numerous educational and community programs. Situated on 52 acres in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the garden is home to over 10,000 types of plants and hosts more than 750,000 visitors annually. For more information, call (718) 623-7200.
Established in 1766, Rutgers is America's eighth oldest institution of higher learning and one of the nation's premier public research universities. Serving more than 50,000 students, Rutgers offers more than 280 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional degree programs. The university is home to 29 degree-granting schools and colleges, and more than 150 specialized centers and institutes. Cook College and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station are the land-grant components of Rutgers. They work with other units of the university to deliver applied research and outreach in agriculture, renewable natural resources, youth development, and family and consumer sciences to New Jersey and beyond.
CURE is one of the first centers of its kind that is dedicated to restoring and enhancing the ecological integrity of degraded urban and suburban lands.