We often think of nature as something untouched: a world apart from our city blocks and neighborhoods, where we go to escape the pace of daily life, take a walk, appreciate wildlife or simply find a moment of quiet. But the landscapes we cherish are rarely separate from us.
In reality, behind every thriving park, flourishing community garden and backyard forest are people committed to caring for them.
This issue explores the many ways neighbors, advocates, volunteers and public officials are working to improve and preserve our shared green spaces — from protecting insects and establishing arboretums to reclaiming vacant land and connecting young people with local waterways.
Their stewardship efforts remind us that the natural spaces we enjoy are shaped by the choices we make to care for them. How we tend to these spaces will determine not only what survives, but how future generations experience the natural world — and whether these places continue to thrive for years to come.
