Conservation for Cities: How to Plan & Build Natural Infrastructure

Urban growth and climate change are reshaping the way cities function--and how they must adapt. As traditional infrastructure struggles to keep pace, forward-thinking planners, engineers, and conservationists are turning to natural systems to help meet urban demands for clean air, safe water, flood protection, and livable neighborhoods.

Conservation for Cities lays out a practical roadmap for weaving nature into the urban fabric. Robert McDonald, a leading scientist at The Nature Conservancy, shows how cities can harness ecosystem services by integrating green and grey infrastructure--from restoring wetlands to cooling heat islands with tree canopy. Through real-world examples, he explains how to identify the most valuable ecosystem services for a given place, weigh tradeoffs, and design cost-effective solutions that work with nature rather than against it.

Each chapter tackles a specific service--stormwater management, water quality, climate regulation, biodiversity, and more--offering insights into policy tools, funding mechanisms, and implementation strategies. For urban planners, landscape architects, engineers, and conservation professionals, Conservation for Cities serves as a clear, actionable guide to building resilient cities with nature at the core.