NYC Central Park Nature Walk: Paul Zofnass and his sister, Joan, have created a roughly two-mile nature walk around New York City’s Central Park Reservoir . Along this walk, signs have been posted identifying nearly 100 plant, shrub and tree species for the visitor. A brochure is also available at the Central Park 90th St entrance on Fifth Avenue, describing the 25 “points of interest” on the walk, detailing the elements of ecological significance at each stop. If you are in New York City and would like to take this walk, click here to download a copy of the brochure and map.
Zofnass Family Preserve: The Zofnass family has also created a 250-acre nature preserve in Pound Ridge, NY, one hour north of New York City. Paul has designed and built a ten-mile long “wilderness” hiking trail (also known as The Westchester Wilderness Walk) that runs throughout the Preserve. One of the attractions of the trail is that at no point can any reflection of “civilization” be seen. The Preserve was created through a combination of land gifts and conservation easements donated and organized by the Zofnass family and their neighbors, and is open to the public. Click here for a brochure and map and here to see a recent New York Times article about The Westchester Wilderness Walk.
Harvard Sustainability Initiative in Infrastructure Design: Paul Zofnass, President of EFCG, has funded a program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (“GSD”) to develop a set of sustainability standards for the design of infrastructure, along the lines of what the LEED program has done for the design of buildings. The initiative is harnessing the environmental and design expertise of Harvard University, with the practical and real world experience and input of leading design and engineering firms. The process and protocol will be developed through a series of interactive sessions at Harvard and at other locations with the Sustainability Directors of participating architecture, engineering/consulting and construction firms. The first session took place at Harvard with leading US firms including Acciona, AECOM, CDM, CH2M Hill and HOK and a second has taken place in Spain with leading European firms. The next session is scheduled for September, 2009 at Harvard and monthly sessions will continue through 2010. Any other firms interested in participating in the development of this Program, please contact Paul Zofnass (PZofnass@efcg.com). (Click here for more information.)
New England Forest Exhibition at Harvard Museum of Natural History: Paul Zofnass has financed and helped create a major, permanent multi-media exhibition focusing on the natural history, environmental significance, historical development, and conservation of New England forests at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. New England Forests: The Zofnass Family Gallery, scheduled to open in the spring of 2011, will feature Harvard’s natural history collections and draw on current research from other departments and scientists from around the University. The broad goal of the exhibition is to enhance public understanding of the dynamic nature of forest ecosystems, the impacts of human activity in shaping the landscape, and the relationships between forest landscapes and habitats and the distribution and evolution of varied flora and fauna. The exhibition will present the latest research on the role of forests in carbon sequestration and address the threats created by invasive species. It will also demonstrate the methods and tools that scientists use to investigate these issues. Animals currently on display in the museum, such as moose, deer, and bear, will be combined with other plant and animal specimens from the collections, life-like models, and varied media. An interactive kiosk will invite visitors to apply their understanding of forest ecosystems to various future scenarios and learn the consequences of different conservation options. New England Forests will be complemented by a variety of educational materials for visitors, including the more than 25,000 school children that visit in groups each year. In addition, the Harvard Museum of Natural History will offer a series of public lectures and family programs, including programs about the forest in folklore and literature. Click here for an article on the exhibit. |
