Conservation for Cities

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.