How Biodiversity Creates Healthy Communities – December Bonus Episode

The December issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now,
and on today’s bonus episode of the podcast, we’re going to be
diving deeper into one of this month’s feature stories, titled,
“Biodiversity Lays the Pathway to Good Health.” The article
explores how the COVID-19 pandemic could become the tipping point
for connecting biodiversity with human health, and we’re thrilled
to be joined by the author of the article and one of her
colleagues to talk a little bit more about it.


Joining us on today’s episode are LaDonna Baertlein, the director
of business development for Dig Studio, and Laurel Raines, a
senior principal for Dig Studio — a company focused on landscape
architecture, urban design and planning.


We know the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the way we think about
and use public spaces, but biodiverse landscapes are
lesser-discussed aspects of healthy communities. We had the
opportunity to chat with LaDonna and Laurel about what
biodiversity is and why it’s so important in creating healthy
communities, as well as what park and recreation professionals
can do to increase biodiversity in the spaces their agencies
manage.


Tune in to the full episode below to learn:


How park and recreation professionals can incorporate
ecologically supportive landscapes into their existing park
systems.

Why community engagement is critical for designing biodiverse
landscapes, and who the key stakeholders are.

How location and regional climate can pose challenges to
planning for biodiversity.

How investing in biodiversity in communities contributes to
more equitable outcomes.

Why a public space should meet the specific needs of the
community.

What the world looks like when we align the lens of public
health and equity with biodiversity, and more!