MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to preserve the remaining wetlands and forests on Staten Island (SI) which protect the Environmental Justice communities as well as other vulnerable communities from the impact of the current climate crises.

WHERE WE HAVE BEEN:   

Our Staten Island (SI) environment has been under assault for decades. This small Island is surrounded by water, is heavily industrialized and has diminishing natural green infrastructure and open spaces. At the edge of some of the homes in this Environmental Justice community of Graniteville, we have the Staten Island Expressway where cars release CO2. Close by, we have Newark Airport. The planes fly over Graniteville releasing methane (A more dangerous gas than CO2). Also close by we have petroleum refineries releasing toxic clouds over our heads. Asthma, Cancer and COPD rates are high. We need an increase of natural green infrastructure to address the causes of these conditions. 

Forests sequester CO2 in the soil and in the trees themselves. Trees breathe out what humans need, oxygen, and humans breathe out what trees need, CO2 which then gets absorbed back into the trees and soil. Humans are partners in breathing with trees. In addition, trees lessen the effects of extreme heat in surrounding areas by 10+ degrees. 

The Coalition for Wetlands and Forests (CWF) began as a response to Hurricane Sandy (2012) which killed 24+ people on SI alone. CWF was founded in June of 2017. At that time, our primary mission was to protect the 18-acre Graniteville wetland and forest across the street from our environmental justice community. We also worked to protect the vulnerable mobile home community, the majority of whom are elderly, disabled and low-income residents. 

Our mission has always included the education of these vulnerable, front-line communities regarding the environment and the dangers of the climate crisis.

WHERE WE ARE GOING:

We are now working to protect 325 acres of wetlands and forests along the west shore of Staten Island. These wetlands and forests are currently slated for development. The increasing effects of the climate crisis on the east coast of the USA are characterized by sea level rise, storm surge, torrential rain flooding and extreme heat.  Without the natural green infrastructure of wetlands and forests, these areas will be flooded along with property damage and fatalities. CO2 in the air will increase. Temperatures will rise in the communities surrounding the destroyed wetlands and forests. 

Wherever there is a community vulnerable to climate change on Staten Island, we will be there in support.