How an 8-acre green roof atop the Javits Center is boosting NYC’s biodiversity

10 photos

An aerial view of the 8-acre green roof on the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Jacob Javits Convention Center.

An American kestrel flies over the Javits green roof.

NYC Audubon

The rooftop farm is in its second year, and this year it has produced 16,000 pounds of produce so far.

Rosemary Misdary

A herring gull chick is waiting to get banded. On average, approximately 160 nests inhabit the Javits green roof.

Rosemary Misdary

The pollinator garden attracts thousands of insects, which in turn attracts more than 60 birds species to the Javits green roof.

Rosemary Misdary

The sustainability company Brooklyn Grange manages the farm on the Javits green roof. Its employees use older traditional methods of farming without pesticides or fertilizers.

Rosemary Misdary

Currently, the farmers are growing tomatoes in the greenhouse on the Javits roof.

Rosemary Misdary

The gotham sweat bee (Lasioglossum gotham) is one of 19 bee species that relies on the Javits green roof.

U.S. Geological Survey

Eastern phoebe, a migratory flycatcher, with freshly caught prey during fall migration on the Javits green roof.

NYC Audubon

The rooftop food forest produces apples, paw paw fruit, pears and grapes.

Rosemary Misdary

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