LSA 220-Introduction to Landscape Architecture Jenna Ergort

Mannahatta2409.org-Eric W. Sanderson Due: 10/2/14

Eric W. Sanderson, Landscape Ecologist for the Wildlife Conservation Society, was also the
director of the Mannahatta Project. Not only that, but he is the author of Mannahatta: A Natural History
of New York City and Terra Nova: The New World After Oils, Cars, and Suburbs. Sanderson earned his
B.A.S. and Ph.D in ecology from the University of California and he has been working at the WCS for just
over 15 years.

In 1999, The Mannahatta Project began when Sanderson moved to NYC to work for the WCS. To
fully get an understanding of where his new city had come from, he had the idea to recreate the lands
ecology from the very beginning. His plan was to apply certain techniques using special mapping
software to recreate every detail of Mannahatta, Island of Many Hills including every stream, valley,
hill, wetland etc. Going back to the 1600s allowed them to see what the city was like before it turned
into a city and also, it provides inspiration for incorporating green spaces and more wildlife places into
cities in the future.
In this next book, Terra Nova, Sanderson focuses more on the connections between oil and
money and cars and transportation. He includes many maps and charts in the book which illustrate
plans of how to achieve a better world through a cycle of tax, transportation and energy. He stated in his
lecture that there are 4 main concepts to making cities last; valuing nature, increasing density,
solar/wind power, and geothermal energy. A combination of these four things are the key to making a
city become successful and it will lead to a new way of living.













Thursday Sept. 25
th
, Eric W. Sanderson Lecture. 5pm. Illick room 5.