SACREDGROUND

ERIC SANDERSON

Eric Sanderson is one of the foremost voices illuminating the deep history of the landscapes we inhabit—an ecologist whose work bridges science, history, and imagination to reveal what our cities once were and what they might become again. As the author of Manahatta and a senior conservation scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society, he has transformed the way people understand New York's ecological past, demonstrating that the future of resilient cities begins with remembering the natural systems on which they were built.

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Driven by the belief that understanding the past is essential to shaping a better future, Sanderson has devoted his career to mapping lost ecosystems and exploring how nature and urban life can thrive together. Through his research, writing, and public engagement, he invites communities to see their surroundings with renewed perspective, reminding us that restoration is not simply about recovering what was lost, but about rediscovering what is possible.

KATE ORFF

Kate Orff is one of the leading voices redefining how cities can live in harmony with the natural world—an award-winning landscape architect whose work demonstrates that resilience begins with restoring the relationship between people and place. As the founder of SCAPE, the New York–based landscape architecture and urban design practice, she has pioneered nature-based solutions that help communities adapt to a changing climate while strengthening the ecosystems around them.

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Driven by the belief that design can foster both environmental and social renewal, Orff has dedicated her career to reimagining infrastructure as living systems that work with nature rather than against it. Through her work as a professor at Columbia University and projects around the world, she continues to show that resilient communities are built not only through innovation, but through a deeper understanding of the landscapes that sustain us.

PETE MALINOWSKI

Pete Malinowski is one of the leading voices demonstrating how ecological restoration can transform both cities and communities—a marine conservationist whose work has reimagined one of New York Harbor's oldest ecosystems as a catalyst for education, resilience, and environmental renewal. As the co-founder and executive director of the Billion Oyster Project, he has led an ambitious effort to restore one billion oysters to the harbor, proving that nature can play a vital role in protecting coastlines while reconnecting people to the waters that shape their lives.

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Guided by the belief that lasting environmental change begins with education and community stewardship, Malinowski has dedicated his career to inspiring the next generation of scientists, advocates, and civic leaders. Through the Billion Oyster Project, he has shown that restoring an ecosystem is about more than reviving a species—it is about rebuilding the relationship between people and place. His work stands as a reminder that meaningful change often begins with a single, shared act of restoration.