Steven Forte

Steven established ‘Rewilding Landscapes’ in 2025 with the goal to rewild turfed and concrete urban areas and re-introduce native plants into the landscape.

Originally with a career in engineering, Steven shifted his focus in 2021 to start a career in ecological restoration. He has worked for private companies and public agencies in the restoration sector and currently works for NYC Parks.

It was while working at NYC Parks that a co-worker introduced Steven to the concept of Miyawaki Forests. Once he visited the recently planted SUGi forest ‘Manhattan Healing Forest’, he was captivated. It’s shown that re-introducing native plants back into the landscape creates a virtuous cycle that welcomes back other plants and wildlife alike. It’s more important than ever, especially in cities, to re-introduce these species, to re-connect people to these refreshing natural spaces, and to understand the benefits these pocket forests provide.

Based in the New York metropolitan area, Steven is committed to rewilding urban landscapes to historical conditions while adapting to climate change impacts.