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The passage of the Clean Water Act marked a turning point for New York Harbor. After decades of pollution and ecological collapse, water quality slowly began to improve. Marine life started returning to the estuary, creating the conditions for something many thought impossible: the potential return of oysters to New York Harbor.
By restoring oyster reefs across New York Harbor at scale and reconnecting the next generation to the water through place-based education, we're laying the foundation for a generational shift in the health and future of New York City.
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Our Theory of Change
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Where Restoration and Education converge.
We believe urban ecological restoration is possible, but it does not last without people who are connected to it. In a dense, working city like New York, restoring nature without shifting culture leads to short-term gains. Building both at the same time creates longevity.
Oyster reefs are foundational infrastructure in estuarine ecosystems. They create habitat, increase biodiversity, filter water, and stabilize shorelines as climate pressures intensify. New York Harbor can support this kind of recovery. But without public understanding and the willpower that so aptly defines New York, restoration at scale will not last.
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Pair harbor-wide oyster restoration with place-based education.
Our restoration work forms the physical and scientific backbone of our work. We design, build, and monitor oyster reefs across New York Harbor, making restoration a part of our city’s culture.
In parallel, our education programs bring students and educators closer to the outdoors. Participants engage with real-time science through fieldwork, observation, data collection, and analysis, grounded in the context of their home.
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Advances two outcomes at once.
Research and experience show that repeated, meaningful exposure to nature, especially early in life, shapes how people care for places over time. In a city where access to nature is often limited or overlooked, sustained engagement with the harbor strengthens the human systems required for long-term ecological recovery. Restoration and education reinforce each other. Reefs bring life back to the Harbor at scale. Informed, engaged people ensure that work continues and expands.
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Stay connected to New York Harbor
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Get the latest updates on oyster restoration, educational programs, volunteer opportunities, events, and ways to make an impact across New York Harbor.
The theory of change model
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our vision
We envision the world’s largest coastal cities restoring their native estuaries and shifting culture to recognize nature as essential.
From cutting-edge restoration technology to purpose-built barges and first-of-their-kind urban expeditions, we are building the infrastructure needed to accelerate our impact and redefine what urban marine restoration can look like.
how we're innovating
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origin story
our origin story
our origin
At the Harbor School on Governors Island, a small group of educators and restoration practitioners asked a radical question: what would it take to bring oysters back to the New York Harbor? What began as a school-based restoration effort quickly became something larger. The mission turned into a new model connecting ecological restoration with public education.
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As oyster reefs proved capable of surviving and reproducing in the harbor, Billion Oyster Project shifted from small-scale experimentation toward long-term restoration at scale. The organization expanded reef installations, shell recycling operations, scientific monitoring, and public programming across New York City, building the infrastructure needed to restore this harbor ecosystem.
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Today, Billion Oyster Project has restored more than 183 million oysters across New York Harbor while engaging students, scientists, volunteers, and communities in the work of rebuilding the estuary. The mission has grown beyond oysters alone: restoring biodiversity, strengthening shorelines, reconnecting New Yorkers to the water, and proving that cities can help lead ecological recovery at scale.
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our values
These principles shape how we show up for the harbor, each other, and the next century of New York.
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Hope
We believe in the restorative power of oysters and the hope they offer. We seek to
inspire reconnection with the nature around us and envision a cleaner, more accessible
New York Harbor for all.
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Impact
Everything we do is designed to inspire young people and change how we think
about nature. We seek to enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and develop
coastal resilience through tangible impacts.
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Equity
We are grounded in the belief that everyone deserves equal access to high
quality education, jobs, and local green and blue spaces. This requires actively working
to address historic and ongoing injustices.
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Community
We invite all New Yorkers to meet at our shared waterfront. This is where
we unite our efforts to create a sustainable future by tapping into the knowledge,
resources, and passion that we — as individuals and organizations — bring to the table.
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Resilience
In the face of challenges, we embody resilience. We band together to
overcome obstacles that stand between us and the future we want for the next
generation.
The great outdoors is right here on our doorstep. That's why we’re inspiring New Yorkers to take action on behalf of their city.
