Urban Biofilter
Founding principal of Hyphae, Brent Bucknum, also started a West Oakland based non-profit called Urban Biofilter (UB), which works to advocate, research, and design for a variety of green infrastructure improvements throughout the Bay Area. Urban Biofilter is comprised of colleagues of Brent’s, the Merritt College Landscape Horticulture Department, West Oakland residents, and various other professionals and community organizers. Urban Biofilter works to create and manage sustainable stormwater infrastructure projects through a diversity of funding sources. Rather than simply look to water quality funding, UB takes advantage of the multiple, quantifiable ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure. This includes air, water, soil bioremediation, and the human health benefits of shielding residents from industry and transportation routes, as well as the private economic benefits of neighborhood development and increased property values.
