Implementing Green Infrastructure in Spatial Planning in Europe

Abstract

Interest in green infrastructure (GI) has grown in research, policy and planning in recent decades. The central idea behind GI is the understanding of the physical non-built-up environment as an infrastructure capable of delivering a wide variety of benefits to society, including the ability to preserve biodiversity; to provide food, feed, fuel and fibre; to adapt to and mitigate climate change and to contribute to enhanced human health and quality of life. The European Union (EU) has had a GI strategy since 2013, and member states are involved in several strategic and applied GI initiatives and projects. The aim of this study is to explore if and how the European strategy has been implemented. The study adds to the body of knowledge of current GI policies and measures in Europe via an online survey and insights into previous research. The survey reveals that GI is integrated into one or more policy sectors in all 32 countries covered. In 11 of the 32 countries, GI-specific policies are already in place or are being drawn up at a national level. In general, the respondents see the responsibility for GI policy and strategy as a matter of national governments and the implementation as a matter of local governments. They also see the LIFE+ and Horizon 2020 project funds, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), as the most important EU funding sources for the implementation of the GI strategy. The study also identifies availability of georeferenced information, zoning and biotope area factor as three of the spatial planning tools used to implement GI.

Integrating Green-Infrastructures Design in Strategic Spatial Planning with Geodesign

“…Within this context, one of the main priorities for the creation of a metropolitan level GI is to enhance connectivity among protected areas and counter habitat fragmentation. As noted by Slätmo et al [1] "the land uses that conflict most in terms of habitat fragmentation with GI preservation and development are transport and energy infrastructures and agriculture". In addition, low-density land use for built-up areas, commonly referred to as 'urban sprawl' is an important factor of habitat fragmentation, as well as, "denser urban structure and land cover changes in urban areas are often at the expense of green areas and the ecosystem services they preserve [1]".…”

“…Over the last decades Green Infrastructure (GI) has stimulated growing interest in research policy-making and planning [1]. Since the concept was first introduced in the second half of the 1990s, in contrast with the one of "grey infrastructure", it has been recognized as an important element for contributing to the sustainability of development [2].…”

“…It is also argued that geodesign intensive workshops can, in a very short time, contribute to raising the awareness among the participants of collaborative design to the importance of green infrastructure in strategic territorial planning.Sustainability 2020, 12, 1820 2 of 22 movement [4]. Connectivity and multi-functionality are considered key characteristics for the GI to remain resilient to change [1,5]. The first characteristic is related to the need of biotic functional groups to have not only high-quality living and restoration space (i.e., core areas), but also to be able to move across patches in order to support genetic diversity [6].…”

“…The first characteristic is related to the need of biotic functional groups to have not only high-quality living and restoration space (i.e., core areas), but also to be able to move across patches in order to support genetic diversity [6]. The second characteristic concerns the ability of a GI to perform several functions in the same spatial area related to the provision of a variety of Ecosystem Services (ESs), serving a range of functions for both nature and society.Due to its multi-sectorial nature, GI requires a holistic and cross-sectorial approach to spatial planning in order to both stimulating possible synergies and coordinating initiatives, and to avoid the consequent risk of conflicts between objectives related to different goals [1]. recognize the central role of GI in guiding the early stage of the planning process across the different levels (i.e., regional, municipal and project scale) and proposed a reform of the legal framework of landscape and urban planning at the Autonomous Region of Valencia by identifying a unique GI as an ecological-based tool to overcome fragmentation and to interconnect all the different policies concerning landscape protection.…”

“…Due to its multi-sectorial nature, GI requires a holistic and cross-sectorial approach to spatial planning in order to both stimulating possible synergies and coordinating initiatives, and to avoid the consequent risk of conflicts between objectives related to different goals [1]. recognize the central role of GI in guiding the early stage of the planning process across the different levels (i.e., regional, municipal and project scale) and proposed a reform of the legal framework of landscape and urban planning at the Autonomous Region of Valencia by identifying a unique GI as an ecological-based tool to overcome fragmentation and to interconnect all the different policies concerning landscape protection.…”