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What
is Green Infrastructure?
By definition, green infrastructure is “an
interconnected network of protected land and water that supports
native species, maintains natural ecological processes, sustains
air and water resources and contributes to the health and quality
of life for… communities
and people” (Conservation Fund 2004). A system focusing only
on ecological goals is an isolated conservation strategy. One focusing
only on benefits to people is a “greenways” system.
A greenways system does provide a link between people and nature,
especially in urban areas, where green spaces and recreation areas
are hard to come by (Searns 2003. Greenways plans do not, however,
place great weight on ecology. Green infrastructure, in contrast,
incorporates and balances human and ecological goals, with priority
given to the preservation of ecosystem function. As such, green
infrastructure planning presents and opportunity to unite environmental
and social goals into one comprehensive strategy. The process of
planning for an interconnected network of ecologically and culturally
significant lands and waterways is also a scientific and data rich
approach that is more flexible and can better adapt to uncertain
or unanticipated changes. It is an interdisciplinary approach to
solving a complex problem with interactions between the natural
and built environment, decision makers and citizens, land use patterns,
species diversity, flood hazard, and other concerns (Meenar 2006).
What is the DC Green Infrastructure Collaborative?
In June 2005, representatives
from federal and regional agencies and local organizations gathered
to discuss the need and potential for a green infrastructure mapping
system for the Washington DC region. The meeting featured a presentation
on the OASIS mapping system for New York City [www.oasisnyc.net],
a web-based, open mapping system supported and maintained by over
30 federal, state, and local agencies, private companies, academic
institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
The meeting participants resoundingly supported
the development of a public mapping and data sharing system for
green infrastructure information for DC. It was recommended that
such a system:
- be collaborative, with shared credit for the results;
- provide for open data sharing, with appropriate metadata and
contact information for available data; and
- link to other DC mapping sites and integrate with existing
green and open space mapping efforts and systems in the region.
Today we are working together to establish a DC
Green Infrastructure Mapping Collaborative for the DC Metro Region.
We hope you will join us!
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