Green infrastructure
Long time planning for
sustainable landscapes
Green infrastructure is a network of
natural and semi-natural pieces of land
that connect the habitats of flora and
fauna, and is a basis for the well-being
of people.
Why green infrastructure?
The large-scale use of nature by man has resulted in a reduction in biodiversity. A lot of work has been done in Sweden to protect nature, flora and fauna. This has been important for threatened species and habitats, but it is not enough to maintain biodiversity long term.
Functioning ecosystems are a prerequisite for biodiversity and for nature’s production of ecosystem services. Nature’s services such as for instance pollination provide many important benefits for people.
The trend for the preservation of biodiversity and sustaina-ble ecosystems is still heading in the wrong direction. To reverse this trend, we must focus more than ever on how all the elements in nature in the landscape fit together. Green infrastructure is all about seeing and planning for the landscape as a whole.
Flora and fauna have different needs
The different needs of species are an important starting point for an understanding of which qualities are needed in the landscape. Flora and fauna need to be able to move around the landscape, to find food and a place to live, and to disperse and propagate. This is why there is a need for shared know-ledge in information, so that we can plan functioning habitats of sufficient quality and size for various flora and fauna.
All actors in the landscape can contribute
Green infrastructure requires a new, holistic perspective and new work methods. To achieve the aim of green infrastructure, there is a need for consensus in society at large in order to link up the fragmented natural surroundings.Work on green infrastructure is a common task that includes landowners and everyone who uses or manages land and water, those who draw up plans for municipal and regional social development when changing how land is used, and for those who prioritise the protection and management of natural areas.
It is therefore necessary that local authorities, compa-nies and organisations collaborate for a broader under-standing of ecological contexts, so that green infra-structure becomes a natural element of the planning and prioritisation of initiatives in various community processes.
County administrative boards draw
up regional actions plans for green
infrastructure
Regional action plans for green infrastructure provide knowledge of valuable nature and of the ecosystem services that nature currently provides. This informa-tion can be used in assessments in connecinforma-tion with the process of permits and planning, the use of land and water and nature conservation.
There is already legislation that regulates how areas of land and water must and may be used. Work on the action plans for green infrastructure does not involve new legislation, but contributes knowledge that can provide various actors in the landscape, including landowners, with a better basis to plan and prioritise measures based on their various activities, conditions and ambitions.
Measures
There will be proposed actions to achieve goals in the regional action plans. These goals aim to provide support in carrying out measures in order to enhance the green infrastructure. As parts of Sweden all look different, the prioritised measures will vary between different counties and over time.
Individual land areas are different, important seg-ments of the overall landscape, with different pro-perties contributing to the whole. Landowners know their land and its values, which means that they can contribute knowledge and engagement based on their own conditions.
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something, and together we can achieve more. It is only through increased knowledge and shared goals, close collaboration, well-considered planning and smart initiatives that we can all help to link together forests, fields, parks, grasslands, wetlands, lakes, watercourses, coastal areas and sea areas in order to increase biodiversity and create more effective habitats for flora and fauna, and for the benefit of people.
of people.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is coord- inating work to develop an effective green infrastructure in Swedish land, water and sea areas together with county administrative boards and many other authorities and actors.
Contact at the Swedish Environmental
Protection Agency:
Ingrid Johansson Horner, project manager
Ingrid.Johansson-Horner@Naturvardsverket.se, +46 (0)10-698 14 06
Find out more about work on green infrastructure at:
www.naturvardsverket.se/gron-infrastruktur
Subscribe to the status report on green infrastructure:
http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Nyheter-och-press-meddelanden/info-mejl/Lagesrapport-gron-infrastruktur/
NATURVÅRDSVERKET ISBN 978-91-620-8807-1
