Developed methods for assessing ecosystem services trade-offs and synergies for spatial planning, valuation and mapping the physical and multifunctional GI.
Explored concepts and methods for the integration of the benefits and challenges of green infrastructure into decision making and to inform spatial and urban planning. Based on GRETA research, it has been suggested a SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) methodological process for how to evaluate green infrastructure and ecosystem services in the context of SP, particularly for Integrated Spatial Plans and Land Use Plans. The GRETA project supports the idea that ecological processes should inform integrated spatial planning – and that this consideration is a pre-requisite for sustainable ecological, economic, and societal development. A specific focus has been placed on the policy objectives related to biodiversity, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and water management with an overall aim to develop a comprehensive knowledge base for enhancing green infrastructures to benefit territorial development in different European regions and cities. The GRETA project also provides an overview of existing economic valuation studies on the benefits of GI in Europe. This overview identifies: (i) the variety of economic valuation methods that have been used; (ii) which ES (provided by GI) are being economically valued and how; and (iii) the average value associated with GI, accounting for characteristics such as size and location.
Resources needed
The total amount of project financing: 617.600,00 EUR.
Applied research activity was conducted within the framework of the ESPON 2020 Cooperation Programme, partly financed by the ERDF. The project was coordinated by Tecnalia (Spain) and developed together with 4 other EU partners.
Evidence of success
Results imply that a more explicit approach to GI on national governance levels could facilitate the further implementation of the European Green Infrastructure Strategy. For countries without a national GI strategy, clearer top-down communication about the GI concept and its principles could facilitate the establishment of the multifunctional concept and also the implementation of the concept into the policy sectors where GI is not fully prevalent yet.
Difficulties encountered
The lack of high-level guidelines on zoning and land use management in the planning instruments is highlighted as one of the main challenges for effective GI implementation, alongside political commitment and financial and economic investment.
Potential for learning or transfer
The relationship between GI on one hand, and biodiversity and ES, on the other hand, is dynamic, which indicates a need to monitor and examine GI over the long term in order to develop effective and adaptive management measures. Ecosystem-based territorial planning for GI is recognized as a potential opportunity to utilize cross-border cooperation for GI implementation; in operational terms, there are challenges when different concepts of GI exist in different spatial planning jurisdictions. Findings highlight relevant key policy implications for supporting GI for territorial development in the EU with recommendations provided at different national, regional and local government levels. Due to the variety of planning systems in Europe, there is still ambiguity regarding at which planning levels it would be feasible for the GI concept to be used, and how to better benefit from its integrative capacity for supporting sustainable development.
Tags: Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Green infrastructure, Planning, Services, Sustainable management, Territorial development
