national workshop on large landscape conservation thursday, october 23, 2014 will allen director of...

National Workshop on Large Landscape ConservationThursday, October 23, 2014

Will AllenDirector of Strategic Conservation Planning

Framing An Agenda for Metropolitan & Landscape Conservation

Wordle™

Landscape Scale Practitioners' Network

• Cities and their regions as ecosystems• Common vision• Coalitions shape priority green infrastructure

investments• Collaboration and collective action

Other Metropolitan Greenspace Initiatives

Columbia MO | Lufkin TX | Central IndianaMilwaukee WI | Nashville TN

Megaregions Need Nature

Initiatives presenting at NWLLC

Other selected Metropolitan Initiatives

Regional Networks presenting at NWLLC

OPPORTUNITIES

• Green Infrastructure Network Design

• Regional Green Infrastructure Vision

• Ecosystem Services

• Climate Change Adaptation / Resiliency

• Re-Use of Vacant and Underutilized Lands

An Agenda for Metropolitan & Landscape Conservation

A strategically

planned and

managed network

of natural lands,

working

landscapes, and

other open spaces

that conserves

ecosystem values

and functions and

provides associated

benefits to human

populations

(Benedict & McMahon, 2006)

Green Infrastructure – Linking Megaregions & Landscapes

Scales of Green Infrastructure Planning

Downtown Nashville Nashville-Davidson County TN

NiSource MSHCP

GI Network: Protect | Restore | Connect

Cores: • Contain fully functional

natural ecosystems

• Provide high-quality habitat for native plants and animals

Hubs:• Slightly fragmented

aggregations of core areas, plus contiguous natural cover

Corridors:• Link core areas together

• Allow animal movement

and seed and pollen transfer between core areas

Sites:• Important microhabitats not

captured by network thresholds and criteria

Functional Connectivity

Ecological Capital

Human well-beingMaterial needs, health, security, social relations, “quality of life”

RegulatingServices

Culturalexperiences

Supporting

Products

(Natural processes that maintain other

ecosystem services)Ecos

yste

m S

ervi

ces

Adapted from 2010 Ecological Footprint Atlas

GI Network: Mapping Nature’s BenefitsGI Network: Mapping Nature’s Benefits

Green Infrastructure & Ecosystem Services Example: Houston-Galveston

• 13-County GI Network provides ~91% of benefits for water quality,

air quality, water supply, flood protection, and carbon sequestration.

IMPACTS

• More extremes – temperature

and precipitation

• Range shifts

• Disturbances - Floods, Wildfire,

Insects, Disease

Climate Change Adaptation / Resiliency

OPPORTUNITIES

• Focus on multiple benefits

and ‘no regrets’

Income GeneratingUrban Forest / Carbon BankNative Tree/Plant Nursery Urban AgricultureGreenhouse / AquaponicsAlternative Energy

Compliance/RegulatoryStream/Riparian RestorationConstructed Wetland / Stormwater

Park / Rain GardenPhytoremediationImpervious Surface Removal

Community BenefitPocket Park/Playground/Ball CourtsRecreational Trail LinkageNative Plant / Habitat Garden Community Garden

Vacant Lands Green Infrastructure Typologies

14

Vacant and Underutilized Lands Example: Amigos de los Rios

SPEAKERS

• Bruce Roll

• Arnold Randall

• Claire Robinson

Framing An Agenda for Metropolitan & Landscape Conservation

Will AllenDirector of Strategic Conservation Planning

919-967-2248wallen@conservationfund.org

http://www.conservationfund.org/strategic-conservation

Wordle™

Framing An Agenda for Metropolitan & Landscape Conservation