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The selection of your project’s green infrastructure attributes is a key first step in the network design process. The selection of attributes is critical not only for identifying and linking the network’s components, but also for evaluating and prioritizing the components for conservation action. Based on the definitions to the right, green infrastructure
Green Infrastructure - an interconnected green space network that is planned and managed to conserve natural ecosystem values and functions and provide associated benefits to human populations.
Attribute
– a characteristic or a quality of a person or thing. attributes can be categorized as characteristic of either natural ecosystem values and functions or associated benefits to human populations . Use the following two tables as guidance for identifying the attributes that you will use to design and evaluate your green infrastructure network.
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Attributes Examples of Places
Ecological Communities &
Other Natural Features
Public, private and nonprofit parks, preserves and reserves at state, regional, local levels, lands in native habitat, waterfalls, gorges, canyons
Fish and Wildlife Resources Wildlife refuges, game reserves, landscape linkages/wildlife corridors, ecobelts, streams and lakes
Watersheds/Water Resources Riparian and associated nonriparian lands, wetlands, floodplains, groundwater recharge areas
Working Landscapes with
Ecological Values
Forestlands, rangelands, and farmlands with native habitats and natural features, working landscapes with potential for restoring ecological values
Examples of Functions
Provided
Protect and restore native plant and animal communities, enrich biodiversity, maintain/restore natural landscape features
Provide habitat for wildlife, support animal migration, maintain population health
Protect and restore water quality and quantity, manage storm water, provide habitat for aquatic and wetland organisms, sites for regional wetland mitigation banks
Habitat for fish and wildlife species, protection of water resource values (floodplains, wetlands), connecting and/or buffering network components, protect soils
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This “Attributes of Green Infrastructure” handout has been modeled on the “Elements of
Green Infrastructure” handout utilized in the network design exercise for the Tri-County
Greenways Charrette that took place in Midland, Michigan in November 2002.
2 Although examples of place and function may only be listed once, some fit into more than one element. Please use these tables as a guide to stimulate your thinking rather than as a list of fixed examples. Also note that some examples will be more visible at different scales.
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Attributes Examples of Places Examples of Functions
Provided
Recreation & Health Parks, greenways, blueways, trails
Cultural Resources
Growth Pattern & Character Greenbelts, scenic vistas/ viewsheds, community open spaces/commons, greenways, river corridors, developing lands in proximity to ecological resources lands
Working Lands with
Economic Values
Historic/archaeological sites,
Interpretative/educational sites/facilities, town/county open spaces/commons
Farms, Orchards, Ranches,
Managed Forests
Encourage exercise and active lifestyles, provide space for outdoor activities, create places of solitude and respite, connect people with nature, connect communities, provide alternative transportation
Preserve link to natural and/or cultural heritage, foster education and involvement through “nature’s classroom”, encourage resource stewardship, protection of cultural site context/integrity
Guide patterns of growth, create appealing visual landscapes, enhance character of development, foster community identify and pride, attract & retain businesses, residents, visitors
Protect working lands as a business as well as a place, maintain rural character and traditions
Where to Look for Green Infrastructure Opportunities
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Large tracts of public land, including military lands
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Large tracts of forested land, fallow land, and other open land
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Riparian lands -river, stream, creek corridors, floodplains
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Fragile lands - steep slopes, wetlands, hydric soils
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Working landscapes - agricultural, forestry, mineral extraction, hunt clubs & preserves
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Recreation lands – parks, golf courses, trailways
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Private lands - corporate/industrial, utility companies, RR corridors
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Abandoned and underutilized governmental and non-governmental lands
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Wide transportation corridors
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Other . . .
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