IRELAND’S GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL FOR FUTURE
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
URBAN FORUM
Press Release 1/12/2010
IRELAND’S GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL FOR FUTURE
A report on Green Infrastructure has been published by the Urban Forum in collaboration with the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM).
Green Infrastructure is the network of green spaces, habitats and ecosystems within a defined geographic area which can range in size from an entire country to a neighbourhood. It can include wild, semi-natural and developed environments from upland bog and wetlands to urban parks and canals.
The report sets out a definition for Green Infrastructure, identifies its benefits for society and describes a process for Green Infrastructure planning. It states that “the spirit of Green Infrastructure differs from the traditional approach to conservation which emphasised preservation. It is a proactive concept that seeks the sustainable development of natural resources, in particular their multi-functionality to maximise ecosystem services.”
The concept of Green Infrastructure was established in the United States but has been adopted in the UK and Holland, in particular. It was integrated into the draft Fingal County Development Plan 2011-2017 while there has been a Green Infrastructure approach in the Loughmacask Local Area Plan in Kilkenny; the Liberties Local Area Plan in Dublin and the Anne River Valley in Waterford.
The Green Infrastructure report argues that the absence historically of such an approach to planning and development in Ireland has been to the detriment of biodiversity and quality of life adding: “the regular flooding of urban settlements have been exacerbated by poor land use planning.”
At the same time, it says, many communities in urban and rural areas live without easy access to safe walking and cycling networks while open spaces in new developments are often unconnected and of limited ecological values. “We have completed a national motorway network but have yet to create a national cycling and walking network”, it states.
Green Infrastructure, the report points out is a scalable concept and thus could be applied at all levels of plan making from the National Spatial Strategy to Local Area Plans.
It adds: “To sustain a knowledge-based smart economy urban and rural environments of the highest quality and amenity must be maintained.”
The report is to be circulated to local authorities, County and City Managers and key semi-State agencies such as Bord na Mona, ESB etc.The Urban Forum is a joint initiative by the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland, Society of Chartered Surveyors, Engineers Ireland, Irish Planning Institute and Irish Landscape Institute. The report is available to download from the website of the Irish Landscape Institute; http://www.irishlandscapeinstitute.com.
Mr Michael Cleary, Chairman, Urban Forum said: “We believe there is much in this document of value to communities all over Ireland. We hope that local authorities, semi-State agencies and others will take account of the proposals we have put forward.”
