Defenders' Experts
Maryland Green Infrastructure Assessment and GreenPrint Program
Maryland
In 2001, the Maryland's GreenPrint Program was initiated to protect the
remaining ecologically significant lands that would be important for the
long-term survival of the state's native plants and wildlife. The Governor
approved $145 million over five years for the program. For fiscal year 2002, the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Agricultural Land
Preservation Foundation have been authorized to spend $35 million on land
acquisitions and easements. The purpose of the program is to "identify, using
the most up-to-date computer mapping techniques, the most important unprotected
natural lands in the state; link, or connect, these lands through a system of
corridors or connectors; and save those lands through targeted acquisitions and
easements."
As a component of the GreenPrint Program, Maryland's Green Infrastructure Assessment was conducted in 1998 to provide a scientifically based, landscape approach to identifying and linking ecologically valuable areas in the state. The goal of the project was to "identify an ecologically sound open space network, and ultimately, to incorporate the agreed upon network into local land conservation planning." Using GIS and principles of landscape ecology, The Maryland Department of Natural Resources developed a network consisting of hubs (large core areas of ecological importance) and landscape linkages (natural routes that connect the hubs). These areas were prioritized based on ecological value and the risk of being developed. The resulting Green Infrastructure network map consisted of 33% of Maryland's total land area, of which about two-thirds are unprotected. View state, regional, and county Green Infrastructure maps.
The GreenPrint program is also intended to mesh with Maryland's existing Smart Growth program where maps developed for the GreenPrint will be critical in creating an effective link. Maryland's "smart growth" program was last updated in 1997 with legislation that called for the creation of priority funding areas in each municipality. Unique among similar statewide programs because it is non-regulatory, the priority funding areas receive preferential funding for infrastructure to encourage development to take place within these boundaries. Development is permitted outside these areas, in compliance with existing land use zoning, but because developers must pay for their own infrastructure, it is most likely that they will be discouraged from doing so.
The GreenPrint program is fairly new, but in upcoming years more counties will use the maps as their comprehensive plans and associated land use codes come up for review. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has met with representatives from each county's planning and zoning and parks and recreation departments and others to review the maps and GIS model. Because the network of hubs and links serves as the ecological compliment to a network of recreational greenways and trails, the Maryland Greenways Commission plays an important role in outreach for and implementation of the GreenPrint program.
The West Eugene Wetlands Plan addresses the need for protection of significant natural lands within designated growth areas while still allowing some development.
The Beginning with Wildlife Program provides habitat maps, species descriptions, and guidance to local communities to help integrate biodiversity protection into local land-use planning and guide habitat conservation decisions.
The purpose of Arizona's Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan is to ensure the long-term protection of "the heritage and natural resources of the west in Pima County."
The goal of the Chicago Wilderness is "to protect the natural communities of the Chicago region and to restore them to long-term viability, in order to enrich the quality of life of its citizens and to contribute to the preservation of global diversity."
The Willamette Restoration Strategy addressed water quality and habitat issues in Oregon's Willamette basin and adopted a strategy to protect and restore the basin's ecological health.
The BioMap project's goal was "to promote strategic land protection by producing a map showing areas, that if protected, would provide suitable habitat over the long term for the maximum number of Massachusetts' terrestrial and wetland plant and animal species and natural communities."
The Landscape Project's goal is "to protect New Jersey's biological diversity by maintaining and enhancing rare wildlife populations within healthy functioning ecosystems."
In 1994, Defenders initiated the Oregon Biodiversity Project which produced a statewide biodiversity assessment and a conservation strategy that included 42 "Conservation Opportunity Areas" across the state.
Maryland's two important planning programs are the Green Infrastructure Assessment and the GreenPrint Program.
The Southeast Ecological Framework Project used GIS technology and landscape ecology principles to identify ecologically significant areas and connectivity in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida.
