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Green Infrastructure Policy and Planning in Ireland

Green Infrastructure Policy and Planning in Ireland. Dr Shane Colgan 27 th November 2012. What Does Biodiversity Mean…?. “…biodiversity can be somewhat of a ‘poor relation’ among environmental topics; highlighting the particular need for mainstreaming of the subject”.

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Green Infrastructure Policy and Planning in Ireland

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  1. Green Infrastructure Policy and Planning in Ireland Dr Shane Colgan 27th November 2012

  2. What Does Biodiversity Mean…? “…biodiversity can be somewhat of a ‘poor relation’ among environmental topics; highlighting the particular need for mainstreaming of the subject”

  3. Delivering Benefits… • Infrastructure • Green Infrastructure delivers for… Tourism AgriFood Health Quality of Life FDI …

  4. Ireland’s National Biodiversity Plan • Mainstream biodiversity in the decision making process across all sectors • Substantially strengthen the knowledge base for conservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity • Increase awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystems services • Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider countryside • Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the marine environment • Expand and improve on the management of protected areas and legally protected species • Strengthen the effectiveness of international governance for biodiversity and ecosystem services

  5. Ireland’s National Biodiversity Plan • Mainstream biodiversity in the decision making process across all sectors • Substantially strengthen the knowledge base for conservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity • Increase awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystems services • Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider countryside • Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the marine environment • Expand and improve on the management of protected areas and legally protected species • Strengthen the effectiveness of international governance for biodiversity and ecosystem services

  6. Green Infrastructure & Policy - IE • Our Sustainable Future • Priorities for Action: Protecting and enhancing Ireland’s green infrastructure • Delivering Our Green Potential • Strengths: An outstanding natural environment and rich biodiversity; Excellent natural resources • clear link between the protection of Ireland’s biodiversity and the benefit to the economy. • Ireland’s Environment 2012 • EcoSystem Services & Health • Climate Adaptation Framework • Planning ---- >

  7. Green Infrastructure & Policy - EU • EU 2020 Biodiversity Policy (and planned Green Infrastructure Strategy); • Habitats and Birds Directives; • Water Framework Directive, Floods Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive; • EIA and SEA Directives; • Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

  8. EU Biodiv Strategy: Targets for 2020 • Full implementation of EU Nature legislation • Maintain & restore ecosystems & their services • Increase the contribution of agriculture and forestry to biodiversity • Sustainable use of fisheries resources • Control Invasive Alien species • Tackle the global biodiversity crisis

  9. EU Biodiv Strategy: Target-2 Actions • Maintain & restore ecosystems & their services • Improve knowledge of ecosystems and their services in the EU • Set priorities to restore and promote the use of green infrastructure • Ensure no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services

  10. EPA & Landcover Mapping in Ireland • Key data source for meeting legislative requirements – e.g. Water Framework Directive, Kyoto Protocol • No mandated authority on landcover mapping • Teagasc, NPWS, Heritage Council, Local Authorities… • EPA Plays a central role… • Irish National Focal Point and Reference Centre for EEA and GMES related Land monitoring activities • Produced CORINE 2000 & 2006 for Ireland • Currently working on CORINE 2012 (Complete 2014)

  11. CORINE - Applications & Limitations • CORINE: only continuous, up-to date national landcover dataset. • Limitations: • Pan-European dataset: Classification is designed on central and southern European environments not Irish / North Atlantic climatic zone => Insufficient mapping of Irish grassland, upland and peatland types. • Coarse spatial resolution: Smaller landscape features are omitted. In particular, hedgerows, river channels, houses and transport infrastructure are not mapped. • Relying on Corine for national reporting and assessment purposes is not an ideal situation • Dedicated national landcover dataset would be far more appropriate. Products… • High resolution Land-Cover and Land-Use dataset (1ha) • ‘EEA’ dataset,

  12. National Landcover Working Group • Investigating different production models and data sources for a national landcover map series • OSi’s new Prime2 spatial boundary database used as the data baselayer. • Prime2 populated by existing national datasets such as LPIS and NFI • The remaining areas – the ‘data gaps’ – mapped using Remote sensing techniques to interpret satellite imagery. • A draft national landcover classification schema was devised to accurately describe and account for the Irish landscape.

  13. Pilot study: Co Roscommon • Enhanced Spatial Accuracy • Improved Thematic Classifications • Future national roll-out – pilot to be released early 2013 • More: Kevin Lydon, EPA

  14. EPA-STRIVE Research Programme Climate Change :: Water :: Sustainable Environment Identifying pressures :: Informing Policy :: Developing Solutions • Urban Environment Project – Green City Guidelines • AGBIOTA, BIOCHANGE, BOGLAND • National Platform for Biodiversity Research • Defining national biodiversity research needs • Info exchange: research community  policy makers • Linkages with EPBRS and IPBES • Developing an Ecosystem approach to the integration of the concept of green infrastructure in spatial plans. NEW!

  15. Integrating ecosystem approaches, green infrastructure and spatial planningECO-PLAN Dr. Mark Scott (PI), Dr. Marcus Collier UCD School of Geography, Planning & Environmental Policy Dr. Karen Foley UCD School of Architecture (Landscape)

  16. Current GPEP Research • EU: • TURaS – transitioning towards resilience • with Landscape Architecture • OPERAs – operationalising ecosystem services • COST Action – ecosystem services and well being • Ireland • EPA – STRIVE – Eco-Plan, ADAPT and Eco-Risk • DRA – regional development needs • IRCHSS – European Social Survey

  17. Why ECO-PLAN? • Gap in ecosystem management and built environment planning processes • GI is a key linking concept • One year post doctoral project to: • assess and identify suitable methodologies, guidelines and policy tools / instruments for the development of an ecosystem approach to the integration of the concept of green infrastructure in spatial planning. • Addressing the need to operationalise emerging research in: • green infrastructure • resilience theory • spatial planning

  18. ECO-PLAN Aims • Potential of the GI concept and an integrative policy tool • Identify the international frameworks • Baseline study of current practice • Stakeholder based approach • Guidelines and tools

  19. ECO-PLAN Outputs • State of knowledge / literature review • Annotated bibliography • Policy briefs • Reports: on national practice • One day workshop • CPD workshops (4)

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