Green Infrastructure

Definition

Green infrastructure is the interconnected network of open spaces and natural areas, such as greenways, wetlands, parks, forest preserves and native plant vegetation, that naturally manages stormwater, reduces flooding risk, maintains or improves water quality, and facilitates migration of regional flora and fauna. 

Green Infrastructure Assessment

The green infrastructure assessment program we have developed is based on a combination of the methodologies developed at the Illinois Natural History Survey with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (see http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/greenways/gi/gi.html).  It divides a given area into green infrastructure  'hubs' (contiguous areas of habitat, forest, and other green infrastructure resources) and 'corridors' (areas connecting the hubs and facilitating wildlife migration).  Classification of an area as corridor or hub brings together a range of spatial criteria including land-cover, proximity to waterways, proximity to urbanized areas, impedance value of landcover characteristics, etc.