Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure in Europe: Boundary object or ecological trap?. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garmendia, Eneko; Apostolopoulou, Evangelia; Adams, William M.; Bormpoudakis, Dimitrios
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 56(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 315
• Page End: 319
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Biodiversity -- Conservation -- Planning -- Ecological connectivity -- Ecosystem services -- Natural capital -- Green economy; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: Green Infrastructure has become increasingly an important concept in environmental planning. The concept of green infrastructure creates risks for biodiversity conservation in its adoption. We analyze these risks focusing on its current deployment in Europe. We suggest how to enhance its value for biodiversity conservation. Abstract: The concept of green infrastructure is widely used in environmental planning, but so far it has no standard definition. Planners, conservationists and scientists tend to welcome the term because it can serve as a boundary object, providing links among policy makers, developers and different academic disciplines. However, the concept of green infrastructure creates risks for biodiversity conservation in its adoption. It can be used to water down biodiversity conservation aims and objectives as easily as it can be used to further them because of the different ideas associated with it and the multiple interests pursued. In this paper, we address such risks by looking, among others, at the European Union's Green Infrastructure Strategy and we suggest how planners and conservationists might deal with its growing importance in environmental policy and planning to enhance its value for biodiversity conservation.