Transcript EPA_ILI_GreenInfrastructurex

Green Infrastructure Policy and
Planning in Ireland
CLIMATE
CHANGE
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
ECO-SYSTEM
SERVICES
BIODIVERSITY
Dr Shane Colgan
27th 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”
Delivering Benefits…
• Infrastructure
• Green Infrastructure
delivers for…
Tourism
AgriFood
Health
Quality of Life
FDI
…
Ireland’s National Biodiversity Plan
1.
Mainstream biodiversity in the decision making process across all
sectors
2.
Substantially strengthen the knowledge base for conservation,
management and sustainable use of biodiversity
3.
Increase awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystems
services
4.
Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider
countryside
5.
Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem
services in the marine environment
6.
Expand and improve on the management of
protected areas and legally protected species
7.
Strengthen the effectiveness of international
governance for biodiversity and ecosystem services
Ireland’s National Biodiversity Plan
1.
Mainstream biodiversity in the decision making process across all
sectors
2.
Substantially strengthen the knowledge base for conservation,
management and sustainable use of biodiversity
3.
Increase awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystems
services
4.
Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider
countryside
5.
Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem
services in the marine environment
6.
Expand and improve on the management of
protected areas and legally protected species
7.
Strengthen the effectiveness of international
governance for biodiversity and ecosystem services
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 ---- >
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.
EU Biodiv Strategy: Targets for 2020
1. Full implementation of EU Nature legislation
2. Maintain & restore ecosystems & their services
3. Increase the contribution of agriculture and
forestry to biodiversity
4. Sustainable use of fisheries resources
5. Control Invasive Alien species
6. Tackle the global biodiversity crisis
EU Biodiv Strategy: Target-2 Actions
2. 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
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)
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,
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.
Pilot study: Co Roscommon
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Enhanced Spatial Accuracy
Improved Thematic Classifications
Future national roll-out – pilot to be released early 2013
More: Kevin Lydon, EPA
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!
Integrating ecosystem approaches,
green infrastructure and spatial planning
ECO-PLAN
Dr. Mark Scott (PI), Dr. Marcus Collier
UCD School of Geography, Planning
& Environmental Policy
Dr. Karen Foley
UCD School of Architecture (Landscape)
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
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
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
ECO-PLAN Outputs
• State of knowledge / literature review
• Annotated bibliography
• Policy briefs
• Reports: on national practice
• One day workshop
• CPD workshops (4)