Green Infrastructure Policy and

Planning in Ireland

GREE
N CLIMA
INFRA TE
- CHAN
STRU ECO- GE
CTURE SYSTE
M
SERVI
CES
BIODI
VERSI
TY

Dr Shane Colgan
27th November
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

 Irelands 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
 Irelands 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 Irelands
green infrastructure
Delivering Our Green Potential
Strengths: An outstanding natural environment and rich
biodiversity; Excellent natural resources
clear link between the protection of Irelands biodiversity
and the benefit to the economy.
Irelands 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
OSis 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

Enhanced Spatial Accuracy

Improved Thematic Classifications
Future national roll-out pilot to be
released early 2013
 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)