COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND APPLIED ECONOMICS

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND APPLIED ECONOMICS

THREE THEMES

1) LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR ACTION AND INNOVATION TO PROTECT AND RESTORE GREEN SPACES AT ALL SCALES

2) SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING STUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES

3) ENVIRONMENTAL ART



WORK IN METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, DC REGION.

IN 1996 THE WASHINGTON POST AND NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESOURCE INNOVATIONS--LINKED TO USDA, PUBLISHED A 3-PART NEWS ARTICLE ON A STUDY OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION AND ITS IMPACT ON GREEN SPACE (PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS).

STUDY LOOKED AT POPULATION AND GROWTH PROJECTIONS TO
THE YEAR 2020 AND PROJECTED LAND USE IMPLICATIONS.

RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE REGION WILL LOSE 28 ACRES OF
GREEN SPACE EACH DAY FROM 1996 TO 2020.

IT ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THERE WERE NO MAJOR GOVERNMENT
OR PRIVATE SECTOR PROPOSALS FOR GREEN SPACE PROTECTION.

THIS STUDY ESTABLISHED A BASELINE OF THE CURRENT GREN SPACE SITUATION. IT TOUCHED ON SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PROTECTING GREEN SPACE.


NOW COMES THE HARD PART---SO WHAT?

Q. 1. WHAT CAN CITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHERS DO TO PROTECT, MANAGE, RESTORE AND USE GREEN SPACE MORE EFFECTIVELY?

Q. 2. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT ARE WE, AS INDIVIDUALS, PREPARED TO DO ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION?

IN METRO-DC CONGRESS, METRO-COG, THE NPS, AND OTHERS DECIDED TO LOOK AT A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO INTEGRATE GREEN SPACE INTO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. A GROUP LED BY PRIVATE SECTOR INTERESTS CONVENED A WORKGROUP AND WE PREPARED A PROPOSAL--GREEN SPACE FOR LIVING, TO CONGRESS.


WE EMBRACED A CONCEPT CALLED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE:

NORMAL METRO GROWTH DOES NOT PROVIDE OPEN SPACE
ALTHOUGH LAND IS ABUNDANT. GREEN SPACE IS OFTEN THE RESIDUAL LAND OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

PARK, OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION AREA EFFORTS ARE OFTEN
SINGLE PURPOSE, SITE SPECIFIC, AND LESS-THAN-SYSTEMATIC. THESE EFFORTS OFTEN FAIL TO CONSIDER THE FULL RANGE OF VALUES AND FUNCTIONS THAT GREEN SPACE PROVIDES TO PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, ECONOMIES AND LIVING RESOURCES.



DEFINING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

BEFORE I GO INTO THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON DC GI DEMO PROJECT LET ME EXPLAIN A BIT ABOUT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

ORIGINS GO BACK TO THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS AND QUEEN ELIZABETH IN THE 1500'S.

I STARTED WORKING ON THE CONCEPT IN THE MID-1990'S WHEN I WAS WITH THE EPA CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM WORKING ON A LAND, GROWTH AND STEWARDSHIP POLICY.

THE CONCEPT RECEIVED ATTENTION WHEN IT WAS EXAMINED AND ENDORSED BY THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN 1998.


SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS PART OF THE DESIGN

TRENDY TERM OR THE EVOLUTION OF AN AGE-OLD CONCEPT?
BOTIQUE, RUBBER SUITED, OR A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN OUR THINKING?

AT BEST IT MAY RELFELECT A CONVERGENCE OF THINKING ABOUT:


1. GOOD SCIENCE AND GOOD CIVICS

2. PLACE BASED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT;

3. MULTI-OBJECTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED ACTION;

4. GOOD BUSINESS IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION.

CASE STUDIES:

1. EPA'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM (NOTE: ELI AND UVA EVLUATION). LOCAL EXPERINCES, LOCAL INCUBATORS. IT IS A DESIGNED AND A DISCOVERED CONCEPT (NOTE FRANCES SEYMOUR--ARE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION PROJECTS DESIGNED OR DISCOVERED?)

2. SPECIFIC EFFORTS SUCH AS CAPE CHARLES ECOLOGICAL INDUSTRIAL PARK, VA; CENTER FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION--RETHINKING THE DETAILS AND SMALL DECISIONS OF OUR DESIGNS; NATIONAL APRK SERVICE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES; OTHERS.


PCSD DEFINITION

THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE--COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND
SUSTAINABILITY OFTEN TALKS ABOUT ENVIRONMENT, CULTURE AND ECONOMY. GREEN SPACE HAS LARGELY BEEN ENGLECTED FOR THE LAST 2-3 DECADES.

METRO AND RURAL STRATEGIES COMMITTEE OF THE PCSD
PRESENTED 5 STRATGIES--ONE OF WHICH WAS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE--GREEN NOT NATURAL--ITS MANAGED GREEN SPACE, CREATED GREEN SPACE, RESTORED GREEN SPACE, AND NATURAL GREEN SPACE.

CONCEPT STRESSES A SYSTEMS APPROACH--SIMILAR TO THE GREY
INFRASTRUCTURES, AND RECOGNITION THAT SOME OF THE VLAUES AND FUNCTIONS THAT THESE GREEN SPACES PERFORM ARE ALWAYS VISIBILE TO THE HUMAN EYE.

EVERYONE HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEW OF GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE--TEN VIEWS OF THE SAME SCENE. MEINGING'S CONCEPT.



GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE HIERARCHY

THINK ABOUT GREEN SPACE AT DIFFERENT SCALES, FROM
PERSONAL SPACE TO THE LARGEST REGIONAL OPEN SPACE YOU KNOW OF.


METRO-WASHINGTON GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE DEMO PROJECT

PARTNERS: COG AND NPS
CO-SPONSORS: 5 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS--TPL, CNT, ALLIANCE FOR
SUSTAINABLE ED; UNIVERSITY OF MD; AND URBAN LOGIC, INC.
MORE THAN 900 LEADERS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NGO'S
BUSINESSES; STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, ETC.

GOALS;

1. BUILD A LINKED SYSTEM

2. IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE

3. PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER AND AIR QUALITY AND LIVING RESOURCES

4. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, NATURAL AND CULTURAL TOURISM.

5. ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL AGRICULTURE

6. MORE GREEN SPACE TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE PUBLIC'S CONSCIOUSNESS

7. BUILD A LASTING CONSTITUENCY FOR GREEN SPACE

MAJOR TAKS:

1. DIRECTORY OF CONTACTS OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND EXPERTS

2. GREEN MAPPING FORUMS AND SURVEY OF GREEN MAPPING EFFORTS

3. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE MAP

4. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FORUMS

5. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING WORKSHOPS ON DIALOGUE TECHNIQUE

6. EXCHANGE OF BEST PRACTICES--VIRTUAL TOUR; PLUS WATERSHED WORK WITH GERMANY

7. MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATION--ICONS, MESSAGING AND BRANDING.

8. ACTION--GREEN ROOF PROJECT, TREE PLANTING, REINING IN THE STORM CD; ETC.


GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE EXAMPLES:

1. TREE PLANTING PROGRAMS---COG, NPS.

GERMAN QUOTE--WANT TO DO SOMETHING LAST--HAVE A CHILD, BUILD A HOSE, OR PLANT A TREE.

2. LID PROJECTS, SMAL STORMWATER EFFORTS; GREEN ROOF AT CUE.

3. LANDOWNER MASTER PLANNING

4. PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS--WOODLANDS, AMELIA ISLAND, ST. CROIX, MN

5. CITY PLANS--WEST EUGENE, OR. AND PORTLANDS OF TORONTO PLAN--MUST SEE.

6. VA EASTERN SHORE SOLE SOURCE AQUIFIER.

7. MODEL DEVELOPMENT PRINCILES FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION.


WHETHER YOU SEE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AS PART OF YOUR QUALITY

OF LIFE; AN ECONOMIC INVESTMENT; FOR FOOD, FIBER, AND WATER

SUPPLY; A PLACE TO RELAX OR RECREATE; A HABITAT FOR LIVING

RESOURCES; OR AS A WORKING FARM, FOREST OR RANCH, OR TO HELP

MANAGE STORMWATER; IT IS AN UNDERPINNING OR ECOLOGICAL,

CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC HEALTH.


ENVIRONMENTAL ART AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT


JOSEPH BUEYS, THE FAMOUS GERMAN ARTIST, PERFORMER,

SOCIAL SCULPTURE AND GREEN PARTY ADVOCATE, BELIEVED THAT:

THE PRIMARY JOB OF THE ARTIST IS TO "INTRODUCE AND

ENCOURAGE NOTIONS OF A BETTER WORLD".

BUEYS BELIEVED THAT THE SENSE OF THE MEANINGFULNESS OF

THE WHOLE, THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS AND COHESION OF THE

WORLD, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PLANT, ANIMAL AND

HUMAN WORLD ARE CENTRAL TO OUR FUTURE


PERHAPS BEHIND EVERY SUSCCESSFUL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY,

DEVELOPMENT, OR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IS AND ARTIST.

THIS PAST SUMMER THE WASHINGTON POST DID AN ARTICLE ON THE METRO-WASHINGTON, DC GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE DEMO PROJECT. OUR REPORT NOTED THAT THE REGION WAS NOW LOSING 43 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE EACH AND EVERY DAY, AND WOULD UNTIL 2020.

THE ARTICLE GOT A MODEST RISE OUT OF PEOPLE BUT FRNAKLY IT WAS BLIP ON THE SCREEN. SOME DEVELOPERS WROTE AND DEMANDED A RETRACTION; AND SOME WROTE AND EXPRESSED CONCERN BUT NOTED A FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS.

NO ONE EXPRESSED OUTRAGE.

IS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T CARE? OR IS IT THAT THE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WORDS WE USE TO COMMUNICATE IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES WITH THE PUBLIC DON'T MEAN ANYTHING AND THEY ROUNTINELY FAIL TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE?


LUKAS BECKMAN, A WRITER AND A KEY FIGURE IN THE CREATION
OF THE GERMAN GREEN PARTY WROTE: WE NEED NEW SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE SO THAT WORDS DO NOT BECOME MORE AND MORE DEVOID OF MEANING". I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THESE SOURCES IS ART.

ALDO LEOPOLD ONCE WROTE--LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY IS PUTTING
SCIENCES AND THE ARTS TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSES OF UNDERSTANDING OUR ENVIRONMENT".

USE OF ARTISTS

WE HAVE BEEN USING ARTISTS AS A PART OF UR INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY CONNECT WITH THE PUBLIC WE SERVE. FOR EXAMPLE:

WRITERS--BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATION MOVEMENT IS A WRITER.

TONY HISS ON SENSE OF PLACE AS A PART OF COMMUNITY
VISIONING IN ANNAPOLIS, MD.

TOM HORTON AND BILL SIPPLE ON WETLANDS VALUES WITHIN THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.

PAINTERS:

GEORGE INNES'S PAINTING "THE LACKAWANNA VALLEY" WAS THE
INSPIRATION FOR THE PROTECTION AND REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR SCRANTON, PA AND THE LACKAWANNA VALLEY.

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON'S PAINTINGS WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR
TOURISM EFFORTS IN JIM THORPE, PA AND RIVER PROTECTION WORK ON THE GREAT EGG RIVER IN NJ.

PERFORMING ARTISTS:

NATIONAL CHILDREN'S THEATHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FOR
WETLANDS EDUCATION FOR 2-3 GRADERS.

TIM COLLINS OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY FOR THE FOUR
MILE RUN RESTORATION PROJECT IN VA.

ARTISANS:

NC-BASED EFFORT CALLED HAND-MADE IN AMERICA LINK
ARTISANS AND LOCAL BUSINESSED TOGETHER.

DELMARVA PENNINSULA LOW-IMPACT TOURISM EFFORT HAS A
2,500-MILE BIKE ROUTE LINKS ARTISANS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

FILMAKERS AND MUSICANS:

DAVE ECKERT, A FIM MAKER, HAS BEEN DOING FILMS TO SUPPORT
COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS ON OCCOQUAN, FOUR-MILE RUN, CITY TREES, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AND CIVIL RIGHTS.


SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS

1) INTEGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES IS ESSENTIAL TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY OR GREEN SPACE. ALL HAVE TO BE INCLUDED.

INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES ARE ONE WAY TO DO THIS.

2) NEED TO TREAT GREEN SPACE THE SAME WAY WE TREAT GREY INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE SYSTEM IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE SITE.

3) ALL OF THESE CONCEPTS REQUIRE GOOD SCIENCE AND GOOD CIVICS.

4) APPROACHES SHOULD BE DESIGNED AND DISCOVERED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INNOVATIONS/ INCUBATORS OF INNOVATION THAT ARE WORTH LOOKING AT AND BUILDING UPON.

5) COMPETITON FOR PEOPLE ATTENTION REQUIRES EVOCATIVE COMMUNICATION AND ARTISTS CAN MAKE YOU MORE EFFECTIVE.

6) NETWORKED ORGANIZATIONS COMPRISED OF LARGE NUMBERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NGO'S AND PRIVATE BUSINESS OFFER GREAT PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE.

DANIEL LAVIN AND STEPHEN SEARL ARE DOING EXCITING RESEARCH ON THIS.


VERMONT, AND AMERICA ARE FACING A CHALLENGING TIME AND YOUR

WORK IS TIMELY AND IMPORTANT. YOU ARE PART OF THE NEXT

GENERATION OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS AND

RESEARCHERS THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND WAYS TO

PROTECT THE LAND, CULTURE AND COMMUNITIES AND FIND WAY FOR

THE PEOPLE TO BE PROSPEROUS. I WISH YOUR SUCCESS IN YOUR

EDUCAITON AND WORK.