Definition of Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure is the Nation's natural life support system - a strategically planned and managed network of wilderness, parks, greenways, conservation easements, and working lands with conservation value that supports native species, maintains natural ecological processes, sustains air and water resources, and contributes to the health and quality of life for America's communities and people.

The Green Infrastructure network encompasses a wide range of landscape elements, including: natural areas - such as wetlands, woodlands, waterways, and wildlife habitat; public and private conservation lands - such as nature preserves, wildlife corridors, greenways, and parks; and public and private working lands of conservation value - such as forests, farms, and ranches. It also incorporates outdoor recreation and trail networks.

According to Webster's New World Dictionary, Infrastructure is defined as - "the substructure or underlying foundation, especially the basic installations and facilities on which the continuance and growth of a community or state depends". When we think of infrastructure we think of built infrastructure such as roads, electric power lines and water systems as well as social infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and libraries. However, the concept of Green Infrastructure elevates air, land, and water to an equal footing with built infrastructure and transforms open space from "nice to have" to "must have." At the same time, green infrastructure helps frame the most efficient location for development and growth - and related gray infrastructure - ensuring that developers, citizens, and communities capture the cost advantages of location and create and protect household and community amenities.

What gives the term Green Infrastructure its staying power is its ability to invoke images of planned networks of green spaces that benefit wildlife and people, link urban settings to rural ones and, like other infrastructure, forms an integral part of government budgets and programs.