Green Infrastructure: Our Natural Life Support System
When you think of the word, "infrastructure", what comes to mind? Roads, water and sewer
lines, telephone lines, schools or water treatment plants, perhaps? We often think of these
types of infrastructure as bray infrastructure" or "built infrastructure". By definition,
infrastructure refers to "the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or
organization; the fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city, or area". Built
infrastructure is developed as systems created to support the many needs of growing
communities.
systems that serve a country, city, or area. Our green infrastructure is an interconnected
network of natural lands and other open spaces, including forests, streams and rivers,
meadows, farmlands, wetlands, ridge tops, bogs, caves that provide key services to our
communities. These services included clean air and water, food and fibers, wood products,
recreation opportunities, and many others. Healthy natural systems provide wildlife habitat for
critters, soils and micro-climates for plants to survive, and ensure important ecological functions
that sustains interdependent web that supports all living things.
A System of Hubs, Links, and Sites
When you think of the word, "infrastructure", what comes to mind? Roads, water and sewer
lines, telephone lines, schools or water treatment plants, perhaps? We often think of these
types of infrastructure as bray infrastructure" or "built infrastructure". By definition,
infrastructure refers to "the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or
organization; the fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city, or area". Built
infrastructure is developed as systems created to support the many needs of growing
communities.
systems that serve a country, city, or area. Our green infrastructure is an interconnected
network of natural lands and other open spaces, including forests, streams and rivers,
meadows, farmlands, wetlands, ridge tops, bogs, caves that provide key services to our
communities. These services included clean air and water, food and fibers, wood products,
recreation opportunities, and many others. Healthy natural systems provide wildlife habitat for
critters, soils and micro-climates for plants to survive, and ensure important ecological functions
that sustains interdependent web that supports all living things.
- Natural areas and green spaces, including forests, streams, lakes, meadows, balds,
bogs, and wetlands that provide habitat for wildlife and sustain ecological processes. - Recreation lands, including trails, parks, and rivers
- Agricultural Lands, including farms and forests
- Cultural Sites, including historic sites and other sites important in preserving our region’s
heritage
A System of Hubs, Links, and Sites
- Hubs are large blocks of unfragmented natural systems that anchor green infrastructure
networks. Hubs provides space for native plants and animal communities and an origin
or destination for wildlife, people and ecological processes moving through the system.
Examples of hubs in our region include: Pisgah National Forests, DuPont State Forest,
Gorges State Park.
- Links are the linear corridors that connect the hubs and tie the system together. These
linkages are critical to maintaining vital ecological processes and maintaining the health
and biodiversity of wildlife populations; Linkages are often river corridors, greenways, or
trail systems which may also provide recreation value for residents and visitors.
Examples of potential linkages in our region include: the French Broad River, Blue Ridge
Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail.
- Sites are smaller areas of green space that contribute ecological and social values to
the region's communities. Sites may or may not be attached to the network formed by
the hubs and links, and may include community parks, recreation areas, and cultural
sites. Examples of sites in our region may include Jackson Park in Hendersonville,
Azalea Park or Carrier Park in Asheville, or the Carl Sandburg House (National Historic
Park) in Flat Rock.
| Regional Network Design for the Land-of-Sky Region regional green infrastructure network was developed for the Land-of-Sky Region, click here. To see the maps of hubs, corridors, and the regional network, click here. Interested in learning more about Green infrastructure planning? Check out this upcoming training course offered by The Conservation Fund A Strategic Approach to Conservation Planning Using the Green Infrastructure Approach Also see the Conservation Fund's Green Infrastructure website for a wealth of related resources. |
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| A Project of Land-of-Sky Regional Council 339 New Leicester Hwy. Asheville, NC 28806 ph: (828) 251-6622 fax: (828) 251-6353 |
| Linking Lands and Communities in the Land-of-Sky Region Creating a framework for conservation and development that respects community values and natural systems |