A new report from the European Environment Agency has proposed a method for mapping Europe’s 'green infrastructure'  - natural areas which often fulfil important yet unseen functions, including flood prevention.

The EEA report, 'Spatial analysis of green infrastructure in Europe', maps a network of natural and semi-natural spaces and other environmental features in Europe with a good capacity to deliver  'ecosystem services'.

These include erosion protection, regulating water flow, coastal protection, pollination, maintaining soil structure, water purification, air filtration and carbon storage. The report also identifies key habitats for large forest-dwelling mammals and the analysis of connectivity among them.

The experimental methodology, applicable at different scales, indicates that healthy areas of green infrastructure cover approximately a quarter of Europe's land. The EEA’s proposed methodology has two entry points - one based on the assessment and mapping of areas with a good capacity to deliver regulating and maintenance ecosystem services and another based on the identification of key habitats to biota and the analysis of connectivity among them (in this case, large forest-bound mammals).

The report also says that roads, towns and other developments continue to fragment habitats, splitting wildlife populations into smaller groups, reducing the gene pool and making species more vulnerable to pressures such as climate change. The report authors map several corridors where the environment could be restored in order to reconnect habitat fragments.

The aim of the report is to propose a feasible and replicable methodology for use when identifying Green Infrastructure (GI) elements. The EEA says the proposed methodology would help policymakers and practitioners define a landscape GI network to identify areas where key habitats can be reconnected and the overall ecological quality of the area improved.

Multiple benefits of green infrastructure

The multiple benefits of green infrastructure were highlighted in the EU’s Green Infrastructure Strategy, published last year.

For example, in cities trees and green areas can prevent flooding, reduce air pollution and reduce noise levels. The Strategy said that using natural systems in this way can often be cheaper and more robust than the typical 'grey' infrastructure such as concrete flood barriers.

The EU’s official policy position is to promote the concept of green infrastructure to support both environmental  and non-environmental policy goals via existing legislation, for example:

• White Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change
• Water Framework Directive
• Floods Directive
• Marine Framework Directive
• Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Directives.
• Habitats and Birds Directives

The EU also wants  to  encourage the integration of green infrastructure into policy sectors and to seek opportunities to mainstream green infrastructure into other policies.

The EEA report says that the role of spatial planning should be emphasised in facilitating and delivering green infrastructure in the EU, along with a whole range of other mechanisms such as the use of European and national legislation, guidance/management plans, direct and indirect funding, national and regional green infrastructural strategies, building control, strengthening the use of assessment, and communication and capacity building.