Healthy natural areas
often fulfil important yet unseen functions,
from preventing floods to filtering air.
A new report from the European Environment
Agency (EEA) proposes a method for mapping
this 'green infrastructure'.
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 air
filtration, erosion protection, regulating
water flow, coastal protection, pollination,
maintaining soil structure, water purification,
and carbon storage. The report also identifies
key habitats for large forest-dwelling mammals
and the analysis of connectivity among them.
This experimental methodology,
applicable at different scales, indicates
that healthy areas of green infrastructure
cover approximately a quarter of Europe's
land. In many cases, these areas are also
home to Europe's large wild animals, including
the brown bear, wolf, reindeer and lynx.
This underscores the need for effective
conservation and restoration, the report
says.
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.
There is some uncertainty
in this analysis, the report notes. However,
it provides a useful starting point for
identifying priority areas for conservation
and potential restoration.
Multiple benefits of
green infrastructure
The multiple benefits
of green infrastructure were highlighted
in EU Green Infrastructure Strategy, published
last year. For example, in cities trees
and green areas can prevent flooding, reduce
air pollution and reduce noise levels. In
addition, using natural systems in this
way can often be cheaper and more robust
than the typical 'grey' infrastructure such
as concrete flood barriers. Many more examples
are explained in a recent publication from
the European Commission.
