Paper

Selling Nature: Aligning Green Infrastructure Principles with the Funding of Urban Landscapes

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Abstract

As the allocation of funding for urban greening continues to diminish planners, landscape professionals and environmental advocates are increasingly turning to the 'valuing of nature' as a mechanism to address these shortfalls. Whilst consensus exists that urban nature holds a critical role in promoting ecological sustainability and liveability, there is a less established understanding of how we translate these ideas into funding. Such variation in landscape valuation practices leading to significant disparity between how cities support their natural environment. In turn this has led to a growing reflection on how we can valorise the environment to ensure it is attributed with the same value as other built infrastructure. By increasing the proportion, diversity and functionality of urban areas it is possible to examine how city governments, developers, and the environment sector have utilised green infrastructure to generate institutional and financial buy-in for investment in nature-based interventions. Through an assessment of the implementation, management and funding of green infrastructure, with specific reference to London, this paper discusses the nuances of valuing nature to identify barriers and successes to investment in urban nature. It goes on to reflect on who, how and where resources are being delivered, enhanced or downgraded and asks how the nuances of value can be used to shift the understanding of stakeholders towards a more nature-based mind-set for development.

Keywords: Green infrastructure, financing, local government, business, stakeholders

How to Cite:

Mell, I. C., (2019) “Selling Nature: Aligning Green Infrastructure Principles with the Funding of Urban Landscapes”, Fábos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning 6(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/jr0q-6q59