Our Values - Thriving Ecosystems

 

Through policy development and advocacy efforts by the Urban Greenspaces Institute, we seek to shift the focus away from merely mitigating environmental harms and towards net ecological lift, to remedy existing constraints or limitations on green infrastructure networks. This shift asks communities to consider historical deficiencies and how we can address them going forward with new development as design challenges. 

For example, in recent comments to the City of Portland regarding their proposed Design Overlay Zoning Amendments we asked the City to consider additional green infrastructure incentives for commercial corridors to address Portland’s narrow street tree planting strips, the ongoing loss of medium- and large-form trees, and needed incentives to spur adoption of ecoroofs. All of these elements go beyond what the City’s minimum development standards to consider community needs.