Open Space Council

What Is Green Infrastructure?

Infrastructure. The word conjures images of roads, bridges and structural foundations that are required for a society to function. The concept of Green Infrastructure is not so different. It’s our state’s natural life support system -- the strategically planned and managed network of forests, parks, greenways and open spaces. Green Infrastructure is designed to support and protect our precious natural resources while allowing for Delaware’s continued economic growth and development.  [learn more]

Why Do We Need It?

Building a Green Infrastructure system is an investment in our future. The Green Infrastructure network of protected areas will help balance the needs of our growing population with the need to preserve our environment. After all, it is easier and more cost-effective to protect the environment before land development than to restore natural resources and processes after they are damaged.  [learn more]

The Green Infrastructure program, part of Governor Minner’s “Livable Delaware” initiative, includes two key components:

• Green Infrastructure Conservation – will create an interconnected green space network of protected land and water areas that support our native plants and animals, natural ecological processes and air and water resources. [learn more]
• Green Infrastructure Planning - will use the latest scientific knowledge and sound land use practices to ensure that green spaces are protected and preserved. Green Infrastructure planning establishes a framework for coordinating conservation efforts by using maps, ecological assessment and environmental values that are incorporated into state planning and land use decisions. [learn more]

What Will Green Infrastructure Accomplish?

By 2024, the Green Infrastructure program will:

Preserve half of Delaware’s remaining unpreserved, commercially viable forest land and unpreserved cropland, and all of our remaining natural resource and recreational priorities. [learn more]

How You Can Get Involved!

You can help DNREC and other agencies build a Green Infrastructure system in Delaware. Projects are already underway. Here’s how you can get involved [learn more]

What is DNREC’s Role?

Numerous DNREC divisions are creating projects that can help you understand the scope of Green Infrastructure, as well as who's doing what. [learn more]