Delaware’s natural life support system - its “green infrastructure” - is a network of natural areas, parks, conservation areas, and working lands all with conservation value. Many of these areas are carefully planned and managed by federal, state or local governments, not-for–profit organizations and individual landowners. The areas support native species, maintain natural ecological processes, sustain air and water resources, agricultural enterprises and contribute to the health and quality of life for Delaware’s communities and people.
State Strategies for Policies and Spending direct where the state will most likely allocate its resources and focus state programs to address population growth and land development issues. Among its goals are to “protect important farmlands and critical natural resource areas.” To achieve this goal, a “Green Infrastructure” subcommittee produced a series of maps depicting Cropland Focus Areas, Forestland Focus Areas, and Natural Resources and Recreation Land Focus Areas.
The maps have been incorporated as part of the State Strategies for Policies and Spending and are being used to direct future state program investments and to guide local land use planning. Regional conservation maps and strategies developed by The Nature Conservancy through eco-regional plans that encompass Delaware, were included in analysis identifying focus areas for Green Infrastructure natural resource preservation.
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