The Nature Conservancy, Greenbelt Alliance, GreenInfo Network, American Farmland Trust, and Bay Area Open Space Council have developed a toolkit that will support improved conservation-focused policy for local and regional planning in the Bay Area.The Bay Area Greenprint consists of data, methods, web applications, and programs for engagement. Specifically, the toolkit includes: ) a core method for evaluating places as to their conservation/ecosystem services values; b) a web-based tool allowing users to explore and report on these values for particular areas, and possibly test different scenarios; c) data and GIS tools that can be used by planners, consultants and advocates with technical capacity to apply the Greenprint methods to particular planning processes; d) an educational program to promote the use of this toolkit, including seminars and other approaches to enabling key regional players to more actively apply conservation to their planning decisions.
Year Published2017
StateCalifornia
Landscape ContextCoastal
Housing DensityUrban, Suburban
Funding TypePrivate
Habitat FocusDeveloped
Organizations InvolvedThe Nature Conservancy, Bay Area Open Space Council, American Farmland Trust, Greenbelt Alliance, GreenInfo Network
ValuesWater Supply, Water Quality, Open Space/Habitat, Recreation, Climate Resilience, Working Land, Carbon Sequestration, Biodiversity
Stakeholder InvolvementStakeholders were consulted; a strategic advisors group consisting of potential users was convened several times to inform functionality and design, and a science and methods committee was created to guide the data that underpins the toolkit.
Planning ProcessThe Core Team met every other week over a period of over two years to scope and build the tool. The Core Team also had an established subteam that was soley focused on the science and methods. The end users needs were at the forefront of toolkit development; the team conducted several use case interviews and rapid assessments with practitioners to query interest, find areas where the tool could add value to their work, and build institutional support for the project. The technical consultant on the project, GreenInfo Network, gathered input from project partners and potential users to build the framework for content, design features and user outreach before building the tool itself. Two expert committee informed functionality, and science and methods, respectively.
Desired OutcomesThe Bay Area Greenprint aims to facilitate the incorporation of natural and agricultural values and information into land use and transportation planning so a more complete accounting of costs and benefits can inform decisions about which open space might be developed or protected. In addition, the region has an abundance of data, but access and knowledge about certain datasets is limited. The Greenprint intends to be a one-stop shop for multi-benefit conservation data in the Bay Area and create a shared language among planners, policymakers, NGOs, and others to illustrate the case for conservation in supporting the Bay Area's vibrant environment, economy and regional character.
What It AccomplishedThe Bay Area Greenprint is a first-of-its-kind tool for the Bay Area. It was released in June 2017 and in the coming months, the Core Team will be working with agencies in the region on strategies to institutionalize our tool in programs and policies across the region. Further accomplishments will be noted at a later date.
