WHAT
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The GSA works to raise awareness of the importance of open space to the region’s quality of life and identity, its economic vitality and its ecological value. GreenSpace fosters preservation partnerships in each of its priority landscape areas. These collaborative efforts with local governments, nonprofits, and others result in advancing preservation work in each of the areas, crucial to success in this rapidly developing region.
The GreenSpace Alliance promotes its goals throughout the region by educating opinion leaders, decision-makers, and the public, and by advocating for policies and funding that advance the vision:
- Preserving Priority Landscapes: Using GIS-based analysis guided by expert advisors, the GreenSpace Alliance developed a Regional Green Plan in which priority landscapes were identified, i.e., landscapes or corridors that for environmental, agricultural and/or recreational reasons are very important to preserve. Working with regional organizations and governmental officials, the GSA is helping to strengthen existing and establish new partnerships and coalitions to speed protection of these areas. Host organizations for each priority area help convene the partners and ensure that the work advances.
- Funding/Policy Advocacy: As an example of its role in advocating for funding and sound policy, GreenSpace Alliance worked as regional coordinator to educate voters about the value of May 2005’s Growing Greener II, a $625 million bond initiative with monies for land preservation and other environmental projects. The referendum passed overwhelmingly. GreenSpace Alliance continues to work closely with regional and statewide groups to ensure effective implementation of Growing Greener funds and will engage in other similar initiatives in the future.
- Education: GSA’s website and other communications pieces will offer value-added information that will serve not only Alliance members but all others with an interest in its mission. It will be a source of information about progress in the priority landscape areas, it will educate about the benefits of preservation and provide useful information for those advocating for same, and it will provide important news and critical links so that people and organizations can readily find the information they need.
Strategic Initiatives in Brief
- Promote preservation of strategic, prioritized open space, and consistency among open space plans at local, county, regional, and statewide levels.
- Provide leadership for the implementation of the Regional Green Plan.
- Advocate for legislative changes in land use decisions and policies.
- Advocate for increased public and private funding for preservation.
- Develop and pursue an urban agenda as an integral element of a regional open space preservation, restoration, and enhancement strategy to advance the livability of communities.
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