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Green infrastructure can be used almost anywhere soil and vegetation can be worked into the urban or suburban landscape.

The authors provide examples illustrating how reduced hydrologic connectivity can provide greater ecological benefits than enhanced connectivity does in highly developed, human-modified ecosystems.

Patrick Condon (120p)
If we change the way cities are built and retrofitted, we can create the conditions for a livable life for our children and grandchildren.

Ray Fung (120p)
An absorbent topsoil layer has emerged as a fundamental building block for achieving water sustainability outcomes through green infrastructure. Targeted water sustainability outcomes are: less irrigation water use; and reduced rainwater runoff.

The Inland Kenworth industrial development in the City of Nanaimo illustrates what can be accomplished through collaboration when a municipality challenges a development proponent to be innovative. “As a planner, I believe we should start by looking at site constraints and opportunities. And that is where our conversations started with the developer and consultants team,” stated Gary Noble. The Inland Kenworth story was incorporated in the curriculum for the 2008 Vancouver Island Learning Lunch Seminar Series.

The main purpose of the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy is to prioritize sensitive ecosystems, linkages via expanded riparian strips and designated upland wildlife corridors and to create a new and exciting watershed-based land use planning framework. “The current process has the Conservation Strategy Community Partnership collaborating with Regional and Municipal planners, engineers and elected representatives to develop a new way of doing business in the Comox Valley,” stated Jack Minard.

Virginia’s General Assembly passed legislation in early 2004 authorizing the Rivanna River Basin Commission. The Commission was created to confront the ecological challenge posed by excessive stream erosion and sedimentation. t

Vancouver Island is the pilot region for implementing Beyond the Guidebook: The New Business As Usual through a precedent-setting approach to continuing education for local government practitioners, namely the Learning Lunch Seminar Series. This provincial initiative builds on the foundation provided by Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia, published in 2002, and incorporates lessons learned over the past six years.

“In November 2007, the Capital Regional District hosted a full 1-day workshop titled “Bio/Infiltration: Tools for Rainwater Management”. Organized under the umbrella of the Stormwater, Harbours and Watersheds Program, the workshop emphasis was on municipal implementation, particularly funding, bylaws and other tools available to municipalities to work towards innovative rainwater management,” stated Jody Watson.

Building on the interest in rainwater / stormwater modelling generated by a province-wide series of technical seminars, the Green Infrastructure Partnership delivered a one-day seminar on how to implement ‘green solutions’ that actually protect stream health. Held in November 2007, the seminar is part of the rollout of 'Beyond the Guidebook: Context for Rainwater Management and Green Infrastructure in British Columbia.'