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“We shouldn’t lose sight of less-expensive and longer-lasting solutions to many of our infrastructure needs, like planting trees in urban areas for stormwater management and other services,” wrote David Suzuki. “Adding 10 trees to a block can produce health benefits equivalent to a $10,000 salary raise or being seven years younger. Despite their enormous value to society, urban forest canopies are stressed and in decline in many parts of the country.”

“Wetlands can provide a number of benefits to society, including: flood control, water treatment, and carbon storage. This workshop will explore gaps and opportunities to protect and conserve wetlands and work towards healthier watersheds. Topics were selected to support key municipal and regional staff and lead conservation groups working in the Okanagan,” states Neil Fletcher.

“Trees are community builders. The shades they produce reduce summer temperatures in these areas. Wherever there’s a large canopy area, the value of those houses increase,” says Dean Hay. If residents understood where their water went, and if the city could embrace a viable way to use its water more efficiently, Hay believes there would be long-term economic — as well as environmental — benefits.

Viewers from around the world will be able to learn more about the connections between green infrastructure, economics, and human health by attending a live webcast of the Grey to Green Conference on August 25th, 2014. “The live webcast allows individuals who cannot afford the time or money to travel the ability to take advantage of the excellent and leading-edge content being provided at this event,” said Steven W. Peck.

“Now all four governments can benefit from the single education effort that is occurring, and all residents in the Valley are aware that their local governments take the issue seriously, regardless of what jurisdiction the knotweed falls within. In small rural communities such as ours this is the type of program that relies on collaboration for success,” stated Nancy Hofer.

“We require a healthy, natural living environment for us as a species to do well. So in order for the future to do well in Surrey, we need to ensure that biodiversity does well. And for that you need land and all of the services that biodiversity provides us,” said Deb Jack.

“One of the more thoughtful landscaping undertakings I have seen will be installed over the next fifteen years on, appropriately enough, the grounds of the US Department of Agriculture headquarters in Washington. The site is prominently placed on the National Mall just steps away from the Washington Monument. The lengthy, detailed description of the People’s Garden reads like a manifesto for outdoor sustainability,” writes Kaid Benfield.

“We can think of our natural resources — trees, streams, lakes, wetlands, soils — as infrastructure because they provide things we need such as shade, good air quality, drinking water, food and recreation. We need to know where our best forests, wetlands or farms are located in order to better protect them,” said Karen Firehock.

“We’ve reviewed thousands of scientific sources, and the evidence is in – experiences of nearby nature in cities are associated with improved human health and wellness. Parks, trees, and gardens are indeed beautiful, but our work on economic values is showing that ‘vitamin N’ could become a therapy to reduce health costs,” said Dr. Kathleen Wolf.

“Initially the space was an unwelcoming pit — sited well below street level and surrounded by 22-foot-high concrete walls. A massive dry well to capture and disperse rainwater sat at the bottom, covered by thick concrete. The designers made the most of the existing structure, fabricating a showstopping waterfall and trellis to capitalize on the height of the concrete walls,” wrote Bonnie Monte.