1. Growing Connections An introduction to the Green Infrastructure Network Flevoland, 27 September 2013 Ingrid Henzen

2. The Green Infrastructure Network Partnership of 11 European regions from 10 countries Promoting the development and implementation of green infrastructure:  by facilitating the exchange of experience  by identifying and transferring best practices related to green infrastructure policies Total budget: € 1.585.164 Co-funded by the INTERREG IVC Programme January 2012 – December 2014

3. Who we are – The partnership Flevoland Province Council (NL) – Lead Partner Plovdiv Regional Development Agency (BG) Stara Zagora REDA (BG) Nicosia Development Agency (CY) Barcelona Province Council (ES) Valencia Regional Government (ES) Regional Environmental Center (HU) Fingal County Council (IR) Emilia-Romagna Region (IT) Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (LV) Ghajnsielem Municipality (MT)

4. What is Green Infrastructure? Conserving biodiversity by strengthening the coherence of ecosystems

5. How can we achieve a GI? A new approach: integrating the conservation of biodiversity into other forms of land use

6. GI on European level May 2013, European Commission: new strategy for an EU-wide Green Infrastructure “Green Infrastructure (GI) – Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital” Green infrastructure: one of the main tools to tackle threats on biodiversity Integration of green infrastructure into other policy areas

7. Project’s key objective Strengthen the development and implementation of green infrastructure in EU regions in order to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services in close cooperation with other policy measures

8. How to achieve this By the exchange of expertise and experience among partners By the transfer of best practices By organizing seminars and conferences => Involvement of stakeholders

9. Objectives of today’s conference To share our experience… … and to learn from your experience To give an opportunity for further discussions

10. Thank you for your attention! www.greeninfranet.org Ingrid.Henzen@Flevoland.nl