Intervention 9 Deliver nature-based solutions for resilient, blue- green ecosystems, landscapes and neighbourhoods Aim: To accelerate the roll out of blue and green solutions, through a regional strategic network, land management and targeted local interventions. This requires increasing the involvement of homeowners, landlords, landowners, businesses and whole communities to scale up and roll out solutions, supported by increased access to finance. There is also a role for exploring how vacant and derelict land in Glasgow City Region can also be brought into use to support these objectives, particularly in the Clyde corridor. Background: Glasgow City Region is a dynamic urban and rural mix, including world-renowned landscapes such as parts of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, as well as villages, towns and the city of Glasgow. This is also reflected in our economy, with financial services sitting alongside agriculture, forestry and wind farm construction. Our high-quality natural environment supports all of these activities, and is part of what makes Glasgow City Region a great place to live and invest. Glasgow City Region has 50,867 hectares (ha) of greenspace, of which 73% is accessible, along with 56,850 hectares of woodland. It is also important for wildlife, with 11 Special Areas of Conservation, 7 Special Protection Areas and 2 RAMSAR sites. The challenge: These celebrated landscapes, their wildlife and our rural activities such as farming, face challenges from climate change, including flooding, high winds, extreme temperatures, pest and diseases, and invasive species. Nature-based solutions can respond to these problems, while also helping address climate risks to people, buildings and infrastructure. Solutions can include green infrastructure, from the building level, through small-scale urban planting, to major urban green spaces and blue infrastructure around the coast and marine environment, or habitat restoration along river corridors. Such ecosystem- based adaptation can provide not only direct resilience benefits to both people and wildlife but also wider impacts: improving recreational opportunities and active travel routes, health and well-being, storing carbon, enhancing biodiversity and biosecurity. They can even boost property prices and local economic prosperity. However, despite all these benefits, they are not being rolled out at the scale and pace required. Where are we now? Nature-based solutions are becoming prioritized across the region; the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership is one exemplar organization planning their delivery with a focus on solutions for both people and wildlife, and local authorities are identifying the potential for adaptation through open space strategies. However more work is needed to target interventions in the most effective areas and shift to large-scale delivery.
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