Nomenclature and definitions for green infrastructure benefits

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There are a wide variety of green infrastructure (GI) benefits identified in the literature and no universal nomenclature or set of definitions. The nomenclature and definitions used in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual are summarized below.

• Climate resilience. The ability of a system to absorb shock and still maintain function, continuing to thrive as stimuli evolve (Adger, 2006). Resilience is not simply about how robust a system is to disturbance, but how the system reacts to and creates opportunities from the disruption (Folke, 2006). Climate resilience includes but is not limited to the following potential climate changes.
  • increased urban heat island effect
  • increased or reduced precipitation
  • increased rain intensity and magnitude of individual rain events
  • increased length of dry periods
• Habitat improvement. Restoring, enhancing, or establishing physiographic, hydrological, or disturbance conditions necessary to establish or maintain native plant and animal communities, including periodic manipulations to maintain intended habitat conditions on completed project sites (16 U.S. Code § 3772). In contrast to many definitions in the literature, which focus on vegetation management to improve habitat for animals, this definition includes both plant and animal communities and any management activity that enhances these communities. For example, habitat improvement might include manipulating soil conditions to enhance specific vegetation that supports invertebrate populations. Indicators or indices may be used to assess habitat or ecosystem health and changes in health (see for example [1]).