Landscape conference to highlight importance of Green Infrastructure.

Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Naoise ÓMuirí, will open the conference. “It is very exciting to have the well-respected expert Dr. Kongjian Yu in attendance at the ILI’s 2012 Conference. Dr. Yu has a record in applying cutting-edge design to enhancing our environment. This is very relevant to Green infrastructure which is the conference’s theme this year. Greening the City is one of the main aims of the current Development Plan for Dublin. Dublin City Council is actively developing strategic green networks in terms of better transportation access, flood reduction, recreational and biodiversity improvements.” says the Lord Mayor.

Green Infrastructure is a network of natural areas and open spaces—such as woodlands, wetlands, trails and parks—that conserves ecosystems, helps sustain clean air and water and provides many other benefits to people and wildlife.

President of the Irish Landscape Institute, Maryann Harris, adds that “The Irish Landscape Institute celebrates the twentieth anniversary this year. The multidisciplinary nature of Green Infrastructure is reflected in this conference’s programme. The global importance of Green Infrastructure is reflected in our speakers from Asia, North America and Europe. We are also launching the first national award in Ireland for Green Infrastructure as part of the National Landscape Awards 2012. This conference will provide a major event for pioneering new approaches in Ireland to environmental planning and design.”

Key sponsorship for this event is provided by Dublin City Council and by the Green Infrastructure Network (GreenInfranet), co-funded by the EU programme INTERREG IVC and its project partner, Fingal County Council.