(Note: The
Greenspaces Program is no longer funded. However, since many
projects that were funded by the Greenspaces program are still
in existence, the following overview may be of interest.)
History and Overview
In the late 1980's, a group of representatives from Metro*,
non-profit organizations, local governments, and citizens
formed to collaborate on greenspaces protection in the Portland/Vancouver
region. As a result of their efforts, Congress and the President
allocated funding in 1991 for a partnership known as the Metropolitan
Greenspaces Program (Program) to be administered by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and Metro. The Program focused on
environmental education, habitat restoration, public outreach,
and regional planning throughout the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver,
Washington area. This partnership served as one of only two
demonstration programs like it in the nation, involving the
USFWS as a partner in local natural resource conservation
efforts in urban environments. No longer funded as of 2005,
but with fourteen years of history, the Program serves as
a model for meaningful conservation strategies in and around
urbanizing areas.
Program Accomplishments
Initially, the Program supported natural area inventories
and mapping used to develop a strategic conservation plan
for the region. In 1995, citizens voted in favor of a $135.6
million bond measure to implement the plan by publicly acquiring
an extensive network of trails and greenspaces. Continued
funding of $300,000 annually, from 1991 through 2004, supported
grants that contributed to over 300 projects and enabled the
USFWS to participate in Metro's regional planning to protect
greenspaces, water quality, floodplains, and fish and wildlife
habitat. For a complete summary of accomplishments, see the Greenspaces
Accomplishment Report. View project
profiles of specific Greenspaces grants, including photos,
advice and helpful hints from the project managers.
Beneficial Partnership
The overlap between the missions of Metro and the USFWS made
way for a mutually beneficial partnership. Metro's responsibility
for regional land-use planning, including protecting a regional
network of parks and natural areas, protecting water quality,
maintaining functional floodplains, and conserving fish and
wildlife habitat complements the USFWS' mission to conserve,
protect, and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, and
plants and their habitats. This partnership allowed for the
pooling of resources and expertise to implement a multi-faceted
program aimed at conserving sensitive species through environmental
education, habitat restoration, stewardship, conservation
planning and collaboration with other stakeholders.
The
Role of Urban Areas in Natural Resource Conservation
The Portland/Vancouver area supports habitat and migration
corridors for a number of at-risk species, including native
salmonids, migratory birds, amphibians, mammals and plants.
The key to urban conservation is to find the balance between
the seemingly conflicting goals of allowing development density
and protecting natural resources.  Confining growth to reduce urban sprawl will protect fish
and wildlife habitat outside of urban growth boundaries (UGBs).
Maintaining healthy streams, natural areas and movement corridors
within UGBs will help to ensure that urban land uses contribute
towards conservation within the larger landscape. Although
this is a challenging equilibrium to define and reach, it
goes hand-in-hand with maintaining the high quality of life
experienced in this region due to clean air, healthy waterways,
the presence of fish and wildlife, access to nature and scenic
surroundings within city limits.
A
Model for Urban Communities
The Greenspaces Program serves as a model that can be applied
to protect fish and wildlife and their habitats in other urban
areas. Ever-expanding urban areas often contain significant
habitat for at-risk fish and wildlife species and offer enormous
opportunities to reach the public. Sensitive areas and species
can be protected given public support and effective long-term
planning and implementation. This Program has allowed Metro
and the USFWS to work pro-actively with local communities
and partners in a variety of ways to protect and restore natural
areas and promote environmental education. These activities
engage the public, build support for natural resource conservation,
and lead to ongoing citizen involvement in environmental issues.
* Metro is the regional government that provides integrated
resource management for the 25
cities and unincorporated areas in the Portland metropolitan
area. Facilities, public assets and governance services include
the Oregon Convention Center, the Oregon Zoo, the Portland
Center for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Exposition
Center, transportation planning, growth management, solid
waste system management and recycling services, and regional
parks and greenspaces.
| Greenspace
Contacts |
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Items of Note
Greenspaces Final Report
Summary of Accomplishments 1991-2005
Greenspaces Grants
Conservation and restoration projects that were funded throughout
the Portland and Vancouver region.
Project Profiles
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