What is a green corridor?

The term ‘green corridor’ is commonly used in many countries in Europe, however, the concept is named differently around the globe such as ‘corridors verdes’ in Portugal, ‘zold folyod’ in Hungary, ‘greenways’ in the United States (Fabos 1995), and ‘green corridors’ and ‘green wedges’ in Australia.

Green corridors are prevalent across the globe and have multiple interacting functions. Green corridors are planned networks of natural vegetation that create living pathways and boundaries in urban areas.

• Access to local green space for local communities and visitors, from which they can receive multiple benefits such as rest, recreation and appreciation.
• Green corridors have important ecological functions:
  • providing shade, wind protection and cooling
  • pollution management
  • waterway management
  • connecting natural features and providing habitat and pathways for species.
• They can be designed for their aesthetic, social and cultural values. They can be ornamental, tourist attractions, important expressions of cultural heritage, and our current social and cultural imagination.
• Green corridors can also be used to take advantage of, and provide infrastructure, including transport pathways and underground and above-ground utilities e.g. water, communications, and energy infrastructure.

Examples of green corridors

Ornamental green corridor

Mobility corridor

Water management corridor

A holistic approach

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of biodiversity for urban nature, and how to apply nature-based-solutions, visit our partner course Bringing Urban Nature Into the Cities of Tomorrow:

• Bringing Urban Nature Into the Cities of Tomorrow – Online Course – FutureLearn

Your task

Read through the following questions, and then spend some time reflecting on them in your own personal journal. These questions are designed to help reinforce the skills you are learning, and the greatest benefit will come from consideration of these questions over time.

Note: We encourage you to reach out and interact with your peers for guidance, assistance and support if you have difficulty with any aspect of this task.

In the comments below you can give some examples of the following:

• Choose a green corridor in your local area.
• What functions does it provide in your city?
• Tell us about the green corridor in the comments so we can gain insight into corridors around the globe.

Commenting isn’t compulsory for completing the course, but it would be brilliant to hear your insights and for your fellow learners to benefit from your perspectives.

References (Free to the public)

• Hebbert, M., Webb, B., Gossop, C. (ed.) and Nan, S. (ed.) 2012, Towards a Liveable Urban Climate Research Explorer in Liveable Cities: Urbanising World: ISOCARP Review 07, Routledge, London, 132-150.
• Towards a Liveable Urban Climate; Research Explorer

Academic references (Abstract only free to the public)

• Laurian, L. (2019) Planning for Street Trees and Human–Nature Relations: Lessons from 600 Years of Street Tree Planting in Paris Journal of Planning History, 18(4), pp. 282–310.
• Sun, Q., Macleod, T., Both, A., Hurley, J., Butt, A., Amati, M., (2021), A human-centred assessment framework to prioritise heat mitigation efforts for active travel at city scale – ScienceDirect Science of The Total Environment, 763.
• Suleiman, L., (2021), Blue green infrastructure, from niche to mainstream: Challenges and opportunities for planning in Stockholm Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 166

In the next step, you will learn more about green corridors.