UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An upcoming Penn State Extension land-use webinar will focus on “green corridors” and “blue corridors,” terms that describe terrestrial and riparian corridors established to enhance and maintain existing habitats by connecting fragmented and isolated ecosystems. According to organizers, the last several years have seen a significant rise in the number of these corridors.
Presenting the 75-minute webinar at noon on Oct. 19 will be Andrew Schwartz, professional landscape architect, member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and director of urban design at Environmental Planning and Design, and Jeff Wagner, director of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
The webinar will examine the full range of natural resources that often serve as the building blocks of green and blue corridors. Presenters will discuss a series of analysis techniques and methodologies to illustrate how synergies between existing natural resources can be leveraged for ecological, recreational, cultural, historical, social and resiliency purposes and benefits.
Attendees can learn about common regional open space planning approaches and emerging trends in open space planning. Community development extension educators note that issues such as climate change, environmental restoration, and diversity, equity and inclusion are at the forefront of current events and greatly influence the “why, what, how and where” behind conservation of natural resources and open space areas.
Webinar organizers point out that in Pennsylvania, a trove of experience in open space planning has helped protect these corridors. Presenters will highlight successful implementation strategies and share ideas on avoiding the pitfalls of over-ambition, lack of partnerships and inaction.
“Green Corridors, Blue Corridors: Planning to Protect Our Natural Assets” is the fourth webinar in the monthly Penn State Extension Summer/Fall 2022 Land-Use Webinar Series that runs through November. The series informs municipal elected and appointed officials, planners, landowners, farmers, and community organizations about land-use issues and decisions in their communities.
Other topics and dates in the webinar series include the following:
- July 20: “Planning in Rural Pennsylvania in 2020.”
- Aug. 17: “Dealing With Difficult Issues.”
- Sept. 21: “Missing Middle Housing.”
- Nov. 16: “Hazard Mitigation Planning.”
All programs will be recorded and available for future viewing.
The cost of the webinar series is $50 for all five sessions, or $95 for all five sessions for those who want to receive AICP certification-maintenance credits from the American Planning Association. The cost also is $95 for all five sessions for professional engineers needing PDH credits. In addition, registered landscape architects can receive continuing-education credits for a fee of $65.
For anyone interested in a particular topic from the series, individual session registration is available for a fee of $15 per session.
For more information, contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-296-3400 or by email at ptw3@psu.edu. To register for the webinars, visit the Penn State Extension website.