Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16WHAT IS THE VALUE OF A TREE? Or a wetland? Or an undeveloped stretch of coastline? Historically, these questions have been answered in the context of market value; how many 2x4s can be manufactured from a tree or the number of house lots that a coastal area will accommodate. In a world where we are challenged to simultaneously meet the needs of a growing human population and reverse the trends associated with biodiversity loss and climate change, it has become necessary to view these questions holistically and to consider both market and non-market values. What role does a tree play in climate regulation? What is the inherent value of the biodiversity supported by a wetland? What is the significance of the storm protection provided by an undeveloped reach of the coast and what would it cost to protect the adjacent citizens if that service was lost? Nature-based infrastructure This broad framing of natural resource valu- ation has sparked an approach to strategic conservation planning known as green infra- structure. What does green infrastructure look like on the ground? At the regional scale, green infrastructure features typically include a network of conservation and working lands such as riparian corridors (the wetlands and vegetated uplands that front freshwater and tidal streams and rivers), forests, parks, and recreation areas. At the local scale, green infra- structure networks are biased toward smaller features such as rain gardens, public parks, urban forest, and other elements that provide a mix of public amenities and ecological services. At its best, green infrastructure planning takes the full range of services provided by natural systems into account. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that multiple benefits accrue when green infrastructure pro- tection and restoration are included in local and regional community planning efforts. The range of potential benefits is extensive includ- ing improved human health, improved climate change resilience, and improved ecosystem integrity as compared to gray infrastructure solutions. The key to identifying and protect- ing high-value green infrastructure lies in an evaluation of the services provided and making conservation decisions that maximize benefits in the context of the needs and fiscal con- straints of the host region or locality. THE MULTIPLE BENEFITS APPROACH TO COASTAL RESILIENCY by Eric Walberg Manomet Partnerships for Sustainability • Fall / Winter 2016-17 | 3