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RESEARCH ARTICLE: Gaining Ground: Green Infrastructure Attitudes and Perceptions from Stakeholders in Syracuse, New York

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2012

Kathleen Barnhill
Affiliation:
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York
Richard Smardon*
Affiliation:
Professor of Environmental Studies, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York
*
Richard Smardon, PhD, Faculty of Environmental Studies, State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210; (phone) 315-470-6576; (fax) 315-470-6915; (e-mail) [email protected]
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Abstract

This research is part of an ULTRA NSF-US Forest service research grant addressing urban ecosystem metabolism in Syracuse, New York. This project explores local stakeholders' perceptions of green infrastructure (GI) and ecosystems services from both positive and detracting perspectives. Focus groups were used to elicit responses for a thematic analysis. Respondents displayed confusion about what ecosystems services are, as well as what GI is. Implementation barriers include costs (who pays), what the benefits are, unanticipated impacts, and scale of implementation.

Environmental Practice 14:6–16 (2012)

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Copyright © National Association of Environmental Professionals 2012

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