Funding and FinancingGreen Infrastructure

Approach and Experience in Stuttgart Region

Stuttgart Region in Europe

Munich

Hamburg

an association of 179 municipalities

2,67 million inhabitants(from 170 countries)

3.654 square kilometers

Verband Region Stuttgart:

Verband Region Stuttgart: A public authority for regioanl tasks

Regional transportationSuburban railways and busses

Landscape planning / climate protectionGarbage disposal (partial)

Promotion of economic developmentTourism marketing

Infrastructure

Transportation

Economy

Environment

Optional tasks Promotion of culture, sports, congresses

Regional land use planning

Freiraum unter Druck

Freiraum unter Druck

Freiraum unter Druck

Freiraum unter Druck

The Regional Landscape Park ConceptSince 1999 the VRS is authorised by law to develop concepts for the Landscape Park.

Since 2004 we are also authorized to realize projectsImplementation Co-Financing of Projects

Concepts MasterplansContent:Analysis and discription of the landscape-related situation

Main goals to be achieved

Proposals for actions and projects

Basic condition for funding green projects:

Based on legal provisions the VRS is not allowed to implement investments in green infrastructure on his own.

Project realization is only possible in cooperation with communities.

Solution:the Co-financing Programme

CompetitionVRS announces co-financing money for landscapepark projects once a year.Municipalities – refering to the masterplans - make proposals for projects (about 30 to 40 each year).A jury picks out the best projects (about 15 to 20 each year).

FundingVRS funds up to 50 % of the elected municipalitan projects.

Only municipalities can take part in this competition, neither private persons nor other public organisations.

Co-financing Projects - how does it work?

Criteria and Requests for the selection of projects• Contribution to the concept of regional landscape parks• Realisation in the following year

A wide range of possible kinds of projects; Typical projects are dealing with

Criteria and Requests• Contribution to the concept of regional landscape parks• Realisation in the following year

A wide range of possible kinds of projects; Typical projects are dealing with

- hiking trails or bicycle paths of regional importance

Criteria and Requests• Contribution to the concept of regional landscape parks• Realisation in the following year

A wide range of possible kinds of projects; Typical projects are dealing with

- hiking trails or bicycle paths of regional importance- integrated systems of

biotopes

Criteria and Requests• Contribution to the concept of regional landscape parks• Realisation in the following year

A wide range of possible kinds of projects; Typical projects are dealing with

- hiking trails or bicycle paths of regional importance- integrated systems of

biotopes,- landmarks, locations or buildings of special interest

Criteria and Requests• Contribution to the concept of regional landscape parks• Realisation in the following year

A wide range of possible kinds of projects; Typical projects are dealing with

- hiking trails or bicycle paths of regional importance- integrated systems of

biotopes,- landmarks, locations or buildings of special interest,- or projects to get people

in touch with nature.

VRS-budget

Mill

ion

Euro

10,6 10,5 10,6 12,0 11,9 12,9 12,8 12,8 14,37,2 11,9

18,4 14,5

1,6 1,8 1,7 1,1 1,2

0102030

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Trade fair 2004 – 2007 Landscape park

other expenses

 

Annual VRS-budget for green projects

2005: 250.000 €2006: 250.000 €2007: 500.000 €2008: 1.500.000 €2009: 1.500.000 €2010: 1.500.000 €2011: 1.500.000 €2012: 1.500.000 €

Backnang

Funded Projects2005 - 2012

Conclusions (1):The number of projects funded by the VRS shows: improvement of green infrastructure is possible • when the responsible government is convinced of the

importance as a locational factor and for the quality of life for the people living in the region

• and when the government is firmly determined to invest in green projects.

In the end it‘s a question of political priorities.

The state government has launched a special program to finance projects regarding the river Neckar.

Example:Renaturation of Banks of the Neckar in Ludwigsburg

before…

more partnersallow:-bigger projects-higher invest-better results

after renaturation

Planing and funding in coopration between• municipality• waterways

administra-tion

• and VRS

near-natural bypass waterways and an ascending aids for fish

5 partners involved: two citiespower plant waterways authorityVRS

VALUE-pilot Cycle-pathEsslingen

co-funded by:• city of Esslingen• waterways authority• EU• VRS

2 regions3 counties16 municipalities

Inter-municipal State Garden Exhibition - Remstal

Aim: develop the green, blue and grey infrastructure of a river valley from source to mouth

Combination of different sources of finance (national, federal, region, communal):• Regional Co-Financing program for GI

projects• State Garden Exhibition program for GI

projects • Urban development promotion program• Financial support for the implementation of

the Water Framework Directive• Funding according to the Financing Act for

Communal Traffic• …

Inter-municipal State Garden Exhibition - Remstal

State garden exhibitions allow to bundle and prioritize funding from different public financial sources of the Federal State for a certain timeframe

A wide range of different projects depending on the following aims:• Enhancement ecological passageways,

creation of retention basins and enriched recreational use of the river Rems

• Urban development in combination with green spaces

• Closing gaps in the Rems cycling route• Improvement of rail line• strengthening regional identity, preserving

and developing the cultural landscape and safeguarding a multifunctional living and recreation area

• …

• In our experience private enterprise are showing only limited willingness to prticipate in co-financing green projects.

• unless a certain project is of major interest to a company itself because of expected own benefits

• To find partners the main question is: Who could be interested in a certain project?Respectively: In wich kind of project could a certain organisation / institution be interested?

• Finally comprehensive information and a bit of creativity is required to figure out all possible sources of finance: public funding programs, EU-funding, special chances like the garden festival example as mentioned.

Conclusions:

• To have a clear strategie and a wide range of project ideas might be helpful to come up with the right project at the right moment.

• The european water framework directive e.g. is a great chance to connect recreational projects with renaturation of rivers.

An adequate development of this “green infrastructure” can only be achieved • in a coordinated approach • using mandatory instruments, • economical incentives • and a close co-operation of all relevant stakeholders.

Conclusions:

Though an attractive landscape and leasure facilities are said to be important locotion factors

green projects normaly don‘t have top priority. In many cases they are something „nice to have“.

Funding the future or fighting with finance?

Final Conclusions:

Though an attractive landscape and leasure facilities are said to be important location factors

green projects normaly don‘t have top priority. In many cases they are something „nice to have“.

Funding the future or fighting with finance?

No funding the future without fighting for finance!

Final Conclusion:

Many Thanks for your Attention