Preserving Our Green Infrastructure

When I want to relax, I put on my bike helmet and hit one of the many bike trails in Illinois or Indiana. Like me, almost everyone in the Great Lakes region has their favorite place to relax in the outdoors, whether it is out in a boat on Lake Michigan, walking the dog in a nearby neighborhood park or hitting a bike, canoe, or hiking trail.

This year a centennial anniversary of the Burnham Plan of Chicago is drawing attention to 22 Green Legacy Projects -- projects that, when completed, will close critical gaps in the region's 3-state "green infrastructure"-- an interconnected network of open spaces and natural areas, that includes greenways and trails, wetlands, parks, forest preserves and native plant vegetation.



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These natural areas not only offer residents recreation and a way to enjoy nature, they are essential for reducing CO2 emissions, effective storm water management, reducing flooding risk and improving water quality.

Nearly a century ago, Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett unveiled their 1909 Plan of Chicago, a framework for growth in the greater Chicago area. Their vision included access to Lake Michigan for everyone and a network of parks and forest preserves, that have become a legacy unique to this region.

Greenpeace creates iPhone app for responsible tissue shopping

Have an iPhone? Want to make sure the toilet paper or paper towels and other paper wiping products you buy are not made with virgin rain forest timber?

Treehugger found the app for you - The Greenpeace Tissue Guide is an index of tissue brands and how good they are for the environment. The (free!) app includes:

• Over 100 brands of toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins
• Search by brand or product category
• Expert ratings
• Recommended brands, brands that could do better, and brands to avoid

What a great idea to give people (with iPhones) the tools to make good choices. What other smart phone apps could help people do the right thing? Is there a way to make this information available to folks like me with prehistoric phones that just have text-messaging and a calendar and an alarm clock and a camera and video games...?