--- title: Nature as Infrastructure description: Strategic investments in nature or green infrastructure can provide many valuable benefits to our urban communities. image: https://news.openspaceauthority.org/hubfs/Coyote%20Ridge%20-%20Landscapes%20-%20DN%20-%203-19-16%20-%2019-036533-edited.jpg --- # Nature as Infrastructure Back to Home ![Coyote Ridge - Landscapes - DN - 3-19-16 - 19-036533-edited](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/hubfs/Coyote%20Ridge%20-%20Landscapes%20-%20DN%20-%203-19-16%20-%2019-036533-edited.jpg) Just as we invest in traditional urban infrastructure, like transportation and waste and water treatment, strategic investments in nature or green infrastructure can also provide many valuable benefits to our urban communities. These benefits include flood protection, reducing greenhouse gases, increasing access to food, and resilience to climate change for both human and natural communities. Here in Santa Clara Valley, Coyote Valley provides an example of the diverse mix of benefits nature provides. Coyote Valley is a conservation priority for the Authority for the role it plays in the health and sustainability of our urban region and its conservation values: floodplains, local water supply, wildlife corridor connection, agriculture, and recreation. Conservation and restoration investments in Coyote Valley can help to reduce greenhouse gases, store carbon, and buffer the effects of increased temperatures and flood events. Funding this work can help protect our downstream neighborhoods and the local economy from the most damaging effects of climate change. The Authority is working with other public and private partners to quantify the benefits of large-scale natural infrastructure investments, in Coyote Valley and elsewhere, and integrate them into long-range planning efforts for open space protection and restoration. We are working closely with our state and local government partners to fund climate-smart land protection and restoration projects. October 09, 2018 ## Categories - [Coyote Valley](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/coyote-valley) - [Urban Open Spaces](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/urban-open-spaces) - [Wildlife](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/wildlife) - [Open Space Authority Initiatives](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/open-space-authority-initiatives) - [Events](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/events) - [Agriculture](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/agriculture) - [Green Infrastructure](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/green-infrastructure) - [Land Acquisitions](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/land-acquisitions) - [Urban Open Space Corner](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/urban-open-space-corner) - [Policy](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/policy) - [Environmental Justice](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/environmental-justice) - [Community Connections](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/community-connections) - [Restoration](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/restoration) - [Staff Spotlight](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/staff-spotlight) - [Fires](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/fires) - [30th Anniversary](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/30th-anniversary) - [Sustainable Agriculture](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/sustainable-agriculture) ## Recent Posts - [Celebrating Healthy Soils Week](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/healthysoils) - [Coyote Valley Photo Contest: Meet the People's Choice Winner!](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/openhouseandpeopleschoice) - [The Negative Impacts of Illegal Dumping](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/illegaldumping) - [A Silent Spring?](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/earth-day-2024) - [Staff Spotlight: Matt Freeman](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/matt-freeman) - [Another Win for Agriculture in Santa Clara County](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/yiu-ace-2024) - [Message from the General Manager](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/gm-update-2024) - [Wildlife Grammy Awards](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/wildlife-grammys) - [Honoring Dr. King's Environmental Legacy](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/dr-kings-environmental-legacy) - [Wildlife Thesaurus: Top 10 Native Animals with Nicknames](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/wildlife-thesaurus) *For media inquiries contact:* ![](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/hubfs/Blog_2017/interface/images/Charlotte-Graham.jpg) ## Charlotte Graham Public Information Officer [cgraham@openspaceauthority.org](mailto:cgraham@openspaceauthority.org) #### [Preserves](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves.html) [Coyote Valley](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/coyotevalley.html) [Coyote Ridge](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/coyoteridge.html) [Rancho Cañada del Oro](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/rancho.html) [Sierra Vista](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/sierra.html) [Trail Maps](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/open-space-preserve-trail-maps.html) [Conditions & Guidelines](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/conditions-guidelines.html) [Recreation](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/recreation.html) [Events](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/events.html) [Plants & Animals](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/plants-animals.html) #### [Our Work](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/our-work.html) [Planning Coyote Valley](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/our-work/planning-coyote-valley.html) [Our Projects](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/our-work/conservation-projects.html) [Agriculture](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/our-work/agriculture.html) [Land Protection](https://www.openspaceauthority.org/our-work/land-protection.html) [Land 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