Green Infrastructure and Social Welfare. Lessons for …
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3 Methodology
3.1 Area of Study
The area of study is the Metropolitan Zone of Leon in the State of Guanajuato. It
belongs to the region known as Bajío Mexicano, an urban industrial belt for the automotive sector that has been favored by its strategic location in Central Mexico. The
Metropolitan Zone is part of an agglomeration of 1.9 million inhabitants, equivalent
to 35% of the State’s population (INEGI 2015; Iplaneg 2018a, b). It includes four
local administrative areas or “municipios”: (1) Silao de la Victoria, (2) León de los
Aldama, (3) San Francisco del Rincón y (4) Purísima de Bustos.
The Metropolitan Zone in Mexico is part of a public policy in urban matter to
deal with regional issues that require local Governments’ coordination.
Geographically speaking, the metropolitan area is characterized by the presence
of steep slopes and hills to the north, large expanses of plains and some hills towards
the center, a portion that comprises the urban area and of greater growth of the main
city (Leon City) and by extensive plains towards the south, where different agricultural activities are performed. Landscape features oak forests, xerophytic shrubs and
introduced plants.
Areas of special management along the study area include six natural areas (e.g.
Sierra de Lobos, Cerro del Palote, Cerro del Cubilete and Presa de Silva), water
bodies (e.g. Palote dam and San José dam) and perennial rivers (e.g. Guanajuato
River, Silao River and León River).
3.2 Evaluation of the Distribution of Green Infrastructure
Components in the Metropolitan Area of Leon
Conceptual references on green infrastructure were examined. Furthermore, a review
on ecological and urban planning was carried out by gathering information from the
current model of land management in Guanajuato, particularly in the Metropolitan
Zone of Leon. Official plans and programs at local and State levels were reviewed in
order to identify specific actions, plans or projects to create a network of open spaces.
Additionally, geographical information on the natural, green and public spaces were
consulted from the National Geography System of Mexico (INEGI 2018).
A key aspect was the evaluation of green infrastructure attributes. It includes the
attributes related to scope, scale, settings and geographical features. This helped to
establish different categories of evaluation.
Additionally, interviews were held with governance personnel (Director and Charmain of State Government) on urban and ecological planning and with members of a
Local Council on Landscape and Urban Image to ask for information on (i) the existing initiatives about green infrastructure and (ii) the current principles and model
75
3 Methodology
3.1 Area of Study
The area of study is the Metropolitan Zone of Leon in the State of Guanajuato. It
belongs to the region known as Bajío Mexicano, an urban industrial belt for the automotive sector that has been favored by its strategic location in Central Mexico. The
Metropolitan Zone is part of an agglomeration of 1.9 million inhabitants, equivalent
to 35% of the State’s population (INEGI 2015; Iplaneg 2018a, b). It includes four
local administrative areas or “municipios”: (1) Silao de la Victoria, (2) León de los
Aldama, (3) San Francisco del Rincón y (4) Purísima de Bustos.
The Metropolitan Zone in Mexico is part of a public policy in urban matter to
deal with regional issues that require local Governments’ coordination.
Geographically speaking, the metropolitan area is characterized by the presence
of steep slopes and hills to the north, large expanses of plains and some hills towards
the center, a portion that comprises the urban area and of greater growth of the main
city (Leon City) and by extensive plains towards the south, where different agricultural activities are performed. Landscape features oak forests, xerophytic shrubs and
introduced plants.
Areas of special management along the study area include six natural areas (e.g.
Sierra de Lobos, Cerro del Palote, Cerro del Cubilete and Presa de Silva), water
bodies (e.g. Palote dam and San José dam) and perennial rivers (e.g. Guanajuato
River, Silao River and León River).
3.2 Evaluation of the Distribution of Green Infrastructure
Components in the Metropolitan Area of Leon
Conceptual references on green infrastructure were examined. Furthermore, a review
on ecological and urban planning was carried out by gathering information from the
current model of land management in Guanajuato, particularly in the Metropolitan
Zone of Leon. Official plans and programs at local and State levels were reviewed in
order to identify specific actions, plans or projects to create a network of open spaces.
Additionally, geographical information on the natural, green and public spaces were
consulted from the National Geography System of Mexico (INEGI 2018).
A key aspect was the evaluation of green infrastructure attributes. It includes the
attributes related to scope, scale, settings and geographical features. This helped to
establish different categories of evaluation.
Additionally, interviews were held with governance personnel (Director and Charmain of State Government) on urban and ecological planning and with members of a
Local Council on Landscape and Urban Image to ask for information on (i) the existing initiatives about green infrastructure and (ii) the current principles and model