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infrastructure framework, combined they are considered as blue-green infrastructure (Ahern 2007).
The scales used for planning and implementing green infrastructure are landscape, region or city, districts or neighborhoods, and sites or parcels (Ahern
2007), each with specific strategies (Allen 2014). Green infrastructure uses
mainly the landscape management approach; nevertheless, it also applies urban
design in planning practices (Mell 2012). At a landscape scale, it is convenient to
identify non-fragmented ecosystems that protect and improve the habitat of
native species, corridors, and functional landscapes (Allen 2012). This also
applies at the urban scale, where all types of green areas are part of the green
infrastructure. At a site scale, urban street design elements (planters, trees, landscape strips, medians, and rain gardens) can promote ecosystem services by
using water efficiency and management techniques, and by landscaping (reducing urban heat island and pollution) (Rehan 2013).
Agricultural landscape encompasses natural habitats and crops in a matrix,
which provides economic output together with a range of ecosystem services. By
conserving surrounding habitats and using farm and landscape-scale management techniques, the value of the ecosystem services in which vineyards and
tourism economies depend is maintained (Viers et al. 2013). According to
Winkler et al. (2017) and Viers et al. (2013), the main ecosystem services vineyards receive from surrounding natural ecosystems are: (1) cultivated crops; (2)
filtration (promoting aquifer recharge); (3) sequestration, storage, and accumulation by the vineyards; (4) pest and disease control; (5) buffering weather (wind
and temperature); (6) minimizing erosion, maintaining soil fertility through
good practices; and (7) heritage, cultural, scientific services, and esthetic
values.
Ahern (2011) proposed five planning strategies and urban design to build
resilience capacity: multi-functionality, redundancy and modularization, diversity (biological and social), networks at various scales, and connectivity. Green
infrastructure planning, participation, and interaction between potential stakeholders by means of expanding the green infrastructure range has the potential to
achieve great impact in the ability of providing services by the local governance
(Winkler et al. 2017). A participatory, inclusive approach facilitates local specific situations and ideas that can be incorporated in projects (Schifman et al.
2017). This approach decentralizes and extends coverage of green infrastructure
over a greater area while engaging citizens. And, by means of supporting programs, these practices can expand (Winkler et al. 2017).
3. The identification and valuation of ecosystem and environmental services is fundamental to recognize their importance for the economy and development
(Costanza et al. 2017). Their interrelationships at the ecological level will help to
detect key services in Guadalupe Valley. The use of cartographic products could
illustrate ecosystem services in the territory. Considering the watershed as a unit
of analysis (Grizzetti et al. 2015), the maps would show the compatibility (or
incompatibility) between the land uses assigned and the priority areas for the
conservation or restoration of ecosystem services. Economic valuation provides
useful information on the costs and benefits related to environmental impacts
9 The Construction and Sabotage of Successful Agricultural Lands in Semiarid Lands…
infrastructure framework, combined they are considered as blue-green infrastructure (Ahern 2007).
The scales used for planning and implementing green infrastructure are landscape, region or city, districts or neighborhoods, and sites or parcels (Ahern
2007), each with specific strategies (Allen 2014). Green infrastructure uses
mainly the landscape management approach; nevertheless, it also applies urban
design in planning practices (Mell 2012). At a landscape scale, it is convenient to
identify non-fragmented ecosystems that protect and improve the habitat of
native species, corridors, and functional landscapes (Allen 2012). This also
applies at the urban scale, where all types of green areas are part of the green
infrastructure. At a site scale, urban street design elements (planters, trees, landscape strips, medians, and rain gardens) can promote ecosystem services by
using water efficiency and management techniques, and by landscaping (reducing urban heat island and pollution) (Rehan 2013).
Agricultural landscape encompasses natural habitats and crops in a matrix,
which provides economic output together with a range of ecosystem services. By
conserving surrounding habitats and using farm and landscape-scale management techniques, the value of the ecosystem services in which vineyards and
tourism economies depend is maintained (Viers et al. 2013). According to
Winkler et al. (2017) and Viers et al. (2013), the main ecosystem services vineyards receive from surrounding natural ecosystems are: (1) cultivated crops; (2)
filtration (promoting aquifer recharge); (3) sequestration, storage, and accumulation by the vineyards; (4) pest and disease control; (5) buffering weather (wind
and temperature); (6) minimizing erosion, maintaining soil fertility through
good practices; and (7) heritage, cultural, scientific services, and esthetic
values.
Ahern (2011) proposed five planning strategies and urban design to build
resilience capacity: multi-functionality, redundancy and modularization, diversity (biological and social), networks at various scales, and connectivity. Green
infrastructure planning, participation, and interaction between potential stakeholders by means of expanding the green infrastructure range has the potential to
achieve great impact in the ability of providing services by the local governance
(Winkler et al. 2017). A participatory, inclusive approach facilitates local specific situations and ideas that can be incorporated in projects (Schifman et al.
2017). This approach decentralizes and extends coverage of green infrastructure
over a greater area while engaging citizens. And, by means of supporting programs, these practices can expand (Winkler et al. 2017).
3. The identification and valuation of ecosystem and environmental services is fundamental to recognize their importance for the economy and development
(Costanza et al. 2017). Their interrelationships at the ecological level will help to
detect key services in Guadalupe Valley. The use of cartographic products could
illustrate ecosystem services in the territory. Considering the watershed as a unit
of analysis (Grizzetti et al. 2015), the maps would show the compatibility (or
incompatibility) between the land uses assigned and the priority areas for the
conservation or restoration of ecosystem services. Economic valuation provides
useful information on the costs and benefits related to environmental impacts
9 The Construction and Sabotage of Successful Agricultural Lands in Semiarid Lands…