IPSI Case Study Summary Sheet
Please submit this form along with your case study. We ask that you keep your responses here asconcise as possible. This information will be posted on the IPSI website unless otherwise requested.
Please inform the IPSI Secretariat if there are any responses you would not like made public.

Basic Information
Title of case study (should be concise and within approximately 25 words)
Enhancing Livability Through Urban Land Conservation:
NeighborSpace of Baltimore County, Pocket Parks, and Retrofitting URDL
Submitting IPSI member organization(s)International Land Conservation Network (ILCN)

Other contributing organization(s) (IPSI members and/or non-members)

Author(s) and affiliation(s)Kristen Wraithwall, research consultant to the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Format ofcase study

manuscript

Language

English(manuscriptoraudiovisual)

Keywords (3-5 key concepts included in the case study)
Urban Land Conservation, Park Access, Retrofitting, Green Infrastructure, Climate Resilience
Date of submission (or update, if this is an update of 08/18/2022
an existing case study)
Web link (ofthe case studyor lead
https://landconservationnetwork.org/sites/default/files/Case%20Profile%20on%20NeighborSpac
organization
ife%20030422.pdf
available for moreinformation)

Geographical Information
Country (where site(s) or activities described in the case study are located – can be multiple, or even “global”)
United States
Location(s) (within the country or countries – leave blank if specific location(s) cannot be identified)
Baltimore County, Maryland
Latitude/longitude or Google Maps link (if location is identified)39.29029, -76.60705
Ecosystem(s) (please place an “x” in all appropriate boxes)
ForestGrassland
AgriculturalIn-land water
CoastalDryland
Mountain
Urban/peri-urban x
Other (Please specify)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area (within 50 words)
The social, environmental, and economic conditions of present-day Baltimore County are the result of aseries of planning, funding, and conservation decisions dating back to the post-World War II era, a period
which the Baltimore City Planning Department refers to as a period of “suburbanization without end.”

Bolstered by Federally subsidized home loans and an influx of soldiers returning from war, the Counties
surrounding Baltimore City expanded at astonishing rates in the decades following WWII; by the 1950s,between 7,000 and 8,000 homes were being constructed each year in the Baltimore suburbs. At thesame time, the City population dropped—by 10,000 in the 1950s and 35,000 in the 1960s—as white
residents fled to the suburbs and low-income and African American communities were forced to relocate
as the City demolished entire neighborhoods for the creation of highways.
Description of human-nature interactions in the area (land-use, traditional resource management practices etc. – within 50words)

This case focuses on the development of a first-of-its-kind geospatial information systems (GIS)
prioritization methodology for conserving and retrofitting parcels as small as .15 acres to improve park
access, livability and climate resilience in urban and suburban areas in Baltimore County, Maryland.
Based heavily in the feedback and stated priorities of local residents and stakeholders, the project helps
assess the conservation value of a parcel of land based on its potential for improving the social,environmental, and/or economic factors of livability of a nearby community. The case assists urban landconservation organizations, residents and communities, city planners, legislators and regulators, andother interested parties in informing approaches to urban land conservation and park access that
improve livability and resilience in cities facing climate change impacts. The development of the project
itself, and the multi-sector partnerships required to make the project successful, has taken more than adecade. The project, which has had positive initial response, may be adapted to or inform landconservation in cities around the globe, from Latin America to the Asia.

ContentsNote: The following fields are used for information about activities described in the case study or the production of the case study itself,and contents may vary depending on the nature of the case study. For example, a case study about on-the-ground activities may include
the rationale, objectives etc. for the activities; a case study about a SEPLS-related policy may describe the policymaking process; or acase study describing a SEPLS may address particular practices used there. Please make an effort to fill as many fields as possible.

Status (“ongoing” or “completed”)
ongoing
Period (MM/YY to MM/YY)
2009-2021
Rationale (why activities or policies described, or information shared in the case study are needed – within 50 words)
By protecting and stewarding upstream lands, establishing green spaces in cities to absorb stormwater
overflow, protecting mangrove ecosystems, conserving wetlands, and other such work, land trusts haveformed key partnerships with public agencies and private businesses seeking to secure water quality andquantity and manage rising seas. The conservation and land management these civic organizations havedone ensures that communities and regions retain intact and functioning watersheds, river basins, riparian
corridors, floodplains, shorelines, and permeable city spaces amid changing and unpredictable conditions.
Objectives (goals of activities or policies described, or of producing the case study – within 50 words)
Understand the development and application of land conservation strategies with multiple co-benefits toimprove park access, livability and climate impacts in urban areas.
Activities and/or practices employed (within 50 words)

NeighborSpace of Baltimore County was founded in 2002 to begin to address the dearth of open space. By
protecting and improving green space for small pocket parks, gardens, trails, and other natural areas,
NeighborSpace seeks to improve livability. NeighborSpace defines livability by the sum of social,environmental, and economic factors that affect quality of life—a guiding principle that has driven
NeighborSpace to conserve 21 parcels totaling 100 acres within the county. The organization has succeeded
by developing close working relationships with the Baltimore County government, local universities, and—most important— community-based organizations.
NeighborSpace has turned the toolkit for large, rural landscape conservation on its head, fitting parcels as
small as 0.15 acres into urban and suburban environments. In partnership with the National Park Service, it
has developed a first-of-its-kind GIS prioritization methodology for assessing the conservation value of aparcel of land based on its potential for improving the social, environmental, and/or economic factors oflivability of the nearby community. This resource—which relied heavily on the feedback and stated priorities
of residents—is one of the many ways in which NeighborSpace can serve as a leader and a model for otherurban and suburban land trusts across the United States and elsewhere.
Results (within 50 words)
To date, NeighborSpace has conserved 21 parcels with a total area of 100 acres throughout the URDL. A
clear leader in Baltimore County, they are the only green space nonprofit within the URDL utilizing GIS
modeling and conservation plans developed in partnership with residents and other key stakeholders.
They are also the only non-profit receiving a portion of the County’s LOS waiver fees. The revenue fromLOS waiver fees—along with funding from individual donation and grants—has enabled NeighborSpace
to make real change in communities throughout the URDL. In addition to managing open space sites
across the URDL, NeighborSpace has been an important advocate for open space protection at theCounty level.
Lessons learned (factors in success or failure, challenges and opportunities – within 40 words)
1. Language Matters: Use terms that concern the resident the most, relating to their and theirchildren’s health
2. Strong Community Partnerships are Key: Not only do community organizations maintain the parksites and coordinate volunteers, but they have the ability to make these spaces important piecesof the community fabric.
3. Utilize Multiple Platforms for Outreach and Engagement
4. Leverage Local and Regional Partners
5. Prioritize Youth Engagement
Key messages (within 40 words)

The majority of best practices, resources, and funding related to land conservation are dedicated to ruraland large landscape conservation, however many of the parcels NeighborSpace takes on are “leftover”
spaces that were unused, collecting garbage, or even the former site of a gasoline leak. Their greatest
impacts on climate change come through leveraging policy, promoting community engagement andeducation, and increasing awareness of the importance of open space for improving the local urban heateffects, water quality, air quality, and more.
Relationship to other IPSI activities (if the case study is related to any other IPSI collaborative activities, case studies, etc.)
Funding (any relevant information about funding of activities or projects described in the case study)
NeighborSpace’s work has close relationship with Baltimore County, funding through the county’s local
open space waiver fees is absolutely essential. According to county law, developers must set aside 1,000
square feet of open space for each newly constructed dwelling unit. If they cannot, they are allowed toseek a waiver from the county and pay a fee in lieu of open space. Since 2004, the county has allocated aportion of those waiver fees to NeighborSpace to support its conservation work. In 2004 Baltimore
County Council approved an allocation of up to 10 percent, and in 2013, they increased the amount to 20
percent of all fees (Patch 2013). In fiscal year 2018, the county collected nearly USD $600,000 in fees.
NeighborSpace’s 20 percent cut makes up a substantial portion of its operating budget. A clear leader inBaltimore County, it is the only green space nonprofit using GIS modeling and conservation plansdeveloped in partnership with residents and other key stakeholders. It is also the only nonprofit receiving
a portion of the county’s local open space waiver fees.

Contributions to Global Agendas
CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets (https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/)
Please place an “x” in the “direct” or “indirect” boxes next to any of the CBD’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets to which the work describedin this case study contributes as appropriate. Note: please mark only those that the case actually has made or is making acontribution, not those to which it could make a potential contribution in the future.
TargetDescription
DirectIndirect
By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take toconserve and use it sustainably.
By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local
development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated
into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.
By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated,phased out or reformed in order to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives forthe conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent and inharmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into accountnational socio economic conditions.
By 2020, at the latest, Governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps toachieve or have implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and have kept theimpacts of use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits.
By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and wherefeasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.

By 2020 all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably,legally and applying ecosystem based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans
and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse impacts on
threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species andecosystems are within safe ecological limits.
By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuringconservation of biodiversity.

By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not
detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity.

By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species arecontrolled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent theirintroduction and establishment.
By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems
impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity
and functioning.

By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine
areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, areconserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and wellconnected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, andintegrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.
By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation
status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained.

By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and ofwild relatives, including other socio-economically as well as culturally valuable species, ismaintained, and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion
and safeguarding their genetic diversity.
By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, andcontribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into accountthe needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable.
By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has beenenhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent ofdegraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and tocombating desertification.
By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharingof Benefits Arising from their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with nationallegislation.
By 2015 each Party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced
implementing an effective, participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and actionplan.
By 2020, the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communitiesrelevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary use of
biological resources, are respected, subject to national legislation and relevant international
obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with thefull and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all relevant levels.
By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values,functioning, status and trends, and the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared andtransferred, and applied.
By 2020, at the latest, the mobilization of financial resources for effectively implementing theStrategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all sources, and in accordance with the consolidated
and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilization, should increase substantially fromthe current levels. This target will be subject to changes contingent to resource needs assessments
to be developed and reported by Parties.

x

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs)
Please place an “x” in the “direct” or “indirect” boxes next to any of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to which the workdescribed in this case study contributes as appropriate. Note: please mark only those that the case actually has made or is making acontribution, not those to which it could make a potential contribution in the future.
SDG
Description
DirectIndirect

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainableagriculture
Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages
xEnsure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive
employment, and decent work for all
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, andfoster innovation
Reduce inequality within and among countries

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainablex

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, andhalt biodiversity loss
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide accessto justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership forsustainable developmentx