Planning for green infrastructure along the Gulf Coast: an evaluation of comprehensive plans and planning practices in the Mississippi-Alabama coastal region

Rapid expansion and development of urban areas in coastal communities degrades ecosystems and increases vulnerability to natural disasters and the effects of climate change. To minimize these negative impacts, some municipalities have adopted “green infrastructure” planning to protect their cities through greenways, wetlands, and open spaces. This research identifies communities that have engaged in green infrastructure planning in the Mississippi-Alabama coastal region and the roles that plans, planning activities and capacity, and plan implementation play in the process, with the goal of creating more resilient cities. Comprehensive plans are analyzed to assess whether, and the degree to which, they incorporate green infrastructure planning, and a survey and interviews with planners were conducted to understand their planning capacity and experiences. Findings suggest that while green infrastructure planning is integrated into Mississippi-Alabama coastal cities’ comprehensive plans and practices, there are several barriers related to leadership, plan oversight and implementation, collaboration, and resources.