About the Green Map
A Green Map uses local knowledge and citizen participation to chart urban green living, and ecological, social, and cultural resources in a city or region.
Established in New York in 1995, the international Green Map Systems (GMS) shares information, experiences, and local knowledge through a central website.
The GMS, developed collaboratively, is now active in 400 cities, villages and neighbourhoods in 50 countries.
The Jerusalem Green Map, the first such map in the Middle East, joined the GMS network in February 2006. The Society for the Protection of Nature in
Israel-Jerusalem launched the interactive website together with the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection, which hosts and supports the map.
Geared towards local residents and tourists, The Jerusalem Green Map presents environmental, social and cultural sites in the city of Jerusalem from composting
sites, local markets, and green businesses to urban nature sites, recycling bins, second-hand book stores, and bicycle paths.
A flagship project of SPNI-Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Green Map advances its mission of protecting Jerusalem from environmental and development threats and
promoting sustainable, healthy living in the city.
Green Map Icons
"We have seen the future and it’s little bitty icons on a folding map." The San Francisco Bay Guardian
Icons (iconography) are the heart of the Green Map System and they make Green Maps easy to explore, regardless of language and culture. There is general
consensus regarding the meaning of each symbol, however Green Mapmakers can determine precise local definitions, create their own sub-set of symbols, and
customize a map’s legend.
The Jerusalem Green Map has six main categories of icons. Each icon represents a layer of information on the interactive map. Clicking on an icon will take you
to the exact map location of a specific point.
Mapping for the Community
The Green Map offers an alternative to standard tourist and planning maps. Through the Green Map, the public can chart their local environment and communal
resources and plan a more sustainable, healthier city. Several Green Maps have enabled communities to participate in and influence local planning policy by
creating a new environmental vision.
Continue reading about the
Youth Green Maps...
