MLA+ Contributes to World Bank–Published Guidelines on Green Corridor Planning

MLA+ has contributed to the publication of the Green Corridor Planner Guidelines for the Almaty Agglomeration, a strategic planning book developed in collaboration with The World Bank Group. The publication forms part of a broader regional vision to establish a connected, climate-resilient green network across Kazakhstan.

The book addresses a critical planning question facing fast-growing regions worldwide: how to design and manage green systems at a regional scale in the face of climate change. Focusing on the Almaty Agglomeration, the guidelines respond to a complex landscape that includes dense urban areas, river corridors, agricultural land, and expansive steppe environments, systems that are ecologically rich yet increasingly fragmented and exposed to environmental risk.

Published as a practical planning resource, the guidelines position green corridors as essential infrastructure, rather than residual or decorative open space. The book outlines how integrated landscape systems can play a central role in mitigating heat stress, managing flood risk, combating desertification, and restoring ecological connectivity across urban and rural contexts.

MLA+’s contribution centres on the development of a clear, scalable planning framework that translates environmental challenges into actionable strategies. Through spatial planning principles, landscape connectivity models, and nature-based solutions, the publication provides tools that support long-term decision-making at multiple scales — from regional planning to local implementation.

By combining ecological restoration, climate adaptation strategies, and spatial coordination, the book supports policymakers, planners, and practitioners in shaping landscapes that are multifunctional, resilient, and adaptable over time. The guidelines are designed to be applied across diverse contexts within the agglomeration, ensuring flexibility while maintaining a coherent regional vision.

As a World Bank–published resource, the Green Corridor Planner Guidelines contribute to international discourse on climate resilience, landscape-led planning, and sustainable regional development. The publication reinforces the role of landscape architecture as a strategic discipline capable of addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges simultaneously.

Landscape as infrastructure.
Green corridors as a long-term investment.
Resilience as a shared regional asset.

🔗 Learn more about the publication and project:
https://mlaplus.com/projects/green-corridor-planner-guidelines-building-a-resilient-green-network-for-almaty-agglomeration/