Green Map Definitions

This reference page contains the definitions used for the icons on the green map. It’s sourced from the worldwide Green Map System.

Air Pollution Sources: Anything from industrial smokestacks to truck routes, to poorly-run composting projects can be included here.
Alternative Health Resources
Alternative Vehicle/Fuel Station: Where you can fill your car with compressed natural gas, propane, bio-fuel or hydrogen, or buy bottled fuels. Exchange batteries or fuel cells, and other renewable and ecologically preferred power sources. This Icon can be used at a site where you can buy or research alternative fuel vehicles, and find out more about the true environmental costs of producing these fuels.
Amphibian Habitats
Art Spots: Ecologically oriented artworks, may include earthworks, public art or performance art, or other. May be resources for making eco art that is sustainably produced, information on events or schools related to environmental art.
Autumn Leaves
Bamboo Forests: Bamboo of any variety, a forest of any size. A fast growing renewable resource of major benefit.
Best Walks: Follow a path around an especially interesting area. Walks can be established or recommended by the Green Map team but should be non-intrusive to sensitive areas. Icon can be used to designate a running path through a natural area. Icons can be used in a line.
Bicycle Sites
Bioremediation Sites: Places where natural method of recovery such as plants, animals, reconstructed wetlands and moving water are used to clean up contaminated or polluted waterways. A growing number of techniques are being used in cities to use natural systems to purify tainted areas.
Blight Sites: An area generally destroyed with toxics and other ugliness by uncaring industry and people.
Boat Launch Sites: For human powered boats, like canoes, rowboats or kayaks, or solar powered ones like sailboats. Your Map can mention if a permit is needed, or if there is some other restriction to use freely.
Call First/Appointment Needed
Camping
Child Friendly Eco-Sites
Climate and Currents: May be used to indicate prevailing direction, waterfalls or dramatic water, perhaps difficult currents for canoeists/kayakers. Can be used in areas with micro-climate, too.
Coastal Habitats: Places along the water's edge where wildlife congregates. Wildlife of any kind may be in or above the water, on the shore or on adjacent land.
Community Centres
Community Gardens: Often on public or formerly abandoned land, community gardens allow people to plant and grow their own vegetables and flowers in small plots. People also grow relationships and a close connection to the land/city. Sometimes fenced and locked, gardeners have keys. Sometimes threatened by development. Text should include contact numbers.
Composting: Site where food scraps, leaves and garden trimmings are turned into rich new soil, with the help of worms, containment bins and turning machines. Large-scale or demonstration project, information and resources for home and garden composting and leaf recycling programs. May include drop-off site for food scraps, or good place to buy locally produced compost. May be run by the city or a separate group.
Cultural Sites: These contribute to the city's environment and sense of place in many important ways. Non-institutional resources, monuments and places, even temporary events (monthly swap meet, annual eco-fair) may be included.
Danger Zones
Dog Runs: Designated places where dogs can be taken off their leases, usually in city parks. Often the only place you can see animals romping and frolicking in dense cities.
Drinking Water Sources: Indicates the source for your drinking water. May be used to show reservoirs, and major elements of water system. Water purity and conservation information. Icon can be used in a line to indicate major underground pipelines.
Duck Ponds: Places where ducks, geese, and other friendly waterfowl gather. In cities, often a good place to watch and feed the birds. In the wild, just enjoy their water ballet.
Eco Agricultural Sites
Eco Buildings
Eco Design / Planning Features
Eco Design Resources: A source for the best materials and supplies for sustainable building, landscape, graphic, product, fashion and other kinds of designers. May be an organisation for information, or a place to gather natural materials, a store, exchange centre or showroom. Simply may be a place where you can draw inspiration from natural systems.
Eco-Spiritual Sites: Places to contemplate nature or spiritual pursuit, may be an organised religion's sanctuary or environmental program, or a profoundly beautiful place, even an old cemetery or 'oasis of calm' in a busy area.
Eco-Tourist Destinations: Sites of special interest to visitors, or people who want to engage in hometown eco-tourism. May include green hotels or other ecologically sensitive accommodations, the most eco-efficient ways to get in and out of the city, eco-tour info, and other sustainable practices for visitors.
Eco/Conserving Products
Energy Grid Generating Facilities: Generally, conventional, fossil-fueled, hydroelectric or nuclear facilities that provide electricity to the public. May include utility company or conservation offices. Alternative or co-generation facilities could be mapped. Where does your power come from? How can you use in more wisely?.
Environmental Centres: May be in city parks, in schools, or stand by itself. Comes in all sizes and may be concerned with a single issue or provide an overview. Of interest to adults and/or children.
Environmental Schools: Can range from intensive "magnet" programs that are part of regular public school system or university, to offering one-time environmental workshops and lectures offered to the public. Could be a hand-on learning centre or technical school.
Fair Trade: "Fair Trade/Social Shops".
Farm Animals
Farmers Markets: Have regionally and organically grown produce. Some have other farm produce, such as flowers, hand crafted items, baked goods, wine, wool, even regional cookbooks. Farmers markets and small family farms are kept going, and the countryside remains green, plus the food doesn't have to travel far, so it's nice and fresh. You can experience the changing of the season as each new crop takes its turn showing up at the market. It's often very neighbourly at farmers markets, too.
Ferries: Water-based transport systems for passengers and freight. Can be a very refreshing and efficient way to commute and travel. Can include water-taxis, which run on an as-needed basis.
Fly-Over Zones: Good places to watch flocks of birds overhead. May also be used to indicate prevailing direction of birds' seasonal migrations if regular flight pattern is established. This Icon may indicate a wildlife corridor for ground-based animals, with native plants to shelter them.
Gardens: Generally, larger gardens that are maintained by public agencies or organisations instead of the community. May be indoors or outdoors. Calgary suggests indicating nature of the species in the garden, pesticide use or entrance fees.
Gleaning Area/Fishing: Collect wild food here, including mushrooms, seaweed, berries, fruits, greens. Farms that permit Gleaning, even services that pick up party leftovers for food banks. Fishing piers and ponds where the fish is safe to eat (otherwise, indicate restrictions on your Map). Information sources for these areas. Calgary warns us: mapping gleaning areas may result in over-harvesting.
Great Views: "Great Views / Scenic Vistas". Favourite places to see what makes the cities environment special. Seek suggestions broadly for these sites.
Green Business: "Green Business/Services". The last 5 items listed with the examples above fit into this category. Balance with resources that help businesses become greener, and organisations that refer inquirers to good businesses. You can create a strict criteria like Oakland, California , or use a softer approach to selecting businesses. You can leave them off and let the community discussion help to decide what to include in the next edition.
Green Maps Available Here: If you know where the public can pick up or buy your Map before it's printed, you can add this Icon, for their convenience. It can be added to an Internet Map later. It brings extra attention and visits to the site, but as Calgary says, it may require mapping locations that do not fit in with 'green' criteria. Icon can indicate a large kiosk of the Map.
Green Tours Available
Hazardous Waste Facilities: Collectors, transporters and recyclers of hazardous materials, including industrial chemicals as well as household hazardous wastes like pesticides, oil paints, batteries, some cleaning supplies, etc.
Hazardous Waste Generators: Often industrial or infrastructure-related sources of waste that need special handling and disposal. You can elect to show those on a governmental list. Calgary points out that it is difficult to define limits to criteria. Could be broad range - dry cleaners, hospitals, universities, military sites, photo labs, etc.
Historical Features
Incinerators: Solid waste is burned at high temperatures, sometimes capturing the embodied energy (waste-to-fuel). The volume is reduced considerably, but in some countries, the resulting ash is considered hazardous waste, and needs a special landfill. Often, toxics are emitted from the smokestacks as air pollution. Often considered an expensive, unhealthy, inefficient method of disposal. Incinerators at hospitals, crematoriums and large institutions as well as municipal facilities can be mapped.
Info Resources by Phone: You can call for resources, references, and other eco information. Can be a hotline with recorded messages, or knowledgeable source you can query directly.
Info Resources Online: Web addresses (or links) to good local information on the Internet, or at a info kiosk.
Information Centres: "Eco-Information Centres"
Insect Watching Sites
Land Form/Geological Features: Where unusual or typical forms are apparent. May be exposed rock layers, glacial till or a have a chasm view. You could discuss how feature was formed. Could be a layer on a GIS map.
Landfills: Municipal solid waste dumps where garbage and soil are layered together, sometimes in a properly lined landfill (dump) with a methane gas capturing system. When filled, decommissioned landfills are capped and sometimes landscaped.
Light Rail Transit
Local Transport Stops: Subway, bus or trolley stop, etc. Bus stops may be too numerous to map.
Major Public Transport Stops: Multi-modal transit hubs served by more than one kind of public transport system, central station or depot for transit passengers. Often have other services available.
Marine Habitats
Mining Sites: May not be currently in use, but the effects may still be felt. Some cities are built directly on top of mines and quarries. Indicate what is being mined: coal, salt, etc.
Museums: "Museums/Institutions". These are either entirely about nature's interconnections with urban culture, or frequently include the environment in programs and exhibitions. You may opt to limit your selection to those featuring sustainable ways of living, social responsibility or other locally relevant criterion.
Native Fauna: "Bird & Wildlife Watching". Animals in the wild, using their instincts to thrive. Sites may be delicate nesting areas or habitats, so Green Maps should stress that people to approach with care and understanding. Officially recognised sites as well as locally-known sites could be accompanied by 'rules' for viewing, and details on the species you might see.
Native Flora: "Bioregional Site / Native Plants". Places where connection to the topography or waterways of the larger region are evident / plants native to the bio-region. Text can discuss bio-regional boundaries in/near the Map's area. Could be a layer on a GIS map or the whole Green Map could be based on bio-regional boundaries instead of political limits.
Noise Pollution Sources: Sometimes difficult to pinpoint, but it has a powerful effect on quality of life. Can come from traffic, industrial sources, airports, quarries, heavy equipment, transportation terminals etc.
Nuclear Facilities and Waste: Possible sources of radiation leaks and radioactive wastes. May be destination points for trucks and trains carrying radioactive materials, military, health and research facilities. It might be of interest to note the percentage of electricity that comes from nuclear power plants in your area..
Officially Listed Contaminated Sites
Oil and Natural Gas Facilities
Oil Spills: May be old or recent. Sometimes, the spilled oil comes from an "accident" but can also be a chronic problem along the oil pipelines that feed the electricity grid, in refuelling areas at airports or in a neighbourhood where residents refuse to properly dispose of their used motor oil. Certain waterways and industrial areas have frequent problems. Also includes pipeline leaks, trucking and rail accidents as well as gas station spillage.
On Road Bike Path/Bridges: These paths are usually painted but are on the same street level as car traffic. You can designate a favourite green scenic route of your own. Use the icon in a line.
Open Spaces
Organic Produce: "Organic Produce / Natural Food". Grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilisers, and no chemicals or waxes are added after harvesting either. If processed, it is usually prepared in a way to maximise the nutritional value to those who eat it. Organic produce, prepared food, dairy & meat is becoming more popular and easier to get all the time. Some natural food places include fair trade practices in their definition of ecological foods. Some supermarkets have a few kinds of organic vegetables amidst a large selection of conventionally grown produce. Should this store get the organic food Icon? You have to decide.
Park'n'Charge Facilities: Your electric vehicle can be recharged by solar (or conventional power grid) while parking here.
Park'n'Ride: "Park'n'Ride Facilities". Parking lots for cars (or bikes) with a convenient public transport connection. Sometimes Park & Rides are subsidised or free to encourage drivers not to bring their car into the centre of the city.
Parkland: "Parkland/Recreation Areas". Green spaces that offer places to relax and play. May include sports fields, running paths, canoe rental, or children's play equipment, along with vegetation and a pond, creek or other water feature. Some parklands may be publicly-owned and free, others might be private and charge admission.
Pedestrian Zones: Streets and public areas that prohibit motor vehicles, other auto-free areas, and bridges with safe pedestrian lanes. Access by vehicles may be allowed part time. Use Icon in a line.
Pollution Monitors
Protest Points: Places where people consistently gather or post messages to respond to official political actions and decisions. May not all be related directly to environment - can be social, historic or cultural protest point. In New York, for example, there's a protest point right in front of the United Nations headquarters.
Public Forest: "Public Forest / Natural Areas". Publicly-owned and accessible to all. A wide variety of natural areas can use this symbol. Balance your emphasis of forests with parklands to discourage the over-use of natural areas.
Public Squares: "Public Square / Car-Free Zones". Public open spaces which may have benches, fountain, etc. A traditional urban gathering place, sometimes without cars. Occasionally a public square is located in a garden or park, or indoors in a mall.
Re-Development Opportunity Sites
Recycling: Drop-off sites for materials that can be reprocessed or refilled. Businesses that buy, work with or sell products made from recycled materials. City program information contacts. Can include good examples of places where recycled materials are in use.
Remediated Sites: Have been cleaned up and are ready for natural systems to take over, or to be redeveloped. In the US, brownfields (land either contaminated by toxics, or perceived to be) programs are putting remediated industrial lands back to work, often in economic redevelopment zones (where people need jobs). Can include sites where the cleanup is in progress. Your text could include action taken, health and timing details.
Renewable Technology Sites: For example, hydrogen mines, biomass generation, or an industrial ecology park, research, related agencies and perhaps funding sources. Technology focused on zero emissions and sustainability.
Reuse Sites: Second-hand shops, flea markets, repair shops, materials exchanges. Decide whether all second-hand shops should be included, or only those that donate a percentage of profits to charity. You can select the top ten, or choose another criterion for inclusion. Significant reused buildings can be included.
Scientific/Research Sites: Centres for natural sciences, environmental studies and related sciences and technologies. May be indoors or out.
Secure Bike Parking: Attended parking area, or recommended area with adequate lighting and a bike rack.
Senior Friendly Sites
Separate Bike Path/Bridges: Separated from cars by curb, barricade, etc. On bridges, often shared with pedestrians. Green Maps can be merged with existing bike/trail/commuting maps or simply mention good places to obtain these other maps. Use the icon in a line.
Shaded Boulevards
Shanty Town / Self Built Houses
Significant Buildings: Of great importance, generally, to the community. Sites that impart a sense of place. Co-housing, natural buildings and schools, or buildings with historic, cultural, architectural value could also be included.
Significant Habitats: Notable wildlife habitat or natural area which may be rare or especially beautiful and rich. Be careful here not to upset the delicate balance. May have resources, for example, for turning your lawn back into a prairie, or for encouraging native animals to flourish. Could include aquatic habitat. Map should include details on the sensitivity of the areas.
Significant Organisations: Might be socially responsible non-profit or educational group, club or advocacy group that contribute to local environment in important ways.
Snow Activities
Social/Political Resources: Services and offices that help individuals (such as a foodbank that helps prevent waste of food), or for society to develop environmentally sound policies and practices. Alternative and governmental agencies, grass roots organisations, trade organisations and political parties, or non-profit social services, environmental justice, and native rights organisations.
Solar Energy Sites: Places where you can see solar panels, passive solar examples and wind generators, and perhaps get information about them. Includes solar energy shops and contractors, government, and utility company sites.
Solid Waste Transfer Stations: Where refuse is transferred from one kind transportation to another, for more efficient movement to landfill, recycling processor or other resource/waste facility. Some transfer stations offer places to exchange useful items, separate recyclables or dispose of household toxics.
Special Gardens: Especially nice. Along with a diversity of plants, may have a stage, artwork, solar powered water features, nice seating, or other amenities. Publicly assessable and cooperatively run. This Icon can be used to indicate a special garden that, though private, can be easily seen by pedestrians.
Special Trees: Trees that have historical importance, or are especially beautiful, large, old or rare. May be old growth, virgin trees (never cut by humans), ancient, sacred or medicinal trees or native plants. Could be indoors.
Special/Supporters' Sites: Can be used to note sites that are extremely important, or have supported your efforts to create your Green Map, either financially, or with information or other assistance. A map of just these paid-up sites wouldn't present a well-rounded image of your area, nor be fair to all the other green sites working so hard to reinforce natural systems. Up front, clearly inform potential advertisers that their competitors will be on the Map, and offer them an enhanced Icon and/or more detailed listing, or other credit. More discussion on sponsors and ads is in Chapter 6.
Spring Blossoms
Star-Gazing: "Star-Gazing Sites". Dark vantage points that allow unobstructed views of the heavens. May also include planetariums or observatories and best locations for northern lights, meteors, etc.
Strictly Green Stores: Has only eco and conserving products. Now, you may not agree that 100% of them are truly a big improvement, but the intention, method of production, materials, reductions of impacts in use, store policies and so on, are all going in the right direction.
Sunset Sites: Wonderful spots to relax and enjoy the sunset, most likely outdoors. Great sunrise spots can also be marked with this symbol.
Toxic Chemical Releases: May have been an acute one-time event, or a chronic "business as usual" problem at an industrial or infrastructure site. May be from a neighbourhood businesses, like a dry cleaning plant or coal-burning school furnace not generally recognised as problems. Usually, residents in the area are very interested in knowing what's going on "in their backyard", and then taking action. In some countries, this information is available on the web, current and up to date. You can identify a historic release (be sure to note it properly).
Toxic Chemicals Storage: Where large quantities of toxic chemicals are stored in an approved manner, prior to industrial or other use. Often reported to the government, where records can be obtained (though you might have to file a special request for the information). In some countries, this information is available on the web, current, and up to date.
Traditional Ways of Life: May be indigenous, pioneer or migrated peoples' traditions. Might not be assimilated into prevailing culture. May be resources for learning about or visiting people living in traditional, more self-sufficient ways.
Traffic Hazard Zones: When the motorised traffic is especially heavy, noisy, polluting and dangerous to pedestrians, bicyclers and nearby residents.
Underground Storage Tanks: Icon usually used for oil and gas leaks, for example, a gas station with leaking underground tanks can be an invisible source of pollution. Home fuel oil storage tanks can also be a problem.
Vegetarian/Natural Cafes: The local context for natural needs to be set, but everywhere, the emphasis is on wholesomeness and healthful eating of fresh foods. Perhaps the ingredients are organic, and vegan foods (no animal products whatsoever) are served. The meats come from animals that are "free-range" and ethically treated. Some cities include cooperative owned cafes and a wide range of ethnic cuisines in this category.
Waste Dumps: Illegal, improperly lined and maintained place where garbage is dumped. Older dumps can be a source of hazardous drainage.
Waste Water Treatment Plants: Generally, municipal systems for treating wastewater and sewage, some with public information centres or tours, which can be noted, with statistics in the text.
Water Features: Could be a beautiful fountain, waterfalls or natural pond. May simply celebrate water or offer a refreshing drink. May be ecologically designed.
Water Pollution Sources: Includes things like a specific factory's pollution stream or an inadequate sewage treatment plant. Sometimes, these are "non-point" sources, like where the hydrocarbons wash off paved roads or a farm where animal wastes and/or chemical fertilisers drain off the land into drinking water supplies.
Water Recycling Systems: Using plants and aquatic animals to aerate, filter and purify water, without adding chemicals. There are many kinds of high and low tech water recycling systems in the built environment, check with your department of environmental protection for more information.
Waterfront Parks: "River and Water-Front Parks". Places where you can watch, walk along, and play by the water. Water bodies of all types. Swimming and wading may be possible.
Wetlands: May be on the official protection list. These vitally important areas are wet to some degree a portion of the year. Are important habitats and useful for water cleaning. May be natural, reconstructed or artificial. You may include guidelines for viewing sites, which may be on private land.
Wheelchair Accessible
Wilderness Site/Info
Wildlife Corridor/Greenways
Wildlife Info/Rehab Centres
Wind Energy Sites
World Music
Zoos & Wildlife Centres: Places to see animals collected and cared-for by humans. Animals may not be indigenous, they may come from the wild or may have been born in the zoo. Some zoos have habitats for breeding endangered species, and other bio-diversity programs. Generally, the animals are not free to leave cages or protection area. May be small "petting" zoo for children or large scale wildlife park where the animals live under more natural conditions.

Information valid at time of publication to the best of our knowledge. While every effort has been made to provide accurate information, this map and accompanying text is a guide only, and no liability will be accepted for errors or changes.

The Wellington Green Map is copyright (©) Tom Robinson and Mike Ennis. The map(s) may be printed or saved for individual/private use only; in all other cases please contact us before reproducing the map in any form—we’re friendly to talk to and have spent a lot of time developing them!

There is enough of the world for every man’s need, but not enough for every man’s greed—Mahatma Gandhi