Derelict and vacant land will be particularly targeted in plans by the Central Scotland Green Network to target the central belt with a significant increase in woodland, cycle and footpath networks, priority habitat creation and land reclamation.
The project is one of 14 national developments in the Scottish Government's recent national planning framework and the 19 local authorities involved will now start incorporating the project in development plans.
The project covers four times the area of Greater London and is claimed to be the biggest greenspace project in Europe
"The project will not only help to improve the environment and health of local people, it will also give the central belt a key competitive edge in terms of business," said environment minister Roseanna Cunningham.
"We know that high value, hi-tech businesses are attracted to high quality environments and we believe delivering the green network will help attract new business - particularly important in a time of economic recovery."
Restoring vacant and derelict land for landscape or business use will form a key element of the proposals and a new partnership board is being created.
A work plan is expected by the end of the year.
"For the past five years the Forestry Commission has undertaken a concerted effort to make woodlands more accessible to people living in urban areas," said Forestry Commission Scotland director Bob McIntosh. "As a result, new urban woodlands have been developed and thousands of hectares of neglected woodlands have been brought back to life through our Woods In and Around Towns programme."
Roddy Fairley of Scottish Natural Heritage will chair an interim steering group.
"This builds on a lot of work over many years and must be great news for lots of people," he said.
