This past June, the city of Basel was awarded the Gold Label by Grünstadt Schweiz (Green City Switzerland) for its sustainable green space management, an award also achieved by Zürich and Luzern in recent years. (Binningen is also currently undergoing a certification process.)

In order for cities and municipalities to be awarded the label, 40 measures must be implemented and documented in detail at a strategic, planning, and maintenance level. On this basis and as part of an on-site audit lasting several days, points are awarded with which cities and municipalities can be certified. The auditors of the VSSG (Association of Swiss Municipal Gardening and Horticultural Offices) note that significant progress has been achieved since the last certification in 2018, when Basel received the silver label. Based on the feedback of that evalutation, various measures have been implemented and improvements made in recent years. For example, the amount of pesticides applied to Basel’s green spaces and sports facilities has been significantly reduced and better documented. In the long term, the goal is to completely do without such agents wherever possible. Many projects to promote biodiversity have also been implemented, be it in leisure gardens, parks, cemeteries, outdoor areas of cantonal buildings, or on the adjacent areas of sports facilities. In addition, pilot projects for the biological fertilization of sports turf areas have been started. These measures not only benefit animals and plants in the city, but also improve people’s quality of life. In addition, healthy green spaces are an important factor in reducing heat and combating global warming.

Basel is becoming a role model for other cities and communities through its green commitment. The gold label is an important recognition for the city of Basel in its approach to urban greenery.

https://www.gruenstadt.bs.ch

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