which reduces pollution and increases biodiversity. The European regulations that regulate eco foods —— inspire another similar certification aimed at endorsing green spaces that do not use herbicides or pesticides, drive soil fertility and reduce the use of water and acoustic and light pollution. “We control the pests with nature -based solutions, which include bats, butterflies, insects and insectivorous birds,” explains Manuel Campuzano, director of Seville, one of the first to have the Caae Ecostenable Space Seal, which already have a dozen parks, gardens and other entities.
“We are a leading country in ecological production and tourism receiver, and visitors demand that we be more sustainable, so several entities asked us that we also review the management of green spaces,” says José Ángel Navarro, spokesman for the Andalusian Committee of Organic Agriculture (). This private entity has certified more than half of the ecological production surface in Spain – and has a presence in countries such as the US, Japan or Mexico – and got to work to create a standard that was applied for green areas. It was launched in 2018 and claim that it is unique in Europe; Now they have changed the name and want to boost it.
The rules are similar to those of production: chemicals cannot be used – no pesticides or glyphosate -, we must bet on native species, the natural fertility of the soil and use recycled or rainwater in irrigation must be encouraged. In addition, the machines used in maintenance work are monitored – posing by electricity – or the working conditions of employees and caregivers of these spaces, as well as the levels of noise and light pollution. In total, almost 70 control points to achieve three levels of recognition.
The Sevillian Park of the Alamillo, with 120 hectares, is one of the certified emblematic spaces. “It is an artificial park that was created as recreation of the pastures of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla – with holm oaks and coronorks – in which we have always worked with ecological techniques,” says its director, Manuel Campuzano. “We have a great biodiversity that helps us control the pests. When the Nile virus arrived five years ago, they fumigated all the parks of Seville. We avoid it thanks to bats, swallows and swallows, and the fish that eat the larvae of the mosquito,” he continues.
They have created seven ponds with recycled materials from the nearby enclosure of Expo 92, thanks to which they have reintroduced frogs, gallipatos and other amphibians. And make visits both to see the native botanical species and to discover their biodiversity. “In summer and winter we make a night adventure so that families discover the sounds of the park, where there are chotacabras, boys, carabos, mochuelos, autillos …”. They water the orchards with filtered water of the Guadalquivir, all the lighting by LED lights have changed and, when they close, they turn off 75% of the luminaries to reduce light pollution and not affect animals.
Another place with this this is the Botanical Garden of Castilla-La Mancha, in Albacete. “We have 2,100 types of native plants, many of them threatened or in danger of extinction, which require very delicate care, so we opt for the ecological,” says Alejandro Santiago, conservative of the place. Among them, the sideritis serratathe helianthemum polygonoides and the Vella Pseudocitisusall endemic from nearby and critical danger.
Biological control
Santiago points out that they carry out a biological control of pests: “We give the habitat that each predator needs – insects, birds, fungi, bacteria – so that they grow or live near the plants, so we get an ecological balance. With so many species it is very difficult, it has cost us a decade.” For example, they faced the woolly aphid attacked by the apricot: “We put a resin tape in the trunks so that they do not climb the ants, which defend the aphids, and we planted reed, which is a host plant in winter, and then we cut it. Thus 80% of the population is eliminated. In addition, we put hedges of saúcos and artemisia around the tree Aphids, but they resist plague.
Another certified park is that of La Paloma, in Benalmádena. And the seal is also open to other spaces. In fact, last month, the Cartuja de Jerez was certified, dedicated to the raising of horses. “They already have all their gardening space in ecological, and also cereal plant and fodder without chemicals for animals. They intend to recover native cereal varieties and demonstrate that they adapt better to drought and need less water,” says Lidia Chica, head of Caae sustainability area.
Another of the most recent is the Plaza Mayor Shopping Center in Malaga, as a girl explains: “These practices follow in all exterior gardening. They have put a vertical garden and are favoring that wild fauna is installed there, with houses for bats and birds. In addition, they are composting with their waste, improving the fertility of the soil and replacing the lawn with natural meadows so as not to use so much water.”
Óscar Martínez Gaitán, who performs green infrastructure management plans and disseminates on the platform, collaborates with Caae in this project: “I see it interesting because it takes into account many aspects, from the ecological – without chemicals or waste – to the economic and the social, because the spaces must be inclusive and accessible to the vulnerable population. It is the first standard that looks at all that together.”
Is there no risk of? “I think it’s the opposite,” says Gaitán, “it is important to do things well and someone corroborates it. To certify you you have to pass an external audit that looks many points. I think that is how much it is avoided greenwashing Of how green we are.
