In order to better accommodate insects, green spaces must be used appropriately, which means no gravel gardens and – ideally – more than just a short-mown lawn.
Lisa Siebenaler from SICONA explains what is better for biodiversity: “So-called perennial beds can be put together so well that insects can benefit from them all year round. In a commune, for example, you could also plant them in such a way that bees can fly from one bed to the other.”
According to Minister for the Environment Joëlle Welfring, this summer in particular has shown that more biodiversity is also good for people. When it is particularly hot, it is more pleasant to be outside in areas where there are trees that can provide shade.
This is another reason why the Minister is convinced that the proposals will be well received. She also wants to consult with Minister for Spatial Planning Claude Turmes on how to include green spaces directly in the planning process.
The Nature Pact already provides the municipalities with an initial framework. The implementation of this pact is managed by the Climate Agency (Klima-Agence). The situation in the country’s municipalities is currently being assessed.
Fenn Faber, Director of the Climate Agency, explains that after the assessments have been compiled, the municipalities can request an independent audit. Depending on the conclusion, additional funding can be approved, for example, to implement more projects.
84 of 102 municipalities have signed the nature pact so far and are committed to more biodiversity. In general, the responsible authorities stress that it is important to ensure acceptance, not only among the municipalities, but also among the population. A wildflower meadow should not give the impression that a garden or park is unkempt. For this reason, SICONA also installs educational signs to raise awareness.
As another example, Lisa Siebenaler mentions the so-called “decency strip”. This means that only a strip the width of the lawnmower is mown along the road to show that care is being taken, but the rest of the flower meadow should remain wild. The mown part can then also be used by dogs, but in that case, owners should refrain from going further back into the higher grass.
