An entire municipality gone organic
Parks, meadows, grasslands and other green areas contribute greatly to improving the quality of life. As cities and urban areas become denser, protected natural spaces must find their place in urban development projects. Some urban and peri-urban areas are undertaking sustainable and innovative approaches to the management and maintenance of their green areas. The City of Lancy is a pioneering example in this field.
Lancy, a case study | The municipality of Lancy has been working on integrating respectful, ecofriendly management methods for the past 4 years. In 2017 it took an additional step, by converting its plants and green areas to a completely organic production. As of January 2019 it has officially become the first Swiss municipality to receive the Bud certification by Bio Suisse. Thirty parks and more than 46,000 plants, flowers and vegetables are now grown organically.
The certification process | In order to achieve the Bud label, Bio Suisse requires a two year conversion process. Over the last couple of years, Lancy has adapted its production methods and sought out new seed varieties. Amongst other challenges, finding plants that meet the label’s criteria, all the while continuing to provide for the city’s flower beds, required considerable effort. Furthermore, the municipality opted for a different kind of soil, organic seeds and seedlings, and created its own compost. Once or twice a year, an independent body checks up on the label’s requirements and the traceability of all plants and products must be guaranted.
What are some results of the change ? | Instead of resorting to chemical products, Lancy now only uses organic fertilizers and ecofriendly pest control according to the guiding principle : "prevention rather than cure". Thus, the change to an organic production has encouraged biodiversity and protected the fauna and flora. As a result, Lancy has seen the development of grassland areas that are conducive to biodiversity and nest boxes were installed all over the city. Last but not least, the change helps preserve the municipality’s staff and all citizen’s health, by ensuring that chemical products are banned from public use.
Sharing the know-how | As part of the transformation, an educational trail has been inaugurated on the territory of Lancy. It’s aim is to inform the general public about the local biodiversity. In addition, a public bee hive will host school groups to introduce kids to the exciting world of bees. Furthermore, a communal vegetable garden allows all "budding gardeners" to learn about organic gardening and share experiences. The municipality of Lancy is not only committed to the education of its citizens, but will also gladly share its experience with other communities.
