A year ago we wrote a newsletter focusing on bees and pollinators. By integrating greenery into urban environments we work to promote ecosystem services. We have made great progress and place great focus on the well-being of plants, insects and animals. We work more and more outdoors and can therefore benefit biodiversity in cities.
Biodiversity is a collective term that describes the interactions between different species in different environments on our planet. These interactions play a crucial role in basic functions in nature and create ecosystem services, which are essential for human well-being and survival. Balanced ecosystems with a high number of different species create fertile lands, flourishing crops, a milder climate and clean water.
Building a shared future for all life
But biodiversity is under threat today. Unhealthy, and therefore unbalanced, ecosystems are increasingly occurring due to conventional agricultural methods, forestry and urban construction. This negative development and imbalance makes nature more vulnerable. Resilience and ecosystem services are disappearing, which is clearly reflected in climate change and natural disasters.
Biodiversity is an incredibly important topic. So important that the UN has dedicated one of the global goals in the 2030 Agenda, Goal 15, solely to biodiversity. The goal focuses on achieving a world where people live in harmony with nature and where animal and plant species are actively protected and promoted. On May 22nd of each year, we therefore celebrate it. International Day for Biological Diversity.
In connection with the Day for Biological Diversity, there is 22 guidelines for how companies can work to benefit biodiversityAt Greenworks we work with all the goals but see extra relevance in goals 2, 13, 17, 21 and of course 12, “Foster urban biodiversity”, as we dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to increasing, and in smart ways integrating, greenery in cities.
Through our vertical gardens and growing trays, previously unusable areas become usable. With smart design and material composition, facades, balconies, pedestrian streets and courtyards can be transformed into lush works of art. Our facade system allows for a high number of plants per square meter and a high variety of species. The high number of different species is aesthetically pleasing all year round and gives different impressions over the seasons. We have devoted countless hours to the richness of species on vertical surfaces and have developed expertise in-house that few other companies have.
The fact that we do not limit ourselves to a few species when planting has to do with biodiversity. With high species richness, we not only create beautiful green pockets in urban environments but also inviting habitats for all possible insects and birds. Promoting species richness benefits cities, people and insects in the form of ecosystem services and resilience. Temperature regulation, increased humidity, noise reduction and stormwater retention are all services that our plant installations possess.
Right at Östermalmstorg in Stockholm, at our office, we have built a plant wall. From the beginning, the facade was covered with graffiti and not appreciated by the people who lived in its vicinity. We were given the opportunity to cover parts of the wall, which was immediately appreciated by residents and passersby. Now we have therefore been given the opportunity to improve, what we want to call, one of our more spectacular installations. The vertical garden at Storgatan 1 will be expanded and plants will cover the entire facade. But this time, not only the plants will be in focus, but also insects. In the wall we plan to install various insect hotels to make city life easier for, among other things, butterflies, solitary bees and bumblebees.
We see a positive development when it comes to integrating greenery into cities. Municipalities, property managers and construction companies are becoming increasingly interested in transforming sterile areas into lush landscapes. We are proud of what we do and find it especially fun this year when Sweden gets to host World Environment Day and hope for an even greater focus on nature-based solutions for a better environment.
We believe that this development will be long-lasting and that even more people will become aware of how important biodiversity actually is.