Environmental management (or ecological management in English) of green spaces greatly contributes to the protection of the environment, soils, and local biodiversity. To set up an eco-managed green space, there are some good practices to follow.
What is the ecological management of green spaces?
The ecological management of green spaces consists of implementing maintenance techniques that respect the environment. It is management inspired by traditional landscaping methods, before the advent of phytosanitary products and machinery in gardens. It is therefore a question of favoring manual weeding and natural management methods such as flower meadows or eco-pastures. It is also a way of setting up habitats conducive to local fauna and carefully choosing the plants best suited to the ecosystem concerned.
Ecological design and management of green spaces: best practices
To implement an ecological design and management of green space, a certain number of criteria must be respected, from the choice of plantations to the type of watering, including maintenance methods.
The creation of honey-bearing flower meadows
To allow ecological management of green spaces, the use of motorized mowers must be limited to a strict minimum. This is why the development of flower meadows is preferred. The meadow of melliferous flowers also encourages the arrival of pollinating insects, such as bees, and thus contributes to their preservation.
The installation of an ecological irrigation system
To be consistent with the principle of ecological management, you must also choose eco-responsible watering methods for your plantations. Whether it is to water a vegetable garden, a flower bed, or a park, drip irrigation should be preferred: it saves between 15% and 20% of water. In addition, it is wise to install rainwater collectors to reuse them to water the green space.
Soil mulching
To preserve the earth from bad weather, to keep the heat but also the humidity, another essential step is the mulching of the soil. This technique makes it possible to preserve the humidity of the soil for longer and to reduce the water needs of plants by 40%. It is also a good way to recycle green waste such as dead leaves, grass clippings, or dead branches by reusing them as a protective layer for the floors.
A diversity of local plants
The choice of plants is another important step in conceptualizing an ecological green space. Certain varieties of plants are more or less adapted to the climate of the site or the type of soil (acid, limestone, clay, etc.). To design an ecological green space, it is, therefore, necessary to diversify the types of crops and varieties, while favoring local plants. The latter are better able to adapt to the environment and less susceptible to temperature changes, diseases, parasites… They will therefore require less maintenance.
Manual maintenance of green spaces
One of the fundamental rules of the ecological management of green spaces is the use of eco-friendly tools, to limit motorization and phytosanitary products, which are very polluting for the environment, as much as possible. Within the ecological green space, manual tools must therefore be preferred, as well as natural landscape management techniques, such as eco-grazing.
The installation of wildlife sanctuaries
To encourage biodiversity within green spaces, it is also important to install eco-refuges: insect hotels, nesting boxes, hedgehog shelters, etc. These wildlife sanctuaries encourage the presence of wildlife and contribute to its preservation. The arrival of animals plays an essential role in the balance of the local ecosystem.
Finally, these points range from the promotion of biodiversity to the preservation of the soil, through management techniques without pesticides or herbicides.
