Subject's Notification Regarding the Following Details:
In the heart of the Ruhr Area, the city of Bottrop is making a name for itself as a beacon of urban biodiversity. With a commitment to sustainability and a focus on green spaces, Bottrop is setting an example for other cities to follow.
Over half of Bottrop's city area is designated as nature and landscape protection areas, making it the greenest city in the Ruhr Area. This vast expanse of greenery includes a significant 16% of the city that serves as a biotope connection area.
The Environmental and Green Affairs department in Bottrop is at the forefront of this green revolution. They are actively working to create and ecologically optimize green spaces, selecting plant species suitable to the location, promoting natural habitats, and raising residents' awareness of the importance of urban biodiversity.
One of the key strategies in Bottrop is the maintenance of green spaces. Partial areas are mowed in shifts, and establishment of old grass strips is implemented. Conventional mulch mowing is switched to extensive mowing with a flail mower and removal of the mowed material in some areas. Maintenance intervals are reduced and adjusted to vegetation phases, creating insect and plant oases.
Bottrop also focuses on inner-city areas and settlement zones. The department is implementing measures such as the natural design of cemetery areas with Blühwiesen, including the establishment of Blühstrips and orchards to strengthen the urban biotope network. The Ostfriedhof is even certified as a butterfly-friendly cemetery.
Ecological enhancement of cemeteries is also practiced, with the creation of habitat structures such as the sandarium on Kirchhellen Cemetery, and nesting boxes and cavities.
Roadside greenery is another area where Bottrop excels. Flowering plants grow along roadside edges and traffic islands, with examples found on Devensstraße, Hans-Böckler-Straße, Kirchhellener Straße, and Parkstraße.
Bottrop is also taking steps to manage water resources sustainably. Rainwater is collected in troughs and allowed to seep into the ground locally.
In terms of park development, Bottrop boasts a variety of spaces such as Volkspark Batenbrock, Prosper Park, Natur- und Erlebnispark Welheimer Mark, and the Blühwiese, as well as the transformation of the Welheim wetland biotope.
Bottrop's commitment to biodiversity doesn't stop at its own borders. The city follows the biodiversity strategy adopted by the Regional Association Ruhr in 2022. However, there are no specific search results indicating which city partnerships Bottrop engaged in regarding biodiversity promotion in 2022.
Protecting and promoting biodiversity in Bottrop requires conscious planning and sustainable measures. The city's dedication to these principles makes it a model for other cities striving to create a greener, more biodiverse future.
