Green As A Service Contract: A Service To The Environment

If you walk across Stadhuisplein in the Dutch municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn, it will be buzzing with bees, bumblebees and other insects.

Ecosystem Services Of The Greenery

The municipality has concluded the first long-term ‘Green as a Service’ contract with the Koninklijke Ginkel Group for this area. Not only for the design, construction or maintenance, but with a focus on the green services provided during the entire project! With Green as a Service, the gardener (or possibly another party) remains the owner of the greenery and provides the ecosystem services of the greenery as a service to the environment.

In addition to heat reduction, water storage and well-being, biodiversity is an important KPI. The Ginkel Group measures this together with the Dutch Butterfly Conservation.

A Small Oasis In The City

Albert Vliegenthart of Dutch Butterfly Conservation: “It is a small oasis in the city where species can find a temporary or permanent habitat. The bumblebees can make nests here, some bees get their pollen here (think of the large bell bee), while other species actually only come to visit, like butterflies such as the peacock butterfly or the small white or cabbage butterfly.”

A project in collaboration with: Wageningen University & Research and Nature Based Solutions Institute