A green city to regain its biodiversity
Berlin is a green city in the truest sense of the word: gardens, parks and forests account for 40% of its surface area (over 2,500 green spaces). These areas are not just for recreation, but also for wild and cultivated biodiversity. Although foxes, raccoons, weasels and wild boar have been identified, the city is first and foremost a laboratory for a strategy to regain biodiversity. The former border areas of the Berlin Wall are now covered by green and blue grids that help maintain the evolutionary dynamics of living organisms. A participatory science program also enables city dwellers to identify wild plants and collect seeds for future dissemination in the city. Large parks include Tiergarten, Natur-Park Südgelände in Schöneberg (a former railway wasteland), Bundesgartenschau Park, Victoria Park, Comenius-Garten, Schloss Charlottenburg Park, Volkspark Freidrichsain.
Community gardens
There are also a number of third places where the watchwords are food resilience, sharing and solidarity. Tempelfoher Feld is without doubt the most emblematic place where an urban agriculture project has been developed. Located on the site of a former airport, you can garden, share a drink, stroll and more. The smaller Prinzessinnengarten is also worth a visit, where you can repair your bike. The city of Berlin owns almost 71,000 plots of land(Schrebergärten), which it rents out to local residents at modest prices via associations. These plots of land, grouped together in 890 "colonies", have been in existence for 150 years. Although they are part of the Berlin landscape and bring benefits to gardeners (nutrition, exercise, sociability), they are threatened by real estate pressure.
The joy of gentle mobility
Berlin has set up a low-emission zone in its city center, where most vehicles are banned from the roads. A system of ecological stickers regulates car access to the capital. When it comes to public transport, the city boasts an extensive network, which you can also use to transport your bicycle. Many Berliners use bicycles for their daily commute. The city is virtually flat and well-equipped for cycling, with a wide range of bike-friendly services. It's easy to find a bike, new or used. The BikeSurf association facilitates loans, and there are also cycle rental firms, as well as bike-sharing services such as Mobike and Call a Bike. The city also lends itself to cycle tourism. Guided bike tours are organized, but you can also set off on some beautiful urban rides.
Sorting, setpoint and zero waste
Berlin's selective waste collection system is highly advanced. The city also has Pfand, a deposit system for glass, plastic and aluminum cans. In concrete terms, this involves depositing the containers in vending machines located in supermarkets, which will give you credit notes on your next purchases in exchange. On the zero-waste front, many stores offer bulk sales, and the town boasts a zero-waste restaurant and supermarket.
Organic and vegan
The first online vegan clothing store was born in 2017 from a Berlin entrepreneur. Visitors will find numerous shops offering organic and vegan products, as well as a vegan market (The Green Market).
