Ecological management of green spaces and socio-professional integration in Forest (Brussels)

The use of pesticides represents a danger to public health and biodiversity. In addition, the way we maintain our green spaces has a direct influence on the natural wealth, its ability to regenerate itself and the quality of life of the inhabitants.

This is why the municipality of Forest has adopted a differentiated and ecological management of its green spaces: an approach that adapts maintenance techniques to the specificity of each place. The goal is to make nature more resilient, diverse, and sustainable

In concrete terms, this translates into:

• The gradual reduction of traditional practices in favour of flower meadows, perennial beds and late mowing ;

• The appearance of new developments such as natural hedges or rain gardens, which require specific skills;

• A gradual evolution of working methods, requiring training and support for gardeners.

 Innovative training to meet the challenge

To make this ecological transition a success, the municipality of Forest, in partnership with several actors in the field (the Mission Locale pour l'Emploi de Forest, the nature protection association Apis Bruoc Sella), set up a vocational training course in ecological management of green spaces in 2025, intended for long-term job seekers.

This initiative has several objectives:

• Strengthen local teams to ensure the ecological maintenance of new developments;

• Promote the socio-professional integration of people who are far from the labour market, thanks to training rooted in the territory;

• To enhance the value of manual and technical professions, which are often discredited, but essential to the ecological transition.

The system is individualised and concrete : the trainees learn directly in the field, integrated into the municipal teams, with a day of theory every two weeks. Divided between three municipalities, they have the possibility of obtaining a permanent contract if the experiment proves conclusive.

Multiple and lasting impacts

This approach combines ecological transition and social justice. Its benefits are numerous:

• Reduction of pesticides and improvement of urban biodiversity,

• Adaptation of green spaces to climate change,

• New professional opportunities for people in difficulty,

• Better recognition of professions related to the maintenance of green spaces in the city and nature.

 An opening to Europe

In the face of climate and social challenges, this initiative is a model that can be replicated in many European cities. Forest wishes to:

• Share your experience with other municipalities committed to ecological management,

• Develop European partnerships to enrich and sustain this type of training,

• Increase the number of people trained, in order to strengthen the link between ecological transition and socio-professional integration.

 By reconciling ecology, social inclusion and quality of life, Forest demonstrates that a city can be both greener and more united.