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Holland Turns Over 300 Bus Stops into Green Roof Ecosystems for Bees

By Jessica Stewart on July 16, 2019

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A post shared by Hans Dinkelberg (@uitdragerij) on Jun 12, 2019 at 4:55am PDT

As the world's bee populations continue to decline, one province in Holland is taking steps to give these pollinators new ecosystems. By transforming over 300 bus stops into green hubs, the country's Utrecht province is innovating new solutions for how to balance the environment in an urban setting. In doing so, they're setting a positive example for the rest of the world.

Utrecht—Holland's fourth-largest city—has fitted its 316 bus stops with succulent-covered roofs, LED lighting, and bamboo benches. Not only do the green roofs support the city's biodiversity by creating a new haven for different types of bees, but they also store rainwater and capture fine dust. The green roofs are mainly composed of sedum plants, which require little maintenance but will attract honeybees and bumblebees with their flowers.

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A post shared by Eva (@evagladness) on Jun 21, 2019 at 1:05pm PDT

The green bus stops are just one measure that Utrecht is taking to combat climate change. They've also pledged to have completely carbon-neutral transport by 2028 and they'll introduce 55 electric buses into their fleet by the end of 2019. The province has also invested heavily in the repair of cycling paths and will conduct an innovative experiment in 2020. Solar panels installed along cycling paths within the province will be used to harvest energy, with an aim to see if the results merit expansion of the program.

All told, what's happening in Utrecht should provide a positive example of other urban centers to start thinking about how they can innovate within the built environment. The city is also hoping that private citizens will get involved in making changes. To this end, they're providing funding for those who wish to transform their roofs into green roofs—giving even more options for the bees that buzz around the city.

Utrecht's green roofs, which provide new ecosystems for bees, have been met with support by locals.

Go #Utrecht! In my city, 316 bus stops now have a green roof. These roofs help to capture fine dust, storage of rainwate, provide cooling in the summertime and they contribute to the city’s biodiversity, supporting insects. Want one too? | #climateaction https://t.co/t0H2vIXPkP pic.twitter.com/BoPQOKDTE7

— Jolanda van Ginkel (@jolandavginkel) July 7, 2019