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Rehabilitating brownfields for sustainable urban development in Bogotá as part of international municipal cooperation

Project partnership Stuttgart – Bogotá (October 2014 to April 2017)

This new form of project-based cooperation between Bogotá (capital city of Colombia) and Stuttgart (capital of Germany's federal state of Baden-Wittenberg) began in December 2009 as part of a cooperation project funded by the European Union.

Several people visit the contaminated site in Bogotá in 2015.
Inspecting the contaminated site in Bogotá in 2015. Photo: H.J. Kirchholtes, Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart, Amt für Umweltschutz

This has since developed into a close working relationship between the two environmental offices, which has outlasted several changes in Bogotá's political leadership and administration. In 2014, this international municipal cooperation was continued with financial support from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as part of the Nakopa programme.

Examining and analysing contaminated soils under surfaces where urban development is planned is a major challenge worldwide, especially in large cities. The City of Bogotá also faces this problem. Stuttgart can draw on 30 years of experience in dealing with brownfield sites. Bogotá therefore requested Stuttgart to provide support.

Three people drill holes in the contaminated area in Bogotá
Exploratory drilling of the contaminated area in January 2017. Photo: Secretaria Distrital de Ambiente Bogotá

To learn more about implementing key practical measures to investigate, analyse and redevelop contaminated land, the Secretaria Distrital de Ambiente (SDA) in Bogotá selected a suitable site. On this site of approximately 6,000 square meters, which was contaminated with pesticides by a German chemical company, a residential area will be built as part of an urban development project. In the process, steps must be taken to ensure that residents are not endangered by pollutants. Advised and supported by their colleagues from Stuttgart, the SDA experts have mastered the steps they must take to analyse and assess the subsoil. They now possess experience with data collection and contract definition, tendering and award, as well as implementation and evaluation of the results. The successfully implemented pilot project has strengthened the practical skills of the staff.

It is still early days for Bogotá as regards dealing with contaminated sites. Thanks to the Nakayama project, the Secretaria Distrital de Ambiente is a competent partner for international investors, and will be able to make better use of existing scope for decision-making in upcoming negotiations, for the benefit of the population.

The partners in Bogotá are very interested in continuing the cooperation. Based on the positive experiences, another joint project has already been conceived.