Good news for Colombia. Bogota’s Metropolitan Simon Bolivar Park has reached an environmental milestone that places the country at the forefront of urban sustainability. The city’s largest and most iconic park was awarded the “Sello Verde de Verdad” (True Green Seal), officially certifying it as the first carbon-neutral park in Latin America. The achievement not only honors a decades-long commitment to environmental stewardship but also elevates the park as a model for green urban planning in the region.
A landmark recognition for the city’s Green Heart
Located in Teusaquillo, one of Bogotá’s most representative and culturally vibrant localities, Simon Bolivar Park has long been considered the city’s “green lung.” With its expansive lakes, dense tree canopies, bike paths, and recreational spaces, it serves as a daily refuge for residents seeking clean air, exercise, and contact with nature. This new recognition adds another layer to its significance, solidifying it as a strategic environmental asset and a rising tourist attraction for international visitors focused on eco-friendly destinations.
What is VERSA and why the seal matters
The recognition comes from VERSA, a sustainability-focused organization that specializes in evaluating the environmental performance of public and private spaces. VERSA’s certifications are widely respected in Latin America because they rely on stringent criteria aligned with global environmental standards.
Their assessments are designed to verify not only whether a space reduces emissions but also whether it applies long-term, systemic strategies to protect ecosystems and manage natural resources responsibly.
To earn the “Sello Verde de Verdad,” Simon Bolivar Park underwent a comprehensive evaluation based on several key criteria:
Accurate carbon footprint measurement: VERSA required detailed verification of the park’s greenhouse gas emissions, including energy use, maintenance operations, landscaping activities, and public events.
Implementation of emission reduction strategies: The park demonstrated active measures to reduce its carbon output such as transitioning to cleaner energy sources, limiting fuel-based equipment, and improving waste management.
Compensation and offset programs: The park neutralized its remaining emissions through certified environmental compensation programs, including reforestation and the restoration of natural areas.
Biodiversity protection and ecosystem management: VERSA evaluated how the park conserves its flora and fauna, protects native species, and safeguards local ecological corridors.
Community impact and environmental education: The organization emphasized the park’s role in raising public awareness through workshops, guided nature activities, and campaigns promoting sustainable living.
Receiving the True Green Seal places Simon Bolivar Park among a select group of urban spaces recognized for pioneering sustainability at scale. For Bogota, it represents an opportunity to showcase the city as a leader in climate action and urban resilience.
A tourist attraction reshaped by sustainability
Beyond its environmental significance, Simon Bolivar Park is increasingly becoming a must-visit attraction for travelers seeking nature-centric city experiences. Stretching across more than 400 hectares, the park offers a combination of wide green fields, calm lakes, cultural venues, and outdoor sports zones. It is home to events that define Bogota’s identity — from concerts and food festivals to marathons and youth gatherings.
This new carbon-neutral status enhances the park’s profile within Bogota’s tourism ecosystem. Visitors now find not only a scenic and peaceful urban retreat but also an example of how environmental policy can be integrated into cultural and recreational life. The initiative reinforces Bogota’s marketing strategy to position itself as a sustainable tourism hub, following global trends where travelers increasingly prioritize eco-responsible destinations.
The park’s design, infrastructure, and management practices have become points of interest for urban planners, environmental researchers, and international delegations who visit Bogota to learn from its transition toward greener public spaces.
Environmental strategies that made carbon neutrality possible
Simon Bolivar Park’s environmental transformation did not happen overnight. It is the result of coordinated work between Bogota’s environmental agencies, urban planners, engineers, and community volunteers. Several key strategies were essential in reducing and offsetting its carbon footprint:
Large-scale tree planting and forest management: The park’s vast network of trees — native and adaptive species — plays a crucial role in carbon absorption. Over the last decade, the city has implemented targeted reforestation campaigns to increase canopy density, restore degraded soil, and expand biodiversity zones. The park now functions as a natural air purifier, helping mitigate urban pollution.
Sustainable waste and water management
Simon Bolivar Park adopted a unified waste-classification system that encourages recycling and organic waste separation. Natural composting processes are used to maintain gardens and green areas, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. In terms of water use, irrigation systems prioritize efficiency by leveraging rainfall, strategically placed sensors, and low-consumption technology.
Cleaner energy and low-emission operations
Maintenance operations have transitioned away from high-emission equipment. The park increasingly utilizes electric or low-impact tools and has modernized lighting systems to reduce energy consumption. Solar-powered infrastructure has been incorporated in several areas, contributing to a measurable drop in emissions.
Environmental education and community engagement
Workshops, guided nature walks, and educational campaigns encourage the public to participate in conservation efforts. The park has become a living classroom where visitors can learn about ecosystems, climate resilience, and the benefits of sustainable urban design.
Certified carbon offsets
After reducing emissions as much as possible, the park compensated the remainder through certified offset programs that support forest conservation and ecological restoration in Colombia. These programs are transparent, externally verified, and aligned with international carbon-accounting standards.
A model for cities across Latin America
Simon Bolivar Park’s carbon-neutral recognition marks a historic step for Bogota and sets a precedent for other Latin American cities. It demonstrates that large metropolitan parks can evolve into engines of sustainability without sacrificing cultural, social, or recreational functions.
As climate challenges intensify, the park’s transformation shows what is possible when public policy, environmental science, and community participation converge. Bogota now has a green emblem to showcase to the world — one that blends environmental responsibility with public life, and one that reimagines how cities can coexist with nature while preparing for a more sustainable future.