New profession in Austria: climate gardener
Austria. The new three-year apprenticeship of the profession climate gardener started its first round in July 2024. The pioneering profession of climate gardener offers an answer to the increasing requirements for urban greening and climate adaptation.
This is a milestone, as the subject of building greening, with topics such as building optimisation, execution and maintenance of green roofs and green walls, irrigation and drainage, rainwater retention areas and also recording and documenting as well as advising and supporting customers are all part of the course.
A group of experts, consisting of specialists from the industry, business, environmental and research institutions (such the austrian office of the Austrian association GRÜNSTATTGRAU) and the public sector, the Vocational College for Horticulture and Floristry Vienna, IBW and the social partners, have jointly developed a comprehensive training programme with clear training objectives and examination modalities. Legal and judicial support for the realisation of the project was provided by the Vienna Provincial Guild and the Federal Guild of Gardeners and Florists.
A suitable curriculum was also developed by a team of experts from the Vienna Vocational School for Horticulture and Floristry.
The climate gardener training programme covers the following areas of expertise:
1. Garden design/gardening basics
Climate gardeners learn about the effects of urban climate change-adapted environments in terms of temperature and water balance as well as the legal regulations and standards.
The trained specialists will pay attention to the thermal properties of materials, especially in relation to buildings and the urban heat island effect, and select materials according to their utilisation and processing options.
The correct use and maintenance of the required tools and machines are also covered, as is the use of measuring instruments for job-specific calculations and the preparation of technical sketches.
Climate gardeners store and care for plants professionally, taking into account their botanical and site-specific requirements. They build up vegetation support layers according to quality specifications, using recycled materials and protecting the plants as well as tree crowns and roots on construction sites. They also prepare the ground for planting by improving the soil and creating suitable root layers.
2. Building greening, surfaces, walls and water management
The trained specialist carries out work to achieve effects such as shading, temperature and noise reduction and rainwater storage through the greening of buildings. They check the structural requirements for vertical greening and select the appropriate system due maintenance, irrigation and installation into account. After the installation of ground-, trough- and wall-based green walls, they optimise the functionality of the systems. They also plan and construct extensive and intensive green roofs, install irrigation systems and optimise them for the site. Surfaces that are difficult to drain are replaced with permeable surfaces, ecological water features are created and horticultural work is carried out using natural materials. It plans and installs irrigation systems, including rainwater and greywater systems, as well as misting systems for efficient water management.
3. Working on green spaces, green buildings and facilities in urban areas
During the dual training programme, future climate gardeners learn to select plants that are suitable for their location, plant them and take care of green spaces as well as vertical and roof greening. They recognise plant stress, diseases and nutrient deficiencies and implement environmentally friendly protective measures. They also maintain water areas, service irrigation systems and rectify faults, adapting the control of the systems to seasonal water requirements.
In addition to the subject-specific areas of expertise, content on working in an operational and professional environment, quality-orientated, safe and sustainable work and digital work is also taught.
Upon successful completion of the final apprenticeship examination, apprentices are authorised to use the job title of specialist in the apprenticeship occupation of climate gardener.
(11/2024)