The campus of the University of Navarra has received for the third consecutive year the international award Green Flag Award for the management of parks and green spaces. The award is a recognition of the comprehensive management of its green areas and places the campus as one of the best parks in Europe for the level of excellence in its management. The 2020 edition of the Green Flag Award has recognized a total of 2,224 parks from 15 countries. In addition to the University of Navarra's campus , Spain includes the Water Park in Zaragoza, the University of Huesca's campus and León's Quevedo Park.

"We are pleased. This award recognizes the effort and the work of the Gardening team and the rest of the services of campus. At the same time, it encourages us to continue working to maintain a green and sustainable campus , also in the dimension of social sustainability, so that it can be enjoyed not only by the university community but also by the whole city," said Cristina Muñoz Corsini, Director of Planning and design of campus. "It is a recognition that we are very grateful for and commits us to continue striving to improve it."  

Eight people currently work in the Gardening team of the Works and Maintenance Service of the University of Navarra. In total, during the past year, the academic center spent 1,871,500 euros on the maintenance of campus. With its 113 hectares of land, it is the largest park in Pamplona. It has more than 4,190 trees of 173 different species, as well as various shrub species, and a botanical route that can be followed while walking. Since last year, it also includes a 5 km circular running circuit.  

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's how much we value our local parks and green spaces, the Green Flag Award organization said. Carl McClean, General Manager of development International at award, added: "This achievement is a great recognition for staff and the volunteers, and the municipalities that support them, who have worked so hard to preserve parks and green spaces during this difficult time for all of us. For his part, the director of the Green Flag Award program, Paul Todd has emphasized that, on the occasion of the pandemic, parks have never been more important for physical and mental health. "All the research shows that spending time in good quality green spaces can improve people's well-being," he said. Created in England in 1996, the award Green Flag is an international, not-for-profit accreditation program that recognizes and rewards well-maintained parks and green spaces.