6.3 Biodiversity & Ecosystems
The Dolder Grand is nestled in the Adlisberg Forest – a location that not only attracts guests but also entails an ecological responsibility. The double materiality analysis has confirmed that biodiversity and ecosystems are a material issue for Dolder Hotel AG – both in terms of our impact on the environment and with regard to financial risks: our business operations depend on intact ecosystems – from the natural landscape that shapes the guest experience, through the hillside vegetation that provides erosion control, to the availability of high-quality food and nature-based materials in the supply chain.
At the same time, we make an active, positive contribution: with around 20 hectares of green space – including around 13 hectares of our own woodland, a spacious park, extensively greened roof areas and the garden of the Restaurant blooms – we maintain and manage biodiversity areas that contribute directly to urban biodiversity on the Zürichberg.
Protected areas, land use
Forest. The hotel borders directly on a vast forest area that provides a valuable habitat for numerous wild animals: roe deer, foxes, badgers, martens, polecats, crows, jays and tawny owls are native to this area. In close cooperation with “Grün Stadt Zürich” and the relevant gamekeepers, we are committed to protecting this biodiversity.
Park. The park features a carefully curated selection of around 50 different plant species – ranging from native trees and shrubs such as hornbeam, yew and boxwood to ecologically valuable species such as serviceberry, dogwood and snowball bush, which serve as forage for bees and food sources for birds. Flowering perennials such as lavender, sage and agastache complement the range of options for pollinators. The serviceberry and cornelian cherry exemplify the triad of ecology, cuisine and aesthetics: their fruits are harvested by our chefs and used in the kitchen.
The garden of Restaurant blooms. Over 40 different plant species are grown in the hotel’s own garden patches – including vegetables, herbs, berries and fruit trees. The garden is managed according to ecological principles: mechanical weed control, the use of beneficial insects such as ladybird larvae, night-time watering to conserve water, sheep’s wool pellets as a natural fertiliser, and a strict avoidance of chemical pesticides.
Green roofs. The roof areas around the photovoltaic system are covered with extensive vegetation comprising 21 native wildflower and sedum species. This measure restores habitat to nature and, through evaporative cooling, simultaneously enhances the efficiency of the solar panels.
Garden and landscape maintenance. Throughout the outdoor grounds, we rely on sustainable methods: organic products, effective microorganisms, site-appropriate planting and mechanical rather than chemical weed control.
Together with our commitment to protecting the adjacent woodland – in partnership with “Grün Stadt Zürich” and the gamekeepers – these measures are a concrete expression of our holistic approach to sustainability: protecting nature, promoting biodiversity and preserving habitats for future generations.
Bees & Friends / Tiny Dolder Grand. As part of the ‘Bees & Friends’ campaign by HotellerieSuisse and Switzerland Tourism, the ‘Tiny Dolder Grand’ was created in 2025 – a miniature version of the ballroom, designed by mechanical engineer Josua Glünkin and situated on the edge of the forest. The initiative combines the promotion of pollinator habitats with a playful approach to raising awareness of biodiversity among guests and staff.
The existing practices – the consistent avoidance of chemical pesticides, planting suited to the location, and the partnership with “Grün Stadt Zürich” – will be continued and, where possible, expanded. The ecological health of our surroundings is currently good but is vulnerable in the long term to climate-related changes – in particular droughts, storm damage and the spread of invasive species. Dolder Hotel AG has not yet defined quantitative biodiversity targets for the reporting year.
The main sites of Dolder Hotel AG are located at Kurhausstrasse 65, 8032 Zurich (The Dolder Grand) and Kurhausstrasse 20, 8032 Zurich (Dolder Waldhaus). The site is situated on the edge of the Adlisberg Forest, within the protection zone of the ‘Dolderwiese’ spring group, and is served by the Dolderbahn, a rack railway within the Zurich Transport Network.
The Emerald Network of the Bern Convention – the protected area instrument at European level that is authoritative for Switzerland – was used as the basis for assessing biodiversity sensitivity. Both sites were examined within a 5-kilometre radius for proximity to designated Emerald sites. The screening revealed no Emerald sites within this radius.
In the immediate vicinity lies the Wehrenbachtobel, a cantonal nature and landscape conservation area with its own protection ordinance issued by the Canton of Zurich.