Last updated: October 2024
This project involves collaboration among government, private, and educational entities focused on developing an agroforestry initiative that integrates economic activity, labor market integration, and educational opportunities for young children at the “Foyer de l’Espérance” [school and child welfare center] in Fort-de-France. The objective is to plant 1,500 cacao trees on the Foyer's premises by 2025. These trees will serve as pedagogical support for teachers and children. Planting activities commenced in 2022, and the first cacao pods are expected to mature in 2-3 years. Subsequently, these pods will be processed and transformed by the Martinican Lauzéa chocolate factory under the brand “Chocolat de l’Espérance” (Refs 2; 4). The idea for this project emerged in June 2022 when young students engaged in a discussion about cocoa farming with Thierry Lauzéa during "Business Thursdays," organized by “Espérance Formation Insertion.” These meetings allow young beneficiaries to explore the business world and discuss their career paths with professionals. During one of these sessions, the young participants inquired about the origins of the cocoa used in Lauzéa's chocolates, leading to the concept of producing cocoa for the Frères Lauzéa company (Refs 3; 5).
Tree planting at the Esperance school
Screenshot taken from: https://francophone-solidarite.org/action-de-terrain-plantation-de-200-cacaoyers-avec-des-jeunes-de-martinique/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Other
- Parks and urban forests
- Other
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social justice and equity
- Environmental education
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Employment/job creation
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Deforestation and forest degradation
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Agriculture/ crop production
- Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Loss of sense of place and identity
Key priorities
Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Protection of agroecology approaches (agroforestry & silvopastoral systems), Educational and awareness raising programs, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Introduction of NBS governance practices involving marginalised groups
Project objectives
Developing a sustainable economic activity around agroforestry: generating income from planting trees and creating a sustainably produced product.
Pedagogy: educating young children on the environment, forest ecology and cacao farming.
Social exclusion: mitigating factors of social exclusion of children and youth by providing engaging educational support with labour market relevance.
Integrating people to the labour market (Ref 1; 2; 3; 4)
Implementation activities
In June 2022, during "Business Thursdays," discussions between Thierry Lauzéa and young students sparked the idea for the cacao project. Following this, the Lauzéa company and the Foyer de l’Espérance reached an agreement to develop the cacao farm, with support from the DEETS (Martinican Department of Economics, Employment, Work, and Solidarity) for its labor market integration component. Additionally, the Entreprise & Environment’s "Péyi Vert" initiative facilitated a network of funders and nurseries for cacao seedlings.
The project officially began on Friday, September 30, 2022, when stakeholders gathered to inaugurate the cacao farm, and students planted the first 50 cacao trees. Lauzéa then organized workshops to explain the cacao production process, from field cultivation to the final product in shops. By July 1, 2023, students had completed the plantation of 500 cacao trees for the academic year 2022-2023. Over the next two years, 1,000 additional trees are expected to be planted.
The first cacao harvest is anticipated to occur 2 to 3 years after planting. Once ready, Lauzéa will harvest and process the cacao pods, transforming them into chocolate. (Ref. 1-6)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Public sector institution
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was initiated by the Espérance Martinique and the Frères Lauzéa, private company. The idea came during a “Business Thursdays”, organised by Espérance, bringing young people and Thierry Lauzéa together. The project then entered into a convention with Entreprises & Environment, a business network who helps with funding and plant-nurseries. The Club Med Foundation provided at least ⅔ of the tree donations. The tree planting was implemented by the schoolchildren and paid trainees. . The Lauzea company will take-over processing . L’Espérance via its affiliation with the Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil, a catholic foundation aiming to integrate the most vulnerable youth received the financial support of the DEETS (Martinican Department of Employment and Work) for the labour market integration dimension. In this project public and private actors agreed to share the risks and responsibilities (Ref 1-4; 6).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Donations
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Generation of income from NBS
- Expected generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Offsetting, Carbon offsets *, Biodiversity offsetting *
References
1.
L'Espérance Apprentis d'Auteuil (2022). Inauguration de la cacaoyère de l’Espérance. esperance.apprentis-auteuil.org, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Francophone Solidarité (2024). ACTION DE TERRAIN – Plantation de 200 Cacaoyers avec des jeunes de Martinique. francophone-solidarite.org, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Régis, L. (2022). Foyer de l'Espérance : du cacao pour donner le goût d'apprendre. viaatv.tv, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Antilla Martinique (2022). Actualité Inauguration de la cacaoyère de l’Espérance : Un véritable engagement. antilla-martinique.com, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Popincourt, S. (2022). Une cacaoyère au foyer de l'Espérance. martinique.franceantilles.fr, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Péyi Vert (2023). Edition 2023 pour la Cacaoyère de l’Espérance. peyivert.com, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Action Sociale (n.d.). FOYER DE L ESPERANCE - PATRONAGE SAINT LOUIS. annuaire.action-sociale.org, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Espérance Apprentis d'Auteuil. (n.d.). Nous contacter. esperance.apprentis-auteuil.org, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Péyi Vert (n.d.). Foire aux questions. peyivert.com, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Péyi Vert (n.d.). Comment participer ?. peyivert.com, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
Tree planting at the Esperance school
Screenshot taken from: https://francophone-solidarite.org/action-de-terrain-plantation-de-200-cacaoyers-avec-des-jeunes-de-martinique/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.