Fort-de-France, Fort-de-France (FUA), Martinique
City population: 140947
Duration: 2020 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 184200 m2
Type of area: Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature
Last updated: November 2024

The riparian forest of Montgérald, through which the “Monsieur” River flows, is located within Fort-de-France and boasts rich biodiversity, featuring around 100 species of shrubs and trees and about 30 animal species, including 16 types of birds. It is one of the last remnants of the mesophilic forest type and the only example in a French peri-urban setting. This unique ecosystem is recognized as a Natural Area of Ecological, Faunal, and Floral Interest (ZNIEFF) and a Classified Wooded Area (EBC), underscoring the need for conservation efforts. Covering nearly 21 hectares, this site offers ecological benefits like air quality improvement and temperature regulation, providing a "fresh air island" near the city center. However, it faces significant challenges, including flooding caused by climate change and heavy rains, which exacerbate erosion along the Monsieur River. The area is also threatened by invasive alien species, making conservation measures even more crucial. Since 2015, the municipality of Fort-de-France, along with project partners, has been working on developing this natural space for both conservation and public engagement purposes. The most recent actions occurred in 2020, including riverbank restoration, clearing invasive species, and creating walking paths and educational installations. Additionally, the project features an awareness campaign targeting local schools. The ongoing initiative aims to merge biodiversity conservation with community recreational use and environmental education, ensuring the resilience of this vital ecosystem against the impacts of climate change. (Refs. 1, 2, 3)

Monsieur River
Monsieur River
Retrieved from: https://www.martinique.franceantilles.fr/actualite/politique/le-developpement-durable-une-priorite-pour-lafd-et-la-ville-de-fort-de-france-915944.php

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Blue infrastructure
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Environmental quality
  • Air quality improvement
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Preservation of natural heritage
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Environmental education

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

  • Climate-Related Hazards
  • Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
  • Environmental Degradation
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Invasive alien species
  • Deforestation and forest degradation

Key priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)

Focus

Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, River rehabilitation/ restoration, Protection of riparian vegetation, Restoration of riparian vegetation, Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat conservation, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Clearing out invasive alien species and allow natural regeneration maintaining the functionality the ecosystem

Project objectives

Recreation and well-being: offering a space for relaxation where people can experience the well-being that forests can provide and re-discover nature. In-situ conservation: protecting the unique natural heritage and enhancing the floral and faunal richness of the forest (Ref 1; 3). Maintaining the ecosystem services delivered by the forest to the urban environment, with an emphasis on air quality, temperature regulation, flood regulation (Ref 1; 3, 10). Riverbank restoration: rehabilitating the "Monsieur" riverbank, combating erosion (caused by heavy rains and presence of invasive species) and enhancing aquatic biodiversity (Ref 3). Raising awareness of forest ecology and educating on the history, heritage and biodiversity of the forest by providing it with suitable facilities (e.g. walking paths, benches, information boards, awareness program) (Ref 2; 3).

Implementation activities

Protection and enhancement of forest and aquatic biodiversity: In 2023, the project management and environmental studies were launched. A program of work to support the dynamics allowing the regeneration of some of the most remarkable species was put in place. No logging was carried out, and flora was allowed to evolve naturally to preserve the wild character of the site. Management of invasive exotic species: Actions to combat invasive species were planned to limit the impact of species already established (Bambusa vulgaris, etc.). Specific measures were taken to combat the erosion of the Monsieur River and enhance the aquatic biodiversity at ‘Ravine Benoit’ and the “concrete” canal. Riverbank restoration was expected to start in 2024. Enhancement of the wooded area to welcome the public: Walking infrastructure for a trail of 2,100 m in total was developed, along with communication materials for the general public. The Monsieur River, an essential element of the trail, provided a support for discovering riparian biodiversity and ecological engineering techniques (e.g., restoration of banks and combating erosion). An awareness program was developed for schools in the area. In 2023, the first trails were developed, a main reception area was created, and the awareness campaign was set up. In 2024, footbridges were planned for installation, two other reception areas were to be built, and the campaign was to continue. (Ref 3; 9)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Implement measures that prevent/manage desertification, soil erosion and landslides
  • Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
  • Restore rivers and other fresh water bodies to reduce flood or drought risk
  • Restore and protect forests to prevent water runoff and assets loss due to flooding
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes

Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities

Urban heat islands

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
  • Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
  • Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
  • Protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
  • Control and clean invasive alien species
  • Means for conservation governance
  • Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
  • Raise public awareness

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
  • Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
  • Restore valued species
  • Clear and control invasive alien species
  • Public engagement

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Taskforce groups
  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The project is led and implemented by the municipality and it is supported by a steering committee composed of the intermunicipal development "CACEM", The Martinican Botanical Conservatory (research and conservation), the regional government administration "CTM", two public sector representations of the national government (National Forest Office, the Water Office (ODE)), and other unspecified "associations" (Ref 3). In December 2022,the municipality signed a 25 year-long loan from the French Agency for Development (AFD) of the national government (Ref 2). The project is also financially supported by CTM, The European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), ODE and CACEM. The initiative forms part of the "Contrat de la Grande Baie", an environmental agreement between local, regional and national authorities, aimed at preserving and restoring the great bay of Fort-de-France (Ref 3; 8). It is still worth noting that the awareness raising program will involve schools (Ref 3)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (Martinique Flood Risk Management Plan (PGRI) (10))
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Type of enablers

City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)

Financing

Total cost

€500,000 - €2,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Public national budget
  • Public regional budget
  • EU funds

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
  • Loan

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
  • Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
  • Lowered local temperature
  • Expected lowered local temperature
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
  • Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Increased presence and recovery of wild species
  • Expected increased presence and recovery of wild species
  • Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
  • Expected improved prevention or control of invasive alien species

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Protection of natural heritage
  • Expected protection of natural heritage
  • Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
  • Expected increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
  • Education
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
  • Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
  • Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
  • Expected increased awareness of NBS and their benefits

Type of reported impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Unknown

References

1.
DEAL de la Martinique (2011). ZONE 0 0 2 6 MONTGÉRALD. DEAL de la Martinique, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
2.
AFD (n.d.). Promouvoir le développement durable sur le territoire à Fort-de-France. afd.fr, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Contrat Grande Baie de Martinique (n.d.). Aménagement et valorisation de la forêt de Montgérald. grandebaiemartinique.com, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Ville de Fort de France (n.d.). Quartiers Prioritaires de la Vill. fortdefrance.fr, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Cityzia (n.d.). Description du quartier Châteauboeuf-Morne Morissot. cityzia.fr, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Cityzia (n.d.). Quartier - Coridon-Redoute. cityzia.fr, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Paller, M. (2023). Après le meurtre de Montgérald (Fort-de-France), des habitants entre colère et incompréhension. rci.fm, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Contrat de la Grande Baie de Martinique (n.d.). LES MEMBRES DES INSTANCES DU CONTRAT. grandebaiemartinique.com, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Villard Maurel, A., Conesa, G., and Scaron, C. (2024). CONTRAT DE LA GRANDE BAIE MARTINIQUE RAPPORT 2023. Contrat de la Grande Baie Martinique, Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Deal Martinique (n.d.). Plan de Gestion des Risques d’Inondation de Martinique (PGRI). Accessed on October 7, 2024,;
Walking path in Forêt Montgérald
Walking path in Forêt Montgérald
Retrieved from: https://www.martinique.franceantilles.fr/actualite/politique/le-developpement-durable-une-priorite-pour-lafd-et-la-ville-de-fort-de-france-915944.php
naturescapes bannerInformation about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.