Last updated: September 2024
This project, implemented in several schools across Fort-de-France in 2018, focuses on creating arboretums in schools to educate children about Martinique's native natural heritage and raise awareness of biodiversity loss. An arboretum is a curated collection of trees selected for scientific, conservation or public enjoyment. The initiative, led by the Martinican National Botanical Conservation, is supported technically by the municipal landscaping department and administratively by the city of Fort-de-France and the Martinican School Rectorate. It includes three main activities: a seminar on Martinique's rich yet fragile botanical heritage, an excursion into a forest, and a tree planting event at schools featuring native or endangered plant species. The program has reached at least six schools in and around Fort-de-France. (Ref. 1,2,5)
Forest excursion: part of the second implementing activity
Screenshots taken from the website of the initiative: https://cbmartinique.org/2018/07/18/arboretum-pedagogique-pie-bwa-a-te-matinik/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Green playgrounds and school grounds
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Deforestation and forest degradation
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Habitat conservation, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Strategy, plan or policy development, Implementation of city-wide or neighborhood initiatives focused on biodiverity protection (e.g. bee-friendly initiatives, butterfly protection, "Spring cleaning")
Project objectives
-To raise awareness among schoolchildren about native, endemic and threatened flora of Martinique (both in terms of species and their natural habitats).
-To create arboretums in schools which contribute to the conservation of Martinique's natural heritage and the preservation of the country's flora
-To introduce valued seed trees in various controlled green spaces throughout the territory therefore mitigating the risk to threatened species
(1,2,3)
Implementation activities
The implementationa activities are separated into three stages:
1) Classroom intervention: Discussion and interactive presentation on the mission of a botanical conservatory where children are invited to approach the concept of disappearance/conservation of plants. The children are also prepared for the future educational outing in the forest by addressing the notions of trees, forests and fauna/flora interactions in the natural environment.
2) Forest excursion: an outing to a forest to see the trees in their environment: introduce children to the forest environment, trees and some native species, all while stimulating their sense of observation.
3) School yard intervention: consists of planting native trees of rare and endangered species within the college: the students, with the support of the agents of the landscaping department of the city of Fort-de-France, carry out the planting. Four rare species have been introduced , the Bwa Flanbo ( Amyris elemifera – Rutaceae ); the Mahot Gombo ( Talipariti pernambucense – Malvaceae ) EN - LR, (which illustrates the article) ; the Grand Cosmaya ( Crateva tapia – Capparaceae ) CR - LR; and the Ti Flambwayan ( Bauhinia multinervia – Fabaceae ) EN - LR. Of these 4 species, 3 are on the Red List (LR) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, in the categories CR (Critically Endangered) and EN (Endangered). (Ref.1,2,5)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Take measures for ex situ conservation
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore endangered species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
- Public sector institution
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The actors involved in this intervention were:
-Martinican National Botanical Conservatory (public institution): Organized the initiative and its staff helped with tree planting
-Local Government (City of Fort-de-France): Provided administrative support.
-Martinican School Rectorate (regional body): Assisted with contacting schools, securing permits for tree planting, and offering advice on educational materials.
-Schools: Voluntarily participated in the initiative with students planting the trees
Funding actors: The project received municipal and regional funding from several entities:
The intermunicipal development "CACEM." (local government)
The Martinican Territorial Collectivity (regional governmental body)
The Martinican Agency for the Environment, Development, and Housing (DEAL). (Ref. 1, 2,3,4,6) (ministerial national body)
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
City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public national budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- 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
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Achieved increased protection of threatened species
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
- Expected increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of natural heritage
- Achieved protection of natural heritage
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature
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
Unknown
References
1.
Martinican National Botanical Conservatory (2018). Arboretum pédagogique: « Pié Bwa a tè Matinik ». Martinican National Botanical Conservatory, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Ville de Fort-de-France (n.d.). L’arborétum s’invite à l’école.... Ville de Fort-de-France, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Martinican Biodiversity Observatory (2019). Des arbres indigènes à la Martinique dans nos écoles !. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Martinican Biodiversity Observatory (n.d.). Ecolier.e.s, vini mété "Pyé bwa a tè Matinik" ! . Martinican Biodiversity Observatory, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Martinican School Academy (2021). “Piébwa Atè Matinik”, un arboretum pédagogique au collège pour les espèces autochtones menacées. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
6.
eco-ecole.org (n.d.). Le label Eco-Ecole, Eco-Collège ou Eco-Lycée. eco-ecole.org, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
After planting, explanation of the species, part of the final implementing activity
Screenshots taken from the website of the initiative: https://cbmartinique.org/2018/07/18/arboretum-pedagogique-pie-bwa-a-te-matinik/
Pié Bwa a tè Matinik
Screenshots taken from the website of the initiative: https://cbmartinique.org/2018/07/18/arboretum-pedagogique-pie-bwa-a-te-matinik/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.