Last updated: October 2021
Since October 2015, the City of Marseille has implemented a vegetation permit called "Visa Vert" (Green Visa), as well as a "Charter for the vegetation of public spaces in Marseille", which allow individuals to install plants in public spaces while respecting the safety and use of the tracks by other users. Plants, flowers and shrubs can thus contribute to the beautification of the living environment and "bring a bit of nature into the city" (Ref. 1). The charter aims to “ accompany and support initiatives to revegetate the streets and promote collective actions that contribute to embellishing the living environment ”, but also to “ enhance the presence of plants in the city, to respect the public space which belongs to all and thus to improve living together ” (Ref. 5).
https://madeinmarseille.net/8188-charte-vegetalisation-rue-marseille/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Balcony greens
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley and street greens
- House gardens
- Institutional green space
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving mental health
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Focus
Strategy, plan or policy development
Project objectives
-"Improvement of the living environment (valorisation of the plant in the city, respect for the public shared space, improvement of the overall community)"
-Improving "living together" (Ref. 3)
-"To brighten up your sad street, and that corner of pavement abandoned under your windows.
To bring color and awaken the gray of stone and bitumen.
To put your hands in the ground.
To make the city more beautiful, more welcoming and less stressful.
To find the pleasure of pacing the city.
To be content to live where you live." (Ref. 4, page 4)
-"Promote animal and plant biodiversity" (Ref. 4, page 21)
-Plantation in the street to reduce air pollution (Ref 4)
-Reduce the effect of urban heat islands (Ref. 4)
-Improved stormwater management: “In the Mediterranean region, severe thunderstorms are frequent. Vegetated surfaces participate in slowing the flow of stormwater. The plants themselves, by fixing certain pollutants, improve the quality of the infiltration water and discharges into rivers and seas” (Ref. 4).
Implementation activities
-"It is necessary to obtain a prior authorization from the City of Marseille: it is the principle of the greening permit called Visa Vert" (Ref. 1)
-Creation of a guide for the city of Marseille by the association "Passeurs de Jardins": "this guide proposes to accompany you in the adventure of the vegetation of the streets. Here you will find ideas, tips, tricks, tools, and ideas to help you express your creativity and your sensitivity while giving you pleasure." (Ref. 4, page 3)
-"The Green Visa holder agrees to use organic gardening methods such as organic fertilizers, compost, compost or compost that stimulates the natural defenses (elicitors) and chooses plants from the list of plants recommended by the SEVN (Municipality Green Space and Nature Services)." (Ref. 5)
-"For example, but this remains minimal, some planters or flower pots prevent the good passage of people in wheelchairs or strollers, and others are not sufficiently supervised and cause the proliferation of the tiger mosquito. Or, some residents use chemical fertilizers and pesticides that affect the quality of the air" (Ref. 5).
- Planting is intended to enhance pollination as "Sidewalk plants, as long as the streets be calm, and that the mass effect is sufficient, can also offer them food and lodging [for beneficial insects]" (Ref. 4).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
- Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: People with functional diversities
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- District/neighbourhood association
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- 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
-"Since October 2015, the City of Marseille has implemented a vegetation permit called Visa Vert, as well as a "Charter for the vegetation of public spaces in Marseille", which allow individuals to occupy temporarily and free public space by the installation of plants" (Ref. 1)
-The guide has been created by the association "Passeurs de Jardins" of Marseille: "Designed and realized by the association Passeurs de Jardins for Marseille and the cities of the Mediterranean littoral zone, this guide proposes to accompany you in the adventure of the vegetation. Here you will find ideas, tips, tricks, tools, and ideas to help you express your creativity and your sensitivity, while giving you pleasure" (Ref. 4, page 3).
-The guide of the greening of the streets of Marseille has been created by the association "PASSEURS DE JARDINS" in partnership with the Laboratory Population Environment Development, Aix-Marseille University / IRD (Institute of Research and Development) and the National School of Landscape Marseille / LAREP (Newspaper). (Ref. 4, page 78)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
("In line with the Territorial Climate Plan adopted by the Municipal Council's decision of December 15, 2008, the City of Marseille wishes to accompany and support residents in their initiatives to green the streets and to promote collective actions in new practices in favor of improvement of the living environment (valorisation of the plant in the city, respect for the public space, improvement of the overall community)." (Ref. 3, page 1))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of other services
- Other
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Other
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Decreased crime rates
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved 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
References
1. Ville de Marseille (n.d). "Végétalisation des rues". Nature en Ville. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
2. Ville de Marseille (n.d ). "La Charte de végétalisation de l'espace publique Marseillais". Direction de l'Environment. (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
3. Ville de Marseille (n.d). "Example d'autorisation d'occupation temporaire de l'espace publique". Website not available in 2020.
4. Association PASSEURS DE JARDINS (n.d). Guide "Végétalisation des rues de marseille & des Villes de l’espace littoral méditerranéen". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
5. Julia (2016). "Marseille adopte une charte pour que les habitants verdissent leurs rues". (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
6. Mon Jardin en Ville (Phone Application). Website not available in 2020.
7. La rédaction (2019). "Le Visa Vert, votre passeport pour végétaliser les rues de Marseille". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
8. Vaysse, Clémentine (2017). "Après un départ compliqué, la mairie tente de sauver son visa vert". Marsactu. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
2. Ville de Marseille (n.d ). "La Charte de végétalisation de l'espace publique Marseillais". Direction de l'Environment. (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
3. Ville de Marseille (n.d). "Example d'autorisation d'occupation temporaire de l'espace publique". Website not available in 2020.
4. Association PASSEURS DE JARDINS (n.d). Guide "Végétalisation des rues de marseille & des Villes de l’espace littoral méditerranéen". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
5. Julia (2016). "Marseille adopte une charte pour que les habitants verdissent leurs rues". (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
6. Mon Jardin en Ville (Phone Application). Website not available in 2020.
7. La rédaction (2019). "Le Visa Vert, votre passeport pour végétaliser les rues de Marseille". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
8. Vaysse, Clémentine (2017). "Après un départ compliqué, la mairie tente de sauver son visa vert". Marsactu. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 27, 2020).
https://madeinmarseille.net/54205-le-visa-vert-votre-passeport-pour-vegetaliser-les-rues-de-marseille/
https://madeinmarseille.net/54205-le-visa-vert-votre-passeport-pour-vegetaliser-les-rues-de-marseille/