Grandeur Nature Plan - Strasbourg

The “Grandeur nature” Plan (2016-2020) aims to preserve and intensify nature in Strasbourg, France and is implemented by the city and the local intermunicipal authority (Eurométropole). With this plan, the local authorities seek to provide solutions to the challenge of ecological transition by focusing on the issues of circular economy, the fight against biodiversity loss and CO2 emission reduction. The plan identifies four main axes of action: i) natural heritage to be transferred, ii) shared culture of nature, iii) sustainable land management, and iv) an exemplary and attractive city. In an extensive participatory approach, the plan interacts with local associations and citizens through different interfaces (e.g. workshops, online tools) which allow relevant local authorities to engage with local projects and undertake interventions based on proposals from the public.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Legislative, regulatory and strategic instruments›Dedicated strategy, plan, or law

Challenges addressed

Water management (e.g. reuse)
Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Flood risk: pluvial and fluvial / soil permeability
Social equity

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

The Grandeur Nature Plan supports the greening of Strasbourg, specifically through the Tissu Naturel Urbain (TNU) - a tool for identifying areas of vegetation that can further contribute to the ecological continuity of the territory. Priority areas for greening include: the greening of public spaces (preferably in the open ground), giving priority to a multi-strata approach (trees, shrubs, grass), and the greening of buildings, with priority given to public buildings. It further supports the implementation of Strasbourg's Trame Verte & Bleue (TVB, green and blue belt).

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Allotments, community gardens or agricultural areas

Green areas for water management

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Good practice characteristics:

Support multifunctional NBS

Sustainable in the long-term

Locally appropriate

Potential to be replicated / upscaled

Inclusivity

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

City of Strasbourg and Eurométropole de Strasbourg

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

From spring to autumn 2015, the city of Strasbourg and the Eurometropole of Strasbourg (local intermunicipal authority) initiated an intense phase of work and reflection mobilised a large number of people around the construction of the "Strasbourg Grandeur Nature" plan. This work was supported by a consultancy firm as part of a project management assistance. Throughout the process, priority was given to mobilising all stakeholders. The methods used to facilitate the process left room for everyone to participate and express themselves. Dedicated neighbourhood workshops were open to citizens and association representatives and a city-wide survey was conducted to retrieve the perception of nature in the city among the citizens. The participatory process further included the constitution of a working group and the organisation of thematic sessions to generate additional ideas.

Involvement of non-governmental actors:

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Citizens or community groups / NGOs

Type of actor involvement:

Co-planning or co-design of instrument (e.g. boards, advisory role)

Civil society consultation through e.g. workshops, surveys

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

One focus of the plan was to inform gardeners - particularly those in allotment gardens - on environmentally friendly gardening practices and to implement demonstration sites with amateur gardeners. With additional practical education formats, the plan also supported the establishment of new gardens. Based on the internet portal called "Citizen's observatory of wetlands in of Alsace" developed by Alsace Nature, restoration actions were implemented.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Implementation of NBS (e.g. with government funds)

Citizen monitoring and review

Citizen science

Targeted actors:

Private: household, real estate developer, business , financial

Researchers, university

Citizens or community groups (CBOs), NGOs

Financing

Sources of funding:

Public local authority’s budget

Budget:

100 000 € 500 000€

Details about instrument financing:

The budget for implementing the plan stemmed from earmarked public local authority budget.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

Key environmental impacts include improved waste management and stormwater management, increased area of green spaces, habitats and areas under conservation as well as increased species abundance. The plan further contributed to the improvement different social perspectives, especially concerning social justice (access to healthy/affordable food, involvement of locals, etc.), cultural heritage (protection of natural heritage and historic/cultural landscapes, etc.) and education. Finally, the plan contributed to an increase in sustainable agricultural production.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The extensive participation process that formed the plan has led to an increased effectiveness and ownership of the implemented activities. The workshops and plenary session not only brought together many actors across different sectors, but also interested citizens that were able to actively engage and contribute to design concrete activities.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Macrotrends (2022). Strasbourg, France Metro Area Population 1950-2022. https://www.macrotrends.net/cities/20994/strasbourg/population (accessed 24 August 2022)

Eurométropole of Strasbourg (2016). Strasbourg Grandeur Nature, Plan a'actions 2016-2020. pp.84.

Urban Nature Atlas (2022): The Strasbourg Grandeur Nature Plan. https://una.city/nbs/strasbourg/strasbourg-grandeur-nature-plan (accessed 25 August 2022)

Photos

@Chan Lee auf Unsplash