"Strasbourg grows" community-based agreement - Strasbourg

@https://www.europtimist.eu/2022/02/strasbourg-distinguee-commune-nature/

Launched in 2017, the "Strasbourg grows" programme ("Strasbourg ça pousse") supports residents in urban greening and farming projects in public spaces in Strasbourg, France. The community-based agreement is supported by one main tool: the website www.strasbourgcapousse.eu. The website serves as a single portal for citizen greening and is the tool with which residents can apply to the programme with their project proposals. Residents can propose their urban greening and farming project within six categories: climbing plants on facades, gardening at the base of a tree, demineralising a sidewalk, family gardens, communal gardens, or urban community gardens. The projects are validated by a committee composed of relevant departments and chaired by the nature in the city councilor. A response is provided within three months. Once the project is approved, depending on type of project, residents must comply with the Zero Pesticide and Local Planting approaches by signing the Charter of the urban gardener, the Charter for vines/creepers, the Regulation for traditional gardens, the Regulation for semi-developed allotment gardens, the communal gardens Convention, the Regulation for urban community gardens, and/or the Charter for the consideration of chiropterans & breeding birds. The website also provides interested citizens with a map showing the nature areas in the city, displayed according to type (tree roots, pavements, facades, family gardens, shared gardens, free picking, etc.).

Overview

Type of instrument:

Agreement-based or cooperative instrument›Community-based agreement with the support of the government

Challenges addressed

Ecologic connectivity
Soil quality
Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Watershed restoration/water quality
Drought and fire risk
Flood risk: pluvial and fluvial / soil permeability
Heat stress and heat island effect
Air quality
Social cohesion
Social equity
Nature appropriation / stewardship
Reconnection to the biosphere / environmental education
Human health, comfort and well-being

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

The agreement specifies six categories of projects that are eligible, namely: climbing plants on facades, gardening at the base of a tree, demineralising a sidewalk, family gardens, communal gardens, or urban community gardens. Associated actions to vegetate walls, trees, sidewalks and open public spaces allow the development of the green grid in the city. The corresponding blend of green spaces or nature also fosters the movement of fauna and flora. Greening public spaces in Strasbourg also has many additional benefits, such as the reduction of heat islands, the reduction of particle pollution, and the creation of social spaces for the community.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Allotments, community gardens or agricultural areas

Derelict areas

External building greens

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Good practice characteristics:

Effective

Support multifunctional NBS

Locally appropriate

Potential to be replicated / upscaled

Inclusivity

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

Urban Planning and Territories Department of the Strasbourg and the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg (Direction urbanisme et territoires de la Ville et l'Eurométropole de Strasbourg)

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The Urban Planning and Territories Department of the Strasbourg and the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg (La Direction urbanisme et territoires de la Ville et l’Eurométropole de Strasbourg) initiated the instrument .

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

Requests by interested residents to carry out a nature-based solution are evaluated by representatives of the Municipal Public and Natural Spaces Department and the Urban Planning and Territories Department. They are then proposed for arbitration to the "Strasbourg grows" commission, chaired by the Deputy Mayor and composed of the following members: The elected representative of nature in the city, neighbourhood representatives under the Urban Planning and Territories Department, a representative from the municipal environmental services, a representative for the municipal green spaces and nature services (responsible for urban planning and public species), a representative of the built environment police, a representative from educational services if relevant, and an architect from the "Batîments de France" (according to availability).

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

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

Targeted actors:

Private: household, real estate developer, business , financial

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 local authority finances the construction works in the public space to make it ready for greening. The municipality has a budget of 100,000€ to demineralise the pavements. Additionally, a specific budget is dedicated to communication (approximately 30,000 €/year). Construction works are done by the municipal services for natural and public spaces. Signage to identify the projects are also provided by the municipality. The local authority provides residents with seeds that can be seeded on walls or by trees (within the limits of available stocks), but ornamental planting must be provided by the project owners. The total budget is 130,000€/year.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

The policy instrument supports multiple nature-based solutions simultaneously which serves to mitigate the heat island effect, foster biodiversity and ecologic connectivity, and strengthen social cohesion. There is no evidence available on the impacts of the programme regarding implemented projects, but more broadly Strasbourg has a significant of community gardens (4700) and family gardens (4600) contributing to its green grid.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The online platform for project application and implementation process can be replicated in other cities. The designated funding for a communication campaign has been a contributing factor for the successful uptake of the programme and use of the funds. Funding the signs of the individual projects is valuable as it draws attention to the available funds and increase awareness of the initiative, by inspiring and motivating more people to participate.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Biodiv'ille. (n.d.) Strasbourg ca pousse, Une démarche qui invite les Strasbourgeois à jardiner leur ville ! France. Available at: http://www.biodiville.org/arkotheque/client/gdie/fiches_experiences/detail_fiche_experience.php?ref=524&titre=strasbourg-ia-pousse Strasbourg.eu. (n.d.) Accueil. Available at: https://www.strasbourgcapousse.eu/ Strasbourg.eu. (n.d.) Chartes. Available at: https://www.strasbourgcapousse.eu/chartes/ Strasbourg.eu. (n.d.) Foire aux questions. Available at: https://www.strasbourgcapousse.eu/faq/ Capitales Francaises de la Biodiversité (n.d.). Strasbourg ca pousse. Available at: http://www.capitale-biodiversite.fr/experiences/strasbourg-ca-pousse

Photos

@https://www.europtimist.eu/2022/02/strasbourg-distinguee-commune-nature/