Before cities can act to improve biodiversity, they need to know what ecosystems, species and pressures are present on their territory.
The Atlas for Biodiversity in Citiesinitiative from the French Biodiveristy Agency (OFB), or "ABCs", is a diagnostic tool and methodology to help volunteering cities map their biodiversity. It acts as a starting point for improving urban biodiversity, and can be followed by an adhesion to the TEN (Territories Engaged for Nature) initiative, which is a complementary initiative tosupport the cities themselves in the design and implementation of an action plan for biodiversity. The session will focus on the tools the OFB provides to improve nature in cities, and will be illustrated by the experience of cities which have used the ABC and TEN initiatives to start or strengthen their biodiveristy policies.
The session will start by a quick introduction on these initiatives to support cities, followed by tales of the project these initiatives have unlocked. These concrete experiences will include community action for increasing nature in cities, sensibilisation to environmental issues through hands-on practices for schools, restoration of critical ecosystems and protection of endangered species.
- Andréa Ferret-Lambert, French Biodiversity Agency
- Theophane You, City of La Roche sur Yon
- Guillaume Laval, City of Albi
- Cédric Devigne, City of Lille
Photo credit : Sophie Boisteau / Terra
