French volunteers are using a pioneering Japanese tree-planting method to create small forests in Paris, hoping to curb climate change, create biodiversity hotspots and combat the increasing number of heatwaves in the capital.
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On a humid Saturday afternoon in a southern suburb of Paris, a 9-year-old boy wields a shovel to plant a seedling on a strip of abandoned land.
It is not much taller than the sapling you are planting. The afternoon rain had turned the ground beneath him to mud. He throws the shovel aside and cleans the clay soil with his hands.
Together with his proud grandmother and fellow volunteers, he is immersed in planting a mini forest, also known as a pocket forest, along a busy road in the Chevilly-Larue district, 9.3 kilometers south of central Paris. .
French non-profit Boomforestorganized a tree planting initiative, attracting a dozen volunteers of all ages, dressed in hats and boots as they braved the cold and rain.
Grazia Valle, 79, a former journalist, said she "seized the opportunity to do something concrete" on climate change and showed her grandson how to plant trees.
"He loves to go tocommunity gardenhe said, casting an affectionate look in her direction. "Whenever I take care of him, he is always clamoring to go there."
"Not all children have the opportunity to see how vegetables grow and taste them," he said, applauding the initiative. "We are very interested in everything that has to do with nature."
Maxim Timothée, 31, was happy to be outdoors and was motivated by the simple and symbolic act of planting a tree.
“It's really special to plant a tree,” he said, pausing briefly before cutting through the wet clay. “It is not just an object. I feel connected to the life of this tree. I want to protect you. I planted".
Despite the gloomy atmosphere, Timothée said it felt good to take action, instead of sitting at home thinking about life's problems.of Climate Changeand the sharp fallbiodiversity.
The Miyawaki method
Miniwoods were first developed in the 1970s byJapanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, who studied the relics of centuries-old forests that grew around temples and sacred shrines.
Miyawakihe found that they not only thrived without human intervention, but were richer and more resilient than more recently planted forests.
don't givestudy of ancient primary forests, Miyawaki said the densely planted native species, grown on carefully prepared soil at four different elevations to provide multiple layers of cover, grew up to 10 times faster and sequestered more carbon than standard managed forests.
Miyawaki went on to monitor the planting of more than 1,500 forests around the world, stating that a forest as small as 100 square meters could harbor exceptional levels ofbiodiversity.
Miyawaki Forest Defendershe adapted his methodsand transported them around the world as cities seek to halt the effects of climate change, restore degraded land, create biodiversity hotspots and sequester greater amounts of carbon.
Forests the size of tennis courts have been planted in Beirut, in cities across Asia,all over india, and increasingly throughout Europe.
Paris planted its first mini-forest at the northern end of the city's ring road, at Porte de Montreuil, in March 2018, with the French capital's Boomforest concession.participatory budget.
“Ninety-five percent of the trees planted there survived,” says Guillaume Dozier, 33, a regular Boomforest volunteer, as he loads compost into a wheelbarrow to cover the soil around the newly planted seedlings.
“They are already almost four or five meters high,” he says with satisfaction, adding that the biodiversity of the mini-forest is increasing.
“Every time we go there, we notice more and more insects and birds that weren't there before,” says Dozier, explaining that they were putting a program in place to monitor the species gathered there.
The roads are "an extremely hostile environment" for birds and insects, Dozier says of the traffic noise, explaining that the Val de Marne authorities gave them the land next to the road to plant the new forest.
By recreating the same richness and density as a wild forest, the new trees will provide shelter for hundreds of small mammals, insects and birds, Dozier continues.
Unlike artificial forests planted for timber production, where trees are arranged in neat rows and planted 10 meters apart, trees in Miyawaki forests are planted close to each other.
Up to three trees per square meter were being planted randomly along the road, with the young, spindly seedlings clustered together.
It has been shown that planting a single tree hasthe same cooling effect as 10 air conditioners.Buttrees are socialand they do much better when planted in the company of other trees, explains Dozier.
“They will shade each other and will be able to exchange water, nutrients and information. If one of them is under attack, they can warn the others. For example, they bitter their leaves to make them less edible for the invader,” he says.
All seedlings are local French species. By location, the city of Paris defines native French plants as those found in the region before AD 1500. C., explains Hannah Lewis in her book: “Miniforest Revolution: using the Miyawaki method to revolutionize the world”. But the Boomforest team did additional research to ensure that their trees and shrubs were the most locally adapted species and coexisted well.
Oak, ash, beech and willow trees are planted in the center, while shrubs such as hazelnut, holly and chickadee are planted at the edges. Only 15 different plant species were planted that weekend, but as many as 31 local trees and shrubs were planted in other Boomforest projects.
Pocket woods in Paris
Advocates of small forests also hope they can make a dense city like Paris more livable in the heat.
In the summer of 2022, Paris suffered three successive heat waves for a total of 33 days, with temperatures in the French capital reaching near-record highs of 40 degrees Celsius.
The lack of trees, the shade and the peace they provide – Parishas about 9% tree cover—It was remarkable when the city turned into a furnace.
Parisians withered on the city's paved streets as the asphalt, concrete and metal of the buildings absorbed the heat and returned it.
The City of Paris haspledged to plant 170,000 trees in the French capital by 2026. More to go from 76old banana trees in april last year, to make way for landscaped spaces, drew the ire of environmentalists, includingcitizen treesmio GNSA, groups that fight against the felling of trees.
Green activists also say that newly planted seedlings arethere is no competition for the cover provided by a decade-old tree, is thatyoung trees are particularly vulnerable to drought.
Critics of the Miyawaki-style forestadd that mini-forests areexpensive to plantand that the science behind planting them in Europenot robust enough. AND2010 study of a mini-forest in Sardinia, one of the rare studies of mini-forests in Europe, put the tree mortality rate after 12 years at between 61 and 84 percent.
Despite the apparent enthusiasm of the Parisian authorities for planting trees, Dozier admitted that it was difficult to find space for them in the center of the city.
“Paris is a bit like a museum,” he said wryly, adding that mini-forests have only been planted at the city gates, at La Porte Maillot and La Porte des Lilas.
He hopes that one day they will have the opportunity to plant a mini forest in the heart of Paris, adding that they are adapting their tree planting methods and learning all the time. He also hopes that others will decide to plant their own pocket forests and that those anxious about climate change will be encouraged to take action. Downloadable step-by-step instructions for forest planting are described inI act I plant(I act, I plant), on the Boomforest website, and other mini-forestry groups in France, such asMiniBosqueGrandemiToulouse in transition.
By late afternoon, the rain had picked up. But the enthusiasm of the volunteers showed no signs of waning. Almost half of the 250 square meters they wanted to reforest that weekend had been dug up and planted with seedlings. When Boomforest's budget allows, they hope to return to planting more on the 800 square meters they are allotted.
Over the next few months, in the spring and then in the fall, regular Boomforest volunteers will return to the newly planted forest to remove any undergrowth that might compete with the young trees and monitor their progress.
In just three years, the new forest will be autonomous. In 10 years, Boomforest hopes it will look like a 100-year-old natural forest.
Valla hopes her grandson will return to the woods in the spring and for years to come.
“I hope he comes here to walk around and say, 'Hey, I really did something here.'
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What has France done to reduce climate change? ›
In 2019, France passed the Law on Energy and Climate to introduce the objective of carbon neutrality by 2050 as part of its commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement.
What are the French doing about climate change? ›The Paris Agreement on climate change, under France's presidency, was negotiated and agreed in 2015 at COP21. France subsequently set a law to have a net zero atmospheric greenhouse gas emission (carbon neutrality) by 2050.
What is Paris doing to help the environment? ›Paris plans to plant 170,000 new trees by 2026 to help the city keep cool and fight climate change. Other cities working on urban greening initiatives include Seoul, Singapore, London and Curitiba in Brazil. The 1t.org initiative aims to grow, restore and conserve 1 trillion trees around the world.
How can the planting of new trees help reduce climate change *? ›Trees are natural carbon capture and storage machines, absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere through photosynthesis then locking it up for centuries. It's why reforestation and afforestation are touted as key solutions to the climate crisis.
How does the Paris Agreement slow down climate change? ›The Agreement includes commitments from all countries to reduce their emissions and work together to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and calls on countries to strengthen their commitments over time.
How has Paris become more sustainable? ›Extended metro train and tram lines are allowing more people to use the trains to move in, out and around the city. The number of cycle routes and parking spaces for bikes has also increased, making it much safer and more convenient for cyclists on the road.
What's in the Paris Agreement on climate change? ›The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
What is Paris biggest concern? ›...
In your opinion, what is the major challenge facing Paris today?
The problem is that the nationally determined contributions (the commitments) are not. Scientists predict that, even if the countries in the Paris Agreement honor their carbon reduction commitments, the Earth's temperature will increase by 3 degrees Celsius by the end of century compared to pre-industrial levels.
Is the Paris Agreement enough to prevent climate change? ›Governments generally agree on the science behind climate change but have diverged on who is most responsible, how to track emissions-reduction goals, and whether to compensate harder-hit countries. Experts say the Paris Agreement is not enough to prevent the global average temperature from rising 1.5°C.
How Paris plans to become Europe's greenest city? ›
In a new attempt to make France's capital greener and more pleasant to live in, Paris' mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced the development of a new green belt around the city. By deleting part of the péréphérique (the ring road) and planting 50.000 trees, she wants to create 10 hectares of green.
How Paris plans to become Europe's greenest city by 2030? ›The plans include reducing the number of car lanes from four to two, creating new pedestrian and green areas, and planting 'tree tunnels' that improve air quality along the 1.9km-long avenue.
What is the best tree to plant for climate change? ›Broadleaved species – such as oak, beech and maple – are best because they have a larger surface area of leaves which generates more photosynthesis, whereas conifers absorb more heat.
Is the United States planting trees? ›The US is aiming to plant 1 billion trees over the next 10 years to help tackle global warming. Other projects of significant scale include 1T.org, a scheme to plant 1 trillion trees worldwide by 2030.
What can I plant to help climate change? ›Forsythia, Spiraea, Eucalyptus, hydrangea, willow, blue fescue, lamb's ear.
Which country is doing the best for climate change? ›Based on the 2022 Climate Change Performance Index, Denmark was ranked as the country with the highest achievement in climate protection, followed by Sweden.
What country is most affected by climate change? ›...
- Afghanistan. ...
- Bangladesh. ...
- Chad. ...
- Haiti. ...
- Kenya. ...
- Malawi. ...
- Niger. ...
- Pakistan.
To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C – as called for in the Paris Agreement – emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
Is Paris the greenest city in the world? ›Ranking #1 on Essential Living's Green City Index, Paris is the greenest city in Europe!
Are French people eco friendly? ›In many ways, France is considered a world leader when it comes to sustainable initiatives. It is consistently ranked as one of the most sustainable nations in Europe and the world, due to its emphasis on green initiatives and its openness to rethinking unsustainable infrastructure and practices.
Why is France the most sustainable country in the world? ›
Every year, consumers in France waste 67.2 kg of food per person compared to 95.1 kg in the United States, 87.1 kg in Belgium and 78.2 kg in Canada.
What are the three pillars of the Paris climate agreement? ›Accordingly, trust and mutual confidence in the Paris Agreement will come from three key pillars: its legal nature, the effectiveness of the agreement and participation by all countries.
What are the five main points of the Paris Agreement? ›- Limit temperature rise 'well below' 2 C. ...
- First universal climate agreement. ...
- Helping poorer nations. ...
- Publishing greenhouse gas reduction targets. ...
- Carbon neutral by 2050?
As of September 2022, 193 states and the EU, representing over 98% of global greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified or acceded to the Agreement, including China and the United States, the countries with the 1st and 2nd largest CO2 emissions among UNFCCC members.
What is the leading cause of death in Paris? ›| FRANCE | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause Of Death | Rnk | Summary |
| Coronary Heart Disease | 1 | - 72,906 |
| Alzheimers & Dementia | 2 | + 11,217 |
| Stroke | 3 | - 7,128 |
- Making new friends. This is probably the case anywhere, especially if you arrive in a new city. ...
- The weather. ...
- Lack of Airconditioning. ...
- High Sales Taxes. ...
- The amount of time it takes to get a job and leave a job. ...
- Presenteeism in the WorkPlace. ...
- Strikes all the time. ...
- France is closed on Sunday.
The most common type of crime tourists in Paris might encounter is pickpocketing—I've written extensively about pickpockets in Europe if you want to learn more. In fact, Paris consistently ranks as one of the top five European cities for pickpocketing incidents.
Has the US ratified the Paris climate agreement? ›What Is the Paris Agreement? The PA exists under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The United States ratified the UNFCCC in 1992 with the advice and consent of the Senate.
What happens if we dont meet the Paris Agreement? ›If by 2030 we do not reach the Paris Agreement's targets, we are facing up to 2.7 degrees Celsius in global warming. This warming means far more erratic weather conditions and global temperature records being reached.
Which country has not signed the Paris Agreement for climate change? ›The only countries which have not ratified are some greenhouse gas emitters in the Middle East: Iran with 2% of the world total being the largest. Eritrea, Libya and Yemen have also not ratified the agreement.
Is the Paris Agreement actually effective? ›
The Paris Agreement significantly lowered global projected temperature rise from 7° Fahrenheit to 5° Fahrenheit (3.9° Celsius to 2.8°Celsius). Less climate devastation will occur thanks to this agreement.
Is the Paris Agreement a success or failure? ›The Paris Agreement is a means, not an end. Turning this global institutional context into an effective global response to climate change requires ambitious national action. The Paris Agreement will succeed in the broader sense if states ramp up the ambition and implementation of their climate plans.
What countries are failing the Paris Agreement? ›None of the world's biggest emitters — China, the United States, the European Union and India — have reduced their emissions enough to meet the Paris Agreement goals.
What is the most sustainable city in the world going green? ›Copenhagen, Denmark
This is one of the most energy-efficient and sustainable cities in the whole world. It has a Carbon Neutral by 2025 Plan that, as the name suggests, aims for it to become the first city to achieve carbon neutrality by that year.
Chesapeake, Virginia, brings home the gold with the highest total green area per capita out of the cities in our ranking. Jacksonville, Florida (No. 2), has the highest park acreage, followed by Chesapeake. With more than 400 public green spaces, Jacksonville runs the largest urban park system in the nation.
Will Paris be affected by climate change? ›For, unsurprisingly, heatwaves will be increasingly common in the decades to come, and torrential rain will be more frequent, sometimes causing floods. Conversely, other hazards will diminish: snow, freezing rain and extreme cold.
Does Paris have a lot of green space? ›Paris has plenty of green spaces for getting out in the fresh air! Whether they be royal, secret, places to stroll, or picnic, Paris's many parks and gardens offer lots of variety and can be found in all parts of the capital!
What Paris has been doing to ensure their tourism industry remains sustainable? ›Paris relishes local products and significantly reduces transport-related CO2 emissions by supporting local organic markets and environmental projects like Pollinate Paris' La Banque du Miel – Honey Bank — which raises awareness of the ecosystem degradation and the drastic decline in bee populations, and honey from ...
What is France doing to reduce emissions? ›He also announced earlier this year that France will build six new nuclear reactors as part of the country's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. France's nuclear power provides about 67% of French electricity, more than any other country.
What is France doing to be more sustainable? ›In an effort to reduce air travel and encourage train travel, France has been given the green light by the EU in December 2022 to ban short haul domestic flights between cities that are linked by a train journey of less than 2.5 hours.
What is France doing to reduce plastic waste? ›
To tackle these environmental and social issues, France adopted its comprehensive Anti-waste Law in 2020. The law aims to eliminate waste and pollution from the design stage and transform the system of production, distribution, and consumption from a linear to a circular economic model.
How much has France reduced carbon emissions? ›France's GHG emissions increased by 6.4% in 2021 to 418 MtCO2eq. France's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions except LULUCF rose by 6.4% to 418 MtCO2eq in 2021, after a 9.6% drop in 2020, according to preliminary figures from Citepa, representing a 23% decline compared to 1990 levels.
What is the most sustainable country in Europe? ›Germany was the top recycler of municipal waste in the European Union in 2020 - the last year for which data exists - with an estimated recycling rate of 67 per cent. Just eight EU countries have a recycling rate higher than 50 per cent.
Why France is almost empty? ›France's countryside started emptying out around the middle of the 19th century, prompted by industrialization, urbanization, and low fertility rates. Those phenomena hit France earlier than most other European countries. Why? In a word: Paris.
How can I help the environment in France? ›- recycler "to recycle" Je recycle un maximum. ...
- bénévole "volunteer" ...
- protéger "to protect" ...
- réutiliser "to reuse" ...
- réduire les déchets "to reduce trash" ...
- respecter l'environnement "to care for the environment" ...
- utiliser des produits écologiques "to use eco-friendly products" ...
- faire du vélo "to cycle"
The detailed roadmap includes measures to phase out single-use plastics and targets for cutting plastic production, reduce plastic waste destined for landfills, and boost recycling efforts (with specific targets like 85% of agricultural plastic film to be recycled).
Why did China stop recycling plastic? ›China's imports of waste – including recyclables – has been in decline over the last year. Imports of scrap plastic have almost totally stopped due to the trade war. China said that most of the plastic was garbage, and too dirty to recycle.
How is Paris reducing pollution? ›Since 2014, the City of Paris has been taking action to tackle sources of air pollution, notably by promoting public transportation and various forms of non-motorized mobility to reduce traffic, and by implementing one of the first Zones à Faibles Émissions (Low Emission Zones) in France.
What country has the lowest carbon emissions? ›But did you know that three of the world's smallest nations – Bhutan, Suriname and Panama – stood out from the rest by showing that they absorb more greenhouse gas than they emit? The only three to seal the Carbon Negative Alliance in Glasgow, they have been dubbed 'the holy trinity of negative carbon' by many.
Which country has the highest effective carbon rate? ›Prices of implemented carbon taxes worldwide 2022, by country. As of April 1, 2022, Uruguay had the highest carbon tax rate worldwide at 137 U.S. dollars per metric ton of CO2 equivalent (USD / tCO2e).
Which country is responsible for 30% of world carbon emissions? ›
However, most of this pollution comes from just a few countries: China, for example, generates around 30% of all global emissions, while the United States is responsible for almost 14%.