Business association or network

The creation of the AGOA Sanctuary was first envisioned in 2006, officially established in 2010, and continues to evolve as a vital initiative for marine conservation. Located in the waters of the French Antilles, the sanctuary encompasses the entire Exclusive Economic Zone of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthélemy. Spanning 143,256 square kilometers, it is the second-largest marine protected area in France, just behind the Coral Sea Natural Park in New Caledonia.
AGOA was established to ensure a favorable conservation status for marine mammals, aiming to protect both the species and their habitats through a combination of direct and indirect actions. The sanctuary’s long-term strategy is grounded in five core principles: reducing harmful interactions between human activities and marine mammals; enhancing scientific understanding of these species, their habitats, and the pressures they face; increasing public awareness and disseminating knowledge about the sanctuary; strengthening collaboration with governmental agencies for effective surveillance and enforcement; and fostering regional cooperation with Caribbean nations under the Cartagena Convention and its SPAW Protocol.
Together, these guiding principles reflect AGOA’s commitment to sustainable stewardship of marine biodiversity in the French Antilles, creating a lasting sanctuary for marine mammals in the Caribbean. (1, 2, 3)

This project involves collaboration among government, private, and educational entities focused on developing an agroforestry initiative that integrates economic activity, labor market integration, and educational opportunities for young children at the “Foyer de l’Espérance” [school and child welfare center] in Fort-de-France. The objective is to plant 1,500 cacao trees on the Foyer's premises by 2025. These trees will serve as pedagogical support for teachers and children. Planting activities commenced in 2022, and the first cacao pods are expected to mature in 2-3 years. Subsequently, these pods will be processed and transformed by the Martinican Lauzéa chocolate factory under the brand “Chocolat de l’Espérance” (Refs 2; 4).
The idea for this project emerged in June 2022 when young students engaged in a discussion about cocoa farming with Thierry Lauzéa during "Business Thursdays," organized by “Espérance Formation Insertion.” These meetings allow young beneficiaries to explore the business world and discuss their career paths with professionals. During one of these sessions, the young participants inquired about the origins of the cocoa used in Lauzéa's chocolates, leading to the concept of producing cocoa for the Frères Lauzéa company (Refs 3; 5).

Martinique is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 1,500 endemic plants, 70% of which are under threat from human activities. In response to these pressures, the Péyi Vert [Green Country] initiative was launched to plant endemic trees and strengthen the island's biodiversity. Beyond simply preserving species, these trees are crucial in maintaining healthy ecosystems, as they provide essential services such as carbon sequestration, shade, food for human consumption, soil decontamination, pollination, and protection against coastline erosion.
Launched in June 2020 by Entreprises et Environnement (EE), a not-for-profit business association representing 80 Martinican companies, the Péyi Vert initiative aims to plant 1 million native trees (either Martinican or Caribbean) over five years. It can be seen as a Martinique-wide strategy to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Péyi Vert facilitates connections between people who want to plant trees and Martinican companies that serve as financial sponsors. The initiative emphasizes conserving natural heritage by planting endangered species, as well as promoting native species that, while not necessarily threatened, provide valuable ecosystem services or contribute to biodiversity restoration.
Between 2020 and 2023, EE reported planting 50,000 trees (Refs 1, 4, 6, 7). Although individuals can make donations, Péyi Vert primarily seeks funding from companies looking to offset their carbon emissions or enhance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To achieve its goals, the initiative mainly collaborates with municipalities, companies, and farmers (Ref 3).

Herboristerie Créole, established in 2012 in Martinique by Séverine and Rémi Asensio, is a private farm and business focused on cultivating aromatic and medicinal plants, managing all stages of production, processing, and marketing. Situated in the commune of Gros-Morne, the farm draws on traditional Creole knowledge to produce medicinal plants and Creole cosmetics. Spanning 1.8 hectares, it is organized as a forest garden, featuring a diverse ecosystem that includes aromatic and medicinal plants, spices, fruit trees, and tropical flowers. Agroecological practices are central to its operation, with natural mulching from coconuts and green waste, and composting from the forest garden enriching the soil.
In addition, Herboristerie Créole operates a certified organic herbal dispensary in Saint Joseph, specializing in medicinal plants. The dispensary merges ancestral knowledge from the local "Rimèd Razié" tradition—a practice involving the use of native plants and natural remedies for healing, passed down through generations—with modern pharmaceutical standards. It produces a range of products, including herbal teas, infusions, spices, oils, and capsules for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.
The farm is instrumental in preserving and passing on ancestral knowledge, which was once banned during the period of slavery, while ensuring that its artisanal products comply with dosage and safety regulations. Located at the foot of the Carbet peaks, the farm holds the Biological Farming (AB) label and follows agroecological methods through its "Jardin Créole" approach. It avoids the use of phytosanitary products, aims for zero waste, and implements measures to preserve biodiversity. (ref. 1, 2, 5, 6)

The Ballymun City Farm project began as a grassroots initiative when local residents envisioned turning an underutilized green space into a vibrant community resource. Though initially rejected by the City Council, the project’s supporters recognized its potential to contribute to Ballymun’s environmental, social, and economic regeneration. With a vision to create something unique for the area, the farm was designed to foster community engagement, environmental education, and local sustainability. Over time, it has grown into more than just a recreational space—it has become a symbol of community resilience, offering people of all backgrounds and abilities a place to connect, learn, and grow together (4).
Situated on 6.6 acres provided by Dublin City Council, the farm aims to strengthen community bonds, enhance civic involvement, and combat social exclusion and isolation. It serves as both an educational and recreational space, providing opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds to engage with environmental topics, organic food production, native breed conservation, and traditional crafts. It is envisioned that the farm will include a designated ornamental garden, consisting of shrubs, flowers, grasses and bulbs, which will become a focal point for community activities/gatherings. In addition, we plan to install raised vegetable beds, fruit bushes.
Through urban food production and community gardens—effective tools for educating schoolchildren and engaging youth—the farm addresses the gap between food production and consumption, helping to increase appreciation for local food. Investments in green infrastructure like Ballymun City Farm also support urban and regional development, including the creation of jobs. (1, 2)

The Urban Oasis Playgrounds project focuses on creating a guide for green regeneration of playgrounds located all over Iasi by using natural climate solutions, with the potential for wider application beyond the city(1 to 6). The project's primary goal is to tackle pollution in playgrounds and address the overall lack of green spaces for children (1). This initiative is led by the NGO Civica in collaboration with the Municipality of Iași and the Architects Association in Iași (OAR) (1). The project secured €50,000 in funding after winning a competition organized by Raiffeisen Comunități, with support from the NGO "Asociația pentru Relații Comunitare" (2 & 3).
In addition to pollution, the project seeks to address other critical issues, such as the heat island effect and the proximity of playgrounds to risk-prone areas (1). The guide will be developed based on public consultations with Iași residents and a comprehensive study to tackle these concerns (1 to 7).
Currently, the first phase of the project is underway, involving assessments of various factors in playgrounds, including existing vegetation, shading, surface quality, infrastructure conditions, and pollution risks (4). These aspects are also reflected in a questionnaire distributed to the public, which gathers opinions on factors like cleanliness, noise exposure, thermal comfort, safety, and preferred natural green solutions (6).
The initiative aims to raise awareness about climate change, actively engaging the community in the process (4). Once completed, the guide will be presented to the municipality with the goal of being adopted as a standard for future playground developments (1, 3, 4, 6). The first phase of the project will regenerate a playground by planting trees and native vegetation (3).

In 2024, Ozanam (a housing private company) and the French Development Agency (AFD) formalized a partnership to modernize an ecological wastewater treatment plant in Saint-Joseph, a neighborhood in Fort de France. The project focuses on replacing an outdated 30-year-old installation that no longer meets current standards with a plant-based water filtration system based on the ‘Rhizosph’air’ patent. This innovative treatment process utilizes "filter gardens," which combine mechanical systems, a gravity network, and a phytoremediation approach. The system employs filters made of gravel and the roots of local plants, specifically Strelitzia reginae and Cyperus alternifolius, to naturally and effectively filter wastewater without odor (Refs 2, 3, 4).
The nature-based system purifies wastewater over an area of 2,000 square meters, with a capacity equivalent to serving 900 residents. This approach offers several advantages, including reduced maintenance costs due to its simplicity, decreased energy consumption compared to traditional treatment methods, and improved water quality released back into the environment (Ref 2). Beyond its technical efficiency, the filter gardens enhance biodiversity (Ref 2) by improving the quality of water discharged into the environment and providing habitats for various species. The solution also integrates seamlessly into the landscape, showcasing vibrant flowers native to the area (Ref 1).
Additionally, the project implementers plan to construct a walking path, provide recreational equipment, and install benches to encourage residents to utilize the area as a public green space (Refs 2, 5).

The project aims to protect seagrass meadows, which are vital habitats for the prey of resident dolphins and essential to the local fishing economy. The initiative involves local fisherwomen, called "Keepers of the Sea," in activities such as marine education, awareness campaigns, and monitoring the health of the seagrass meadows (Ref 1). Founded in 2015, Ocean Alive aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including ocean conservation, gender equality, quality education, and climate action (Ref 4). The project is supported by partnerships with UNESCO and other organizations, and it extends its efforts to Portuguese-speaking African countries. Ocean Alive’s activities also include advocacy for blue carbon ecosystems and programs that involve community engagement and social innovation (Ref 2, Ref 5).
One of several implementation projects targeted safeguarding the young seagrass meadow at Cambalhão Bay, at the entrance of the Sado estuary, as an Ocean Alive’s initiative in partnership with SeaTrees by Sustainable Surf (Ref. 2). The Cambalhão meadow is made up of 202 patches of seagrass. Unregulated shipping is one of the factors in the degradation of the prairie, and to protect it, Ocean Alive is running a campaign to raise awareness about recreational boating (Ref. 6).

The last large-scale park in Iași was opened in 1923, and since then, the city has lacked any significant new green spaces. With the European Union recommending at least 26 square meters of green space per resident and the city's increasing urban density, the need for a new park is undeniable.
To address this, the Municipality of Iași is launching its first major park project in over a century. The project aims to transform the current CTP depot (tram station) into a 4.5-hectare, accessible green space in a densely populated area with strong development potential. This new park is envisioned as a green oasis that will enhance residents' quality of life while promoting environmental sustainability and urban renewal.
The initiative has received widespread public support, with citizens proposing the creation of a local museum to honor the tram station’s historical significance—one of the oldest in the city, with over 100 years of history. A consultation process has been established, involving local residents, NGOs, and a group of experts, including urban planners, architects, and mobility and environment officials, all contributing to the planning stage. Public suggestions for the park include underground parking, recreational and exercise facilities, and a diverse range of vegetation. Ensuring accessibility for all citizens and visitors is also a key priority in the park's design.
The municipality has allocated 300,000 euros for a solutions contest to finalize the approach to redeveloping the tram station. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)

The Palas Campus project is a real estate investment by the private company IULIUS, involving the construction of a mixed-use development with integrated green elements, including a green terrace (1–3, 5). The project spans approximately 86,000 sq.m., of which 4,500 sq.m. are dedicated to green spaces (1–3, 5). In these green spaces, 200 trees and 7,000 bushes of various species were planted (1, 2). The landscape design was created by a team of international experts, with some plant species imported from Italy (1, 5). The primary goal of the project is urban regeneration in a specific district of the city, building on similar projects previously implemented by IULIUS (1, 2, 5). The Palas Campus landscape includes relaxation spaces and pedestrian walkways (1).
The buildings were designed to meet the standards for two green certifications: EDGE and LEED, both of which were awarded in 2024 (4, 6–10). The EDGE certification signifies a 20–40% reduction in energy and water use compared to standard buildings (4, 8). The LEED certification, awarded based on various sustainability criteria, saw Palas Campus achieve one of the highest scores (4, 9, 10). One key aspect of the certification was the reduction of the "heat island" effect (10).
The total cost of the project reached 120 million euros, with 3.8 million euros allocated to the green spaces (1, 2, 5). The project was partially financed by a 72 million euro "green" loan from the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, which also provided expertise to help secure the EDGE certification (6–8). The LEED certification was obtained with the support of the consulting firm BuildGreen (11).