1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Fort-de-France (FUA)
Region
Latin America and the Caribbean
Native title of the NBS intervention
Cacaoyère de l'Espérance
Short description of the intervention
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).
Website of the intervention
https://esperance.apprentis-auteuil.org/2022/10/03/inauguration-de-la-cacaoyere…
Principal problems
Environmental Degradation
Deforestation and forest degradation
Land use and Socio-economic change
Agriculture/ crop production
Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods
Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
Loss of sense of place and identity
Implementation area characterization
Climate
Tropical (Tropican rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna)
Ecosystem
Tropical rainforest
Address

Rue Adolphe Trillard
97200 Fort-de-France
Martinique

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary (map-based)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google Maps. (2024). "Foyer de l'espérance", retrieved from (accessed 26.09.2024): https://www.google.es/maps/place/Foyer+de+l'esp%C3%A9rance/@14.6269763,-61.0460344,1433m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x8c6aa11c43e94745:0xec85e0aa0e90b963!8m2!3d14.6252066!4d-61.044396!16s%2Fg%2F11g_xqk87f?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Area description
Periurban (both urban and rural environments are present)
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
-Forested area owned by the Foyer. (1)
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2022
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2022
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
Developing a sustainable economic activity around agroforestry: generating income from planting trees and creating a sustainably produced product.
Pedagogy: educating young children on the environment, forest ecology and cacao farming.
Social exclusion: mitigating factors of social exclusion of children and youth by providing engaging educational support with labour market relevance.
Integrating people to the labour market (Ref 1; 2; 3; 4)
Key Priorities
Social Justice and community
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social cohesion
Social justice and equity
Environmental education
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: agriculture
Employment/job creation
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable production
Implementation activities and NBS focus
Implementation activities
In June 2022, during "Business Thursdays," discussions between Thierry Lauzéa and young students sparked the idea for the cacao project. Following this, the Lauzéa company and the Foyer de l’Espérance reached an agreement to develop the cacao farm, with support from the DEETS (Martinican Department of Economics, Employment, Work, and Solidarity) for its labor market integration component. Additionally, the Entreprise & Environment’s "Péyi Vert" initiative facilitated a network of funders and nurseries for cacao seedlings.
The project officially began on Friday, September 30, 2022, when stakeholders gathered to inaugurate the cacao farm, and students planted the first 50 cacao trees. Lauzéa then organized workshops to explain the cacao production process, from field cultivation to the final product in shops. By July 1, 2023, students had completed the plantation of 500 cacao trees for the academic year 2022-2023. Over the next two years, 1,000 additional trees are expected to be planted.
The first cacao harvest is anticipated to occur 2 to 3 years after planting. Once ready, Lauzéa will harvest and process the cacao pods, transforming them into chocolate. (Ref. 1-6)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments)
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks)
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Protection of agroecology approaches (agroforestry & silvopastoral systems)
Educational and awareness raising programs
Improved governance of green or blue areas
Introduction of NBS governance practices involving marginalised groups
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Community gardens and allotments
Other
Parks and urban forests
Other
Please specify "other parks or (semi)natural urban green area"
-Cacao farm on forested area of educational institution (Ref.1)
Please specify "other allotments and community gardens"
Agroforestry (Ref.1)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Design elements for well-being
None of the above
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Cultural services
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
The Foyer de l'Esperance is composed of an elementary school, a traditional and a professional high school, a church and a boarding school. It serves as an educational, social integration and child welfare centre. For instance, the school is accredited as a Social Children's Homes (MECS), it has the capacity to welcome 90 young males aged between 6 and 21. These young men are received after being found in difficult situations such as domestic violence (physical, sexual or psychological), psychological or psychiatric problems of the parents, alcoholism or drug addiction problems, serious family conflicts, educational deficiencies, etc (Ref 7; 8).
Socio-economic profile of the area
Mixed income
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Unknown
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Specify primary beneficiaries
-Children and young adults enrolled with at the Espérance educational institution: "The establishment wanted to install a cocoa farm, managed by the employees in integration and by the students themselves, with the aim of responsibilising them" (Ref 2); "This is a real commitment on the part of the young beneficiaries of Espérance PSL as well as the employees" (Ref 3).
Marginalized groups
Children, young people or youth groups
Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups
-Tree-planting is undertaken by schoolchildren (Ref 2).
-Workshops on forest ecology and cacao farming are given out to young people (Ref 3).
-Paid trained opportunities are given out to young adults aiming to enter the labour market (Ref 3).
Other beneficiaries
Native plant vegetation
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The project was initiated by the Espérance Martinique and the Frères Lauzéa, private company. The idea came during a “Business Thursdays”, organised by Espérance, bringing young people and Thierry Lauzéa together. The project then entered into a convention with Entreprises & Environment, a business network who helps with funding and plant-nurseries. The Club Med Foundation provided at least ⅔ of the tree donations. The tree planting was implemented by the schoolchildren and paid trainees. . The Lauzea company will take-over processing . L’Espérance via its affiliation with the Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil, a catholic foundation aiming to integrate the most vulnerable youth received the financial support of the DEETS (Martinican Department of Employment and Work) for the labour market integration dimension. In this project public and private actors agreed to share the risks and responsibilities (Ref 1-4; 6).
Key actors - initiating organization
Public sector institution
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Regional government
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Business association or network
Private foundation/trust
Stages of citizen and community engagement
Development of project proposal
On-the-ground implementation
Level of citizen and community engagement
High
Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives
Implementation of educational programs, workshops or trainings
Formation of community-led groups responsible for the the implementation, maintenace or monitoring of the project
Establishment of mentorship programs or partnerships with local institutions (e.g. schools, kinder gardens, hospitals, nursing homes)
Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Co-management/Joint management
Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")
Community & Social Groups
Churches and other religious organisations or faith communities
Youth-led organizations/ citizens
Public Services
Schools
Land owners
Educational actor (schools or universities)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers & Barriers
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships)
City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city
Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.
-City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city:
The Péyi Vert initiative aims to plant 1 million trees in Martinique by 2025, over an area of ​​1,000 hectares spread across Martinique. To reach this vision, they facilaite the connection between offsetting companies (funders) and implementors of tree-planting projects (Ref 2).
Governance innovation: The project was initiated by the Espérance Martinique (public school) and the Frères Lauzéa, private company. (Ref.1)
Governace and decison-making instruments
Public - private business agreement (e.g. public private collaborations, public-private-partnerships (PPP))
Arrangements for governance cooperation
Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) or agreements (e.g. among local governance and other actors outlining project roles and responsibilities of project implementation)
Capacity-building initiatives for governance actors (e.g. training workshops for local government officials/ community leaders)
Barriers
-None reported.
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Please specify total cost (EUR)
If the cost of one tree is estimated at 40 euros (Ref 9) and the project involves planting 1500 trees (Ref 1) then the cost of the project can be estimated at over 6000 euros, this estimation does not account for the financial support provided by the DEETS.
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
At least 6000 euros
Source(s) of funding
Public regional budget
Private Foundation/Trust
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Donations
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of land
Provision of labour
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
Unknown
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Yes
What entrepreneurship opportunities have arisen from the NBS project?
Sustainable agriculture or agroforestry businesses
Social enterprises focused on environmental education or natural resource conservation and stewardship
What types of actors are leading the entrepreneurship activities linked to the NBS project?
Local community groups/ citizens
Private sector companies engaging in community-led initiatives
What types of support are provided to entrepreneurs engaged in NBS-related activities?
Financial assistance (e.g., grants, loans, equity investments)
Access to specialized facilities or equipment
Business models
Business models
Local stewardship model
Green education model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private for-profit actor (e.g. firm, insurer)
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased number of species present
Achieved increased number of species present
Expected increased number of species present
Description of environmental benefits
-Achieved increased number of species present/-Expected increased number of species present:
"On Saturday, July 1, 2023, the Francophone Solidarity Association participated in the planting of 200 young cocoa trees in the Espérance school in Fort-de-France, as well as in raising awareness among its students, during a day organized by the Entreprises & Environnement association"; "On this first day of July, it is the school party for the primary school children of Saint Jean-Paul II de l'Espérance Patronage Saint-Louis. On this occasion, the students planted 100 cocoa trees in order to complete the first plantation of 2022 (with 500 cocoa trees planted). There will remain 400 cocoa trees to be planted in 2023 as part of the agreement signed with Péyi Vert in order to finalize this 2nd phase of planting. A big thank you to the Club Med Foundation which offered a total of 1,000 trees as part of the Péyi Vert program." (Ref 6).
Environmental impact indicators
Other indicators
Trees planted : 500. 1000 more trees expected to be planted by 2025 (Ref 6)
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Generation of income from NBS
Expected generation of income from NBS
Description of economic benefits
-Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions):
"The establishment wanted to install a cocoa plantation, managed by employees in integration" (Ref 2).
-Expected generation of income from NBS:
"The pods will then be processed by Frères Lauzéa: from the manufacture to the sale of chocolate bars called “the chocolate of Esperance" (Ref 1).
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
Description of social and cultural benefits
-Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces:
"According to this dynamic, ecology takes a special place. This is why in 2022, the establishment wanted to install a cocoa farm, managed by the employees in integration and by the students themselves" (Ref 2).
-Achieved increased support for education and scientific research:
"This great initiative has the merit of bringing young people together around an educational project".
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Cost-benefit analysis
Unknown
Transparency
Unknown
Justice
Community satisfaction
Unknown
Trade-offs & Negative impacts
Offsetting
Carbon offsets *
Biodiversity offsetting *
Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected
-Péyi Vert is predominantly funded via private company offsetting: "As a committed company, you want to:"[..] "reduce your carbon footprint through reforestation offsets" (Ref 11).
Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices
No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project
Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement
No initiatives or policies were implemented
High-quality & Transformative NBS
Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)
No
Goal setting and impacts delivery
No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas.
Reaching original project goals
Most of the project goals were achieved
Please specify the achievements of the project goals
Social justice and community:
-Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces:
"According to this dynamic, ecology takes a special place. This is why in 2022, the establishment wanted to install a cocoa farm, managed by the employees in integration and by the students themselves" (Ref 2).
-Achieved increased support for education and scientific research:
"This great initiative has the merit of bringing young people together around an educational project".
Long-term perspective
Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability.
Cost-effective solutions
Unknown
Equitable impacts
A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project
Transformative capacity
Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them)
Magnitude of change
Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation
Application of lessons learned
Unknown
Perception of Environmental Change
Unknown
References
1.
L'Espérance Apprentis d'Auteuil (2022). Inauguration de la cacaoyère de l’Espérance. esperance.apprentis-auteuil.org, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
2.
Francophone Solidarité (2024). ACTION DE TERRAIN – Plantation de 200 Cacaoyers avec des jeunes de Martinique. francophone-solidarite.org, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
3.
Régis, L. (2022). Foyer de l'Espérance : du cacao pour donner le goût d'apprendre. viaatv.tv, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
Antilla Martinique (2022). Actualité Inauguration de la cacaoyère de l’Espérance : Un véritable engagement. antilla-martinique.com, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
Popincourt, S. (2022). Une cacaoyère au foyer de l'Espérance. martinique.franceantilles.fr, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
Péyi Vert (2023). Edition 2023 pour la Cacaoyère de l’Espérance. peyivert.com, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
7.
Action Sociale (n.d.). FOYER DE L ESPERANCE - PATRONAGE SAINT LOUIS. annuaire.action-sociale.org, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
8.
Espérance Apprentis d'Auteuil. (n.d.). Nous contacter. esperance.apprentis-auteuil.org, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
9.
Péyi Vert (n.d.). Foire aux questions. peyivert.com, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
10.
Péyi Vert (n.d.). Comment participer ?. peyivert.com, Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
Comments and notes
Public Images
Tree planting at the Esperance school
Tree planting at the Esperance school
Screenshot taken from: https://francophone-solidarite.org/action-de-terrain-plantation-de-200-cacaoyers-avec-des-jeunes-de-martinique/
Tree planting at the Esperance school
Tree planting at the Esperance school
Screenshot taken from: https://francophone-solidarite.org/action-de-terrain-plantation-de-200-cacaoyers-avec-des-jeunes-de-martinique/