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
Project Restauration Écologique Citoyenne du CARBET
Short description of the intervention
The Ecological & Citizen Restoration Project in Carbet, led by ASSOMER, supports the city in sustainably developing its coastline. This coastal area serves multiple purposes—recreational, economic, and subsistence—making it essential to include the voices of its key user communities: fishermen, restaurateurs, residents, and tourists.
However, both these uses and critical spawning habitats are increasingly threatened by coastal erosion, which is worsened by urbanization. Beyond reducing nesting areas, urban expansion also creates light pollution, which disrupts nesting females and hatchlings that rely on moonlight reflections to navigate.
This project was selected during the inaugural Biodiversity Lottery, a French government initiative inspired by the Heritage Lotto (established in 2018). The funds will be dedicated to protecting Carbet’s turtle population. Key efforts include reforesting the beach to combat erosion and creating new nesting spaces for turtles.
By restoring vegetation in a way that addresses multiple environmental challenges, this initiative aims to raise public awareness and ensure long-term coastal preservation. (1,2)
Implementation area characterization
Address

Carbet
Martinique

Area boundary (map-based)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plage+du+Carbet/@14.7070115,-61.1923505,3542m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x8c6aaf002126e809:0x4456942b52478a94!8m2!3d14.7083673!4d-61.18445!16s%2Fg%2F11vy7ldzs3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMzMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Area description
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2024
End date of the intervention
2027
Present stage of the intervention
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
Reduce anthropogenic pressures (light pollution, waste, etc.)
Rehabilitating sea turtle nesting habitats
Fighting against the retreat of the coastline
Take into account the socio-economic and cultural uses of the beach
Promote awareness raising (2)
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities and NBS focus
Implementation activities
The project will last 3 years and will end at the end of January 2027. It will take place on the Carbet beach from Marouba to the harbor. The main areas of the project are:
Social diagnosis : survey of residents of Carbet and socio-professionals ( e.g. restaurateurs , fishermen ) in order to better understand their perceptions and take into account opinions on the location of areas to be revegetated .
Ecological diagnosis : Synthesis of data already present on the territory to have a global understanding of the issues and pressures present on the Carbet coastline. Collection of missing data.
In this project, we take care of all the stages of revegetation with the help of our volunteers and the Carbet classes (primary and secondary).
This includes:

Seed collection
Preparing the seedlings
Repotting the plants
Planting on the beach
The seedlings and plants are then kept in nurseries set up in schools or at our volunteers' homes before being planted.
As part of this initiative, an educational trail will be set up along the coastline. It will include participatory science terminals and a tidal pool, allowing for the observation and analysis of the various pressures affecting the coastline (erosion, light pollution, sediment dynamics, waste, and vegetation changes). These terminals will be accompanied by information panels to raise public awareness of these issues. (2)
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Coastlines
Amenities offered by the NBS
Design elements for well-being
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Coastal protection
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
As of 2019, Le Carbet, a commune in Martinique, had a population of 3,461 residents, with approximately 47.1% male and 52.9% female. In terms of age distribution, data from 2008 indicates that the population was fairly evenly spread across different age groups, with 722 individuals aged 0-14, 578 between 15-29, 783 between 30-44, 775 between 45-59, 581 between 60-74, and 321 aged 75 and older.
Household composition in 2008 included 1,403 households, of which 416 were single-person households—226 men living alone and 190 women living alone. There were also 61 households without families and 926 households with families, which included 239 couples without children, 376 couples with children, and 311 single-parent families. While specific data on average household size for Le Carbet is not readily available, in 2018, the average household size in Martinique was approximately 2.3 people per household.
Ethnicity data for Le Carbet is not specifically documented, and detailed information on income levels is also limited. However, given broader trends in Martinique, it is likely that Le Carbet's population consists primarily of individuals of Afro-Caribbean descent, with a mix of European and other ancestries. The economic structure of the region is influenced by tourism, fishing, and local commerce. (5,6)
Socio-economic profile of the area
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Citizens or community groups
Specify primary beneficiaries
"the town hall, socio-professionals, and residents" (2)
"Carbet classes (primary and secondary)" (2)
Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups
"The seedlings and plants are then kept in nurseries set up in schools or at our volunteers' homes before being planted." (2)
Governance
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The RECC is a project led by ASSOMER with support from Le Cabret Municiplaity, local residents, local professionals. The seedlings and plants are then kept in nurseries set up in schools or at our volunteers' homes before being planted. The project involved survey of residents of Carbet and socio-professionals ( e.g. restaurateurs , fishermen ) in order to better understand their perceptions and take into account opinions on the location of areas to be revegetated. The project is based on a funding agreement from the French Office for Biodiversity and co-financing of the project by the Martinique Water Office. (1, 2)
Key actors - initiating organization
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Citizens or community group
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Level of citizen and community engagement
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
Mission Nature is part of a broader national strategy in France aimed at biodiversity conservation. Launched in 2023 as a collaboration between the French lottery (Française des Jeux) and the French Biodiversity Agency (Office français de la biodiversité), this initiative introduced a scratch card game designed to raise funds for local biodiversity restoration projects. A portion of the proceeds from this game is allocated to support various environmental endeavors across French territories, including Martinique. (4)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme/type of the plan
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Enablers & Barriers
Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.
Capacity-building projects: "A meeting for exchange and awareness-raising with municipal agents."
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships): "The town of Carbet and local stakeholders have been working for nearly two years to protect the municipality's marine biodiversity. Following consultation meetings with users of Pothuau Cay (fishermen, boaters' association, diving clubs), a buoyage plan was defined by general consensus. The plan includes a regulated marine zone in Pothuau, where fishing and anchoring are prohibited. The plan also led to the creation of an underwater educational trail at Turin Cove, a fun discovery trail that educates Martinique school groups and tourists about the biodiversity of underwater ecosystems."; "Project partners: Municipality of Carbet / National Forestry Office of Martinique / Geological and Mining Research Bureau"
Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city: "The funding agreement from the French Office for Biodiversity and co-financing of the project by the Martinique Water Office are underway. " (1, 2)
Barriers
Unknown
Financing
Please specify total cost (EUR)
211,083 EUR (7)
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Co-finance for NBS
No
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Unknown
Business models
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Impacts, benefits
Description of environmental benefits
-Expected enhanced protection against extreme weather events (e.g. storms, cyclones, tidal surges, coastal erosion)/-Expected improved soil quality/-Expected improved waste management: "As part of this initiative, an educational trail will be set up along the coastline. It will include participatory science terminals and a tidal pool, allowing for the observation and analysis of the various pressures affecting the coastline (erosion, light pollution, sediment dynamics, waste, and vegetation changes)" (2); "Concretely, the aim is to revegetate the Carbet beach to create new spaces suitable for sea turtles to lay their eggs and to try to limit coastal erosion." (4)
Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems/--Expected reduced biodiversity loss: "Martinique is home to three main species of turtles (leatherback turtle, green turtle, and hawksbill turtle), all of which are endangered. " (4)
-Expected increased green space area: "In this project, we take care of all the stages of revegetation with the help of our volunteers and the Carbet classes (primary and secondary).
This includes:
Seed collection
Preparing the seedlings
Repotting the plants
Planting on the beach"
(4)
Economic impacts
Description of social and cultural benefits
--Expected increased awareness of NBS and their benefits: "Our project will provide a concrete and visible solution to the area. We will work with many stakeholders, including local students, to develop a nursery. We also plan to address artificial lighting, which causes disorientation in turtles," explains Chloé Theret, director of L'Asso-Mer. "Through this initiative, we hope to give citizens, young and old, the opportunity to become active participants in their local areas and the changes they are making . " (4)
-Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "The project we are leading connects land and sea, between scientists, citizens, and professionals, and between habitats and species. It allows us to work on several themes in a concerted and integrated manner, with mutual aid and solidarity at the forefront," summarizes the association's director." (4)
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
Justice
Community satisfaction
Description of locals satisfaction with the project
Unknown as the project just started
Trade-offs & Negative impacts
Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement
High-quality & Transformative NBS
Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)
No
Goal setting and impacts delivery
In the planning phase, the project aimed to address issues in all 3 key priority areas, but impacts were not delivered in all three key areas.
Long-term perspective
Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability.
Cost-effective solutions
Unknown
Equitable impacts
Application of lessons learned
Perception of Environmental Change
Unknown
References
1.
City of Carbet (n.d.). The RECC (Ecological & Citizen Restoration Project in Carbet). Accessed on April 3, 2025, [Download];
2.
L'Assomer (n.d.). Ecological and Citizen Restoration in Carbet (RECC). Accessed on April 3, 2025, [Download];
3.
Facebook (n.d.). Ville du Carbet. Accessed on April 3, 2025, [Download];
4.
OFB (n.d.). Restoring sea turtle nesting habitats. Accessed on April 3, 2025, [Download];
5.
Communes (n.d.). Satistiques de Le Carbet. Accessed on April 3, 2025, [Download];
6.
Map France (n.d.). Population Le Carbet. Accessed on April 3, 2025, [Download];
7.
French Government (n.d.). Mission Nature. Accessed on April 3, 2025, [Download];
Comments and notes
Public Images
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