Green and Blue Corridors Enhancement Plan

The program includes 24 actions (new project from June 1st 2017). They aim "to continue and reinforce the actions already undertaken with a transversal and urban dimension." (Ref. 2).
The City of Saint Etienne main activities from the previous Green and Blue Corridors Plan (Period 2011-2015) were (Ref. 1):
-"The protection of spaces (within the framework of the local urban plan): large gardens, remarkable trees, working gardens..."
-"The network of pedestrian pathways, such as the green loop project around the city, linking the current greenways"
-"The demolition of degraded spaces for the creation of spaces of respiration, like the islet Rondet-Tarentaize"
-"The re-qualification of aging public spaces along structuring axes: transversal between the Opera and the Museum of Art and Industry, the Carnot viaduct ..."
-"The integration of vegetation in major urban projects: Steel, 3rd line of tramway, Châteaucreux ..." (Ref. 1)
-"The 2011-2015 program, supported by funding of € 2.5 million, resulted in the concrete restoration and creation of 19 ponds in agreement with private owners, the planting of a kilometer of hedges, the sanctuary of four wastelands, the commitment of 31 farms by MAE agreement (Agro-environmental measures) opening them to public aid" (Ref. 2).
-"Biodiversity offers irreplaceable goods and essential to our daily lives: oxygen, food, medicines and many raw materials (wood, fibers such as than wool, cotton, hemp ...). Natural environments and animal and plant species help us also provide many services: pollination, soil fertility, air quality, purification of water, protection against natural risks, improvement of the living environment ... Preserved biodiversity contributes to the fight against effects of climate change: protection against erosion, attenuation of the intensity of floods and floods ... It constitutes a knowledge library and technological innovations (biomimicry). In this sense, biodiversity constitutes a heritage to be protected in order to bequeath it to future generations" (Ref. 4).

Implementation activities (Ref. 2):
Studies section:

Define the Green and Blue Trame strategic plan for the metropolitan issue (Saint Etienne Métropole management)
Define a continuous iterative evaluation method for the Contract (Saint Etienne Métropole and France Nature Environnement Loire management)
Create a geo-referenced database of land use, natural and semi-natural environments
Carry out inventories of natural environments supporting continuities at the scale of the territory (management Conservatory of natural spaces Rhône-Alpes, France Nature Environment and League for the Protection of Birds Loire, National Botanical Conservatory of Massif Central)
Carry out inventories of landscape elements supporting biodiversity in urban areas to establish ecological continuities (Saint Etienne Métropole management)
Set up a land strategy on priority sectors and support for landowners (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)
Land acquisition (management of Saint-Etienne metropolis and municipalities, Departmental Federation of Loire Hunters)
Identify fragmented sectors presenting a major stake in terms of ecological continuity (Saint Etienne Métropole management)
Experiment with the development of naturalness in remarkable forest environments

Animation section:

Set up an awareness strategy for elected officials and the general public and implement it (steering Saint Etienne Métropole and France Nature Environnement Loire)
Provide technical and scientific engineering to action leaders through training and scientific support (management of Saint Etienne Métropole and Conservatory of Rhône-Alpes natural spaces)
Provide feedback on Trame Verte et Bleue operations and feed partner networks and demonstrative actions (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)
Fund project manager positions to run the contract (Saint Etienne Métropole management)
Improve synergies between agro-environmental actions and the Green and Blue Contract (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)


Urban planning component:

Produce a guide for taking into account green and blue grid issues in urban planning documents (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)
Support pilot operations on the development of new urban forms integrating ecological continuities (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)
Develop a data visualization platform incorporating the actions of the Contract (Saint Etienne Métropole management)
Identify a methodology for the implementation of the green and blue grid on a plot scale (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)
Continue to support the territories to integrate the Green and Blue Network into town planning documents (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)


Works section:

Pursue the reconstruction of natural elements in priority sectors (works, management, maintenance) in particular:
- wetlands, hedges and ponds as well as conservatory measures in forest environments (Saint-Etienne Métropole management, Joint Syndicate of Gorges Development de la Loire, Office National des Forêts, National Center for Forest Owners, municipalities)
- demonstrative operations for the creation and maintenance of vegetation through hedges (management of the Montravel Center for Promotional Training and Agricultural Promotion)
Support farmers in integrating the consideration of biodiversity into their practices (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)
Launch feasibility studies to carry out crossings on existing roads (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)
Carry out land improvements allowing the crossing of species at the level of existing infrastructures (Saint Etienne Métropole piloting)
Restore the passability of existing structures identified as priorities in the territory (Saint Etienne Métropole management, infrastructure managers)
Manage sensitive and fragmented spaces (Saint Etienne Métropole management)
Support pilot operations to restore and enhance the green and blue infrastructure in the city (Saint Etienne Métropole and municipalities piloting)