Biodiversity in the city

Biodiversity is everywhere! The term biodiversity encompasses all the diversity of living things: the diversity of species, their genetic heritage and the diversity of the ecosystems they make up.
Temps de lecture : 3 minutes

An ambitious strategy to protect biodiversity

At the heart of the Mediterranean basin, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole stands out for its exceptional natural wealth. Ranked among the planet's 36 "hotspots" for its unique biodiversity, the territory is home to a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna.

  • 1/3 of the territory is classified as a "biodiversity reservoir", encompassing varied landscapes from garrigues to coastal ponds, via an agricultural mosaic.
  • 2/3 of the species recorded in mainland France are present in the territory.

To protect this exceptional biodiversity, the Metropole and the City of Montpellier are committed, alongside their residents, to an ambitious strategy articulated around 5 axes:

  1. Deploying the solidary territorial climate air energy plan

    • Stopping urban sprawl with the PLUI-climat
    • Preserving biodiversity and water resources
    • Building a sustainable and equitable food system
    • Becoming a Zero Waste territory

These measures aim to mitigate climate impacts and adapt the territory towards a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

  1. Preserving natural areas

    • Supporting the Conservatoire du Littoral in the management of protected natural sites: Villeneuve lido and salt pans, Vic and Pierre-blanche ponds, Méjean site in Lattes...
    • Preserving marine biodiversity on the scale of the Gulf of Aigues-Mortes
    • Preserving the agricultural mosaic of the Plaine de Fabrègues-Poussan by animating the Natura 2000 site
    • Preserving ecological webs

  2. Greening the territory by involving residents

    • Protecting and developing the urban canopy
    • Greening vouchers to encourage micro-flowering and revegetation
    • Planting in retention basins
    • Preserving wooded heritage in Towns with the PLUI-Climate

  3. Better knowledge and awareness of biodiversity

    • Drawing up an Atlas of Metropolitan Biodiversity with local authorities and residents
    • Creating a biodiversity observatory by 2026
    • Greater knowledge of living dynamics thanks to partnerships with Montpellier research Convention CEFE-CNRS
    • Écolothèque : environmental education, Eco-Métropole program
    • Zoo de Lunaret: discovering and preserving biodiversity
    • Montpellier Main Verte: discovery of parks and gardens and their biodiversity
    • Citizen observation of biodiversity: trésors de mon jardin, Vigie nature...
    • Maison du site naturel protégé des Salines de Villeneuve and Maison de la Nature à Lattes: coastal environment awareness program for the general public and schoolchildren, discovery trails...

  4. Fostering agroecology and urban agriculture

    • Shared and family gardens: 32 municipal shared gardens and 4 municipal allotment garden sites
    • Montpellier Main verte events focusing on organic gardening, permaculture...
    • Creation of agriparks across the Metropole territory
    • A comprehensive agroecological and food policy developed within a territorial cooperation approach to set up a sustainable food system
Research for biodiversity
Bats in Montpellier
Birds in Montpellier