Vosges launches biodiversity initiative for middle school yards

In the Vosges department of France, the “Mon collège au naturel” initiative has been launched to integrate biodiversity into middle school environments. Benoît Jourdain, vice-president in charge of the ecological transition, stated that the project aims to address the lack of natural spaces in schoolyards designed before environmental concerns were prioritized.

The program involves auditing educational facilities and implementing physical changes, such as planting vegetation, creating spaces for pollinators, and introducing local flora and fauna to support birds, insects, and lizards. A key component of the initiative is the pedagogical involvement of students, encouraging them to participate in the co-construction of these natural spaces.