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Project description

Name of the case study
Urban Green space differentiated Management

Description of context
The legal framework on a national scale concerning urban green space management is weak even non-existent.

Rennes urban green space differentiated management falls within a sustainable development policy (environmental safety, recognition of the inhabitant's social request to have local natural green space, maintenance expenses discount). The differentiated management is the conception, management and implementation of ecosystems (which are under the different level of human influence) which correspond to different social needs. It is not an opposition of the horticultural management of green spaces: it is a method which allows, in the same city, managing a range of different green spaces area, from the most "sophisticated" flowery parks to the most rustic spaces.
Its objective consists in meeting the needs of an increasing social demand for nature in downtown, without increasing the cost of this service by rising local taxes.

Description of project - background
Rennes is a university town of 212 000 inhabitants which extends on 50.22 km2. With more than 7.94 km2 of green space, 100 000 trees, 660 family gardens, Rennes is a green city (data 2002).

Since 1980’s, the city has adopted a new approach- the differentiated management. Thus, it has started to modulate green space management in order to develop an extensive management of some spaces, in rupture with usual intensive practices which is the rule in France impregnated by the pattern of “jardins à la française”. The intensive management is characterised by a strong human intervention (use of pesticides, fertilizers...). On the opposite, the extensive management (hands-off management) is defined by few human interventions.
Thus Rennes municipality was one of the first French cities to be aware, from 1966, of different conceptions for the management of its green spaces (even if in 1966 we could not talk about "differentiated management" spread on the whole city). In practice, it has been chosen to test a more free management on one specific park (rustic aspect).

Description of project - objectives/aims
- a specific development of the green space, in close link with their biological potential, geographical localization, their use and their history (maintenance adapted to each case according to Rennes context);
- a soft management of the vegetal compositions and landscape units;

Description of project - time interval and stages

Description of project - financing

Description of project - other sectors involved

What tools were used to assess sustainability?

Differentiated Management

More information

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