Preamble

In 2026, the Fondation Etrillard will award the first edition of the “Nature in the City” Award, worth CHF 30,000 (thirty thousand Swiss francs), to support the creation of an urban landscaping project with nature at its heart, in Switzerland or France.

Through this annual award, the Fondation Etrillard wishes to support the transformation of a site for biodiversity and the well-being of residents by developing local nature in deprived urban areas. The site must therefore be widely accessible to the public. The transformation and new management of the site should serve as educational tools for the general public.

Eligibility of the candidate and location

Any public or private entity that owns or controls urban land accessible for a renaturation or redevelopment project aimed at promoting biodiversity and the well-being of the population, in Switzerland or France may apply.
The site should be located in densely populated urban areas where there is a shortage of urban green spaces (note: for example, based on the 3/30/300 rule, which is based on three main principles for improving the quality of life of city dwellers: 3 trees visible from each home, 30% tree cover in the neighborhood, and a green space less than 300 meters from each home or workplace).
The project should cover a sufficiently large area to allow for the establishment of biodiversity and use by city dwellers.
The site must be open to the general public, either on an occasional or regular basis. Inaccessible spaces, such as those located inside or on the roof of a building, or reserved for certain groups only, such as a company's headquarters, are excluded from the scope of the Award.
Where applicable, the net income generated by the urban nature space must be allocated primarily to its maintenance.
The site must be managed on a non-profit basis.

Project eligibility

Applications must meet seven criteria to be eligible:

The project must have a transformative impact in terms of creating, expanding, or enriching nature in the city.
The work must be undertaken in an environmentally friendly manner that preserves living organisms, in line with one of the core commitments of the Award (see Article 2).

3. The work referred to above must be in the planning stage or already underway. Applications submitted after the work has been completed will not be considered.

4. Project leaders must ensure the long-term sustainability and ecological management of the site. Several pieces of information will be requested in the application file for the purpose of evaluating the project (see application file).

5. Project leaders must provide proof of land ownership or control of the site where the work will take place, in the form of proof of ownership, a lease, the owner's agreement, or other documentation.

6. The project leader must be the project owner and, as such, have legal status as a local authority (region, department, city, canton), association, foundation, company, or entrepreneur.

7. Project leaders must be able to initiate the project within two years and ensure that they can obtain all the legal authorizations necessary to carry out their project, where applicable (examples of legal authorizations: favorable opinion from the Architecte des Bâtiments de France, building permit issued by the local authority's urban planning department, etc.).

Award criteria

Candidate projects will be evaluated based on the three core commitments of the Award:

Pillar 1 : The benefits of the project for people

The project must have a purpose for residents, local residents, and (future) users and, as far as possible, be the result of a participatory approach. The proposed landscaping must contribute to improving the living environment through its aesthetic appeal and its uses. Its usefulness can take several forms: providing a place to recharge, creating an oasis of freshness, teaching about nature, developing uses related to physical, mental, and social health, raising awareness of biodiversity, creating opportunities for encounters around the arts, etc. The purpose of the project must be communicated to residents and users of the site.

Pillar 2 : The project's contribution to the site

The project must involve landscaping that did not previously exist on the site. It must have a transformative impact. Therefore, projects involving restoration/renovation alone are not eligible for the Award.

Pillar 3 : The contribution to living organisms

The project must benefit biodiversity: creation of habitats/environments of interest, soil de-sealing, landscaping and choice of species favorable to local flora and fauna, etc. It must also take into account the need to adapt to climate change and make the most of the often limiting conditions in dense urban environments. The project must be based on knowledge of the existing natural heritage and preserve it as much as possible.

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Prix Nature dans la Ville - Nature in the City Award. 1st Edition

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