Le Figaro Bordeaux
The planted areas extend over 35 kilometers of tram tracks in Bordeaux, representing the equivalent of 30 football fields.
In 2022, 152,000 m³ of water were needed for their watering.
To reduce this significant consumption, the metropolis's public transport network (TBM) is experimenting from March with the planting of six new species, which could ultimately replace grass.
“The new species planted are selected to meet different criteria such as their compatibility with the climatic context, their ecological interest, their level of resistance to drought, the short-term coverage rate or even the level of maintenance they require. ask
,” explains TBM in a press release.
This experiment aims to identify plantations that consume less water and are more resilient to the effects of climate change, but also to
“develop biodiversity on the tram platform”
, with different species instead of just one.
Also read “Repair and prepare the city”: Bordeaux is increasing its revegetation projects
55% less watering in 2023
Lying thyme, creeping chamomile, dichondra, turcette, Mascarene grass and quack grass will be the six less water-intensive species
“tested”
between two stations of tram A (Saint Bruno and Mériadeck) and tram C (Mussonville and Vaclav Havel).
Divided into plots, these areas will allow different experiments to be carried out (planting with
“an annual companion plant”
such as green purslane or with perennial plants).
Regular monitoring for two years will make it possible to determine whether the desired objectives have been achieved in order to generalize these measures or not.
The presence of this plant platform under the tramway was designed to respond
to “the challenges of (re)vegetation and de-
waterproofing
of cities”
, explains TBM.
Its maintenance is considered
“essential”
in view of the environmental services it provides (noise reduction, dust and CO2 trapping, absorption of rainwater and cooling) but its management is the subject of a modernization plan deployed until 2030. In 2023, a 55% reduction in watering was notably achieved,
“thanks to work on equipment and the organization of watering times”
.