Paris is set to adopt its new Biodiversity Plan 2025-2030, focusing on enhancing urban wildlife through increased greenery, hedges, and ponds. The plan aims to counteract declining wildlife populations by creating more habitats within the city. Key initiatives include:
Planting kilometers of hedges, especially in central districts, to provide shelter for small animals.
Creating new ponds in parks and gardens smaller than one hectare.
"Greening" the banks of the Seine to create natural habitats for birds.
Establishing 100 new areas designed for specific species like hedgehogs and bats.
The plan builds on previous efforts, including a "zero pesticide" policy in parks, gardens, and cemeteries. While the city has seen some success, such as the presence of foxes in Père-Lachaise cemetery, populations of common sparrows have declined significantly. The new plan includes clear quantitative indicators, but some opposition members have raised concerns about the lack of a dedicated budget and operational measures.