Local Plant Label: LE PRIEURE, a new pioneer!
In 2024, LE PRIEURE obtained the “Végétal Local” label for part of its local plant production.
This recognition makes us the first and only producer of native plants for green roofs to be awarded the “Végétal Local” label.
Among other things, this label guarantees that the “plants (are) collected from the natural environment and whose local origin and genetic diversity are guaranteed”.
Our specific catchment area is the South Paris basin.
NATI’FOLIA Solution
For other regions, LE PRIEURE has developed a range of native plants, to the same specifications, suitable for green roofs.
The Nati’folia planting solution guarantees a range of plants “collected from the natural environment and whose local origin and genetic diversity are guaranteed”.
Other solutions for rooftop biodiversity
The preservation of biodiversity and the creation of facilities to encourage its return to the city are key development priorities for LE PRIEURE.
Numerous studies, carried out by ARB (Agence Régionale de la Biodiversité) among others, and more specifically the Grooves study (Johan Hemminki and Marc Barra) published in 2021, have established a series of “best practices” in terms of urban vegetation to best develop host areas.
The first thing to do to promote biodiversity is to design roofs with differentiated profiles: different substrate thicknesses, different substrate types, adapted plant palettes… The richness lies at the boundary between the different plant strata.
Special features such as wood or stone piles, nesting boxes, etc. can be installed on the vast majority of roofs.
Where the load permits, water reserves can also be created, creating new types of rooftop ecosystems and increasing the number of observable species.
Biodiversity support from our Green Engineering Office
Le Prieuré’s integrated green engineering office is made up of a variety of profiles: landscape engineer, landscape designer, agronomist, ecologist, hydraulic engineer, etc.
Our ecologists can support projects aiming for environmental certification (Biodivercity, Biodivercity Life, Effinature, BREEAM, HQE, etc.) by working closely with assessors and proposing technical solutions tailored to the ambitions of these projects.
Our knowledge of plants in urban environments and their behavior on roofs is put to good use in projects to propose appropriate plant palettes, optimize substrate formulas and thicknesses, limit watering, and so on.
Discover our other greening solutions
Still wondering about roofing biodiversity?
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to all living beings and the ecosystems in which they live. It also includes the interactions of species with each other and with their environment.
Although the concept of biodiversity is as old as life itself, it only came into use in the 1980s. The Convention on Biological Diversity, signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro(1992), recognized for the first time the importance of biodiversity conservation for all humankind. (Source: Office national de la biodiversité)
Why a Végétal Local label?
The use of wild plants, collected in natural environments, is well suited to worksites or operations aimed at restoring the ecological functionality of environments. Indeed, wild and local plants (collected sustainably in the biogeographical region) have benefited from a long co-evolution with the local flora and fauna: they thus contribute to the proper functioning of the ecosystems to which they are attached. Their use in planting, rehabilitation or revegetation is beneficial to ecosystem resilience.
These plants, recognized for each region of origin by the Végétal local brand, are therefore the ideal tools for any operation aimed at conserving or restoring biodiversity, while relying on local collection and production channels. (source : vegetal-local.fr)
How can we improve rooftop biodiversity?
Several methods can be used to create biodiversity-friendly roofs.
The first step is to diversify the plant species and avoid monocultures, giving preference to species of local origin, some of which are melliferous.
LE PRIEURE has developed a range of plants with the Végétal Local label, as well as the Nati’folia solution of wild pantes, specifically to offer varied, indigenous plant palettes.
An ecological diagnosis can be carried out beforehand, in particular to enable monitoring via flora and fauna inventories.
How do you maintain a biodiverse roof?
The principle of a biodiverse roof is to let nature develop with as little intervention as possible. Nevertheless, all roofs, even those designed for the development of biodiversity, are subject to a minimum number of visits, to ensure that the roof is functional: good drainage, correct runoff of rainwater, elimination of species forbidden on roofs, etc.
