An Unexpected Encounter
Far from her love for nature, Victorine initially pursued a career in business. But one day, she came across a stone marten in the heart of the city—an encounter that changed everything. A wild mammal in Lyon? “I never imagined it was possible,” she admits. This moment opened her eyes to an unseen world: the many wild species inhabiting our cities. Badgers, peregrine falcons, a variety of plants… enough to spark an insatiable curiosity. Together with Quentin, a fellow naturalist, she founded Des Espèces Parmi’Lyon, an association dedicated to urban biodiversity while actively involving city dwellers in its protection.
Observing Before Acting
Camera traps, microscopes, and entomology boards are Victorine’s everyday tools. With her team, the naturalist has already recorded over 2,000 plant and animal species—just in Lyon’s 1st arrondissement alone! “Even in the city centre, you can find butterflies whose caterpillars are raised by ants… There’s a whole world within our world!” she exclaims.
The data collected helps design effective ecological planning strategies to transform the urban landscape into a thriving habitat for biodiversity. The benefits of revegetation are numerous: climate regulation, water purification, removal of harmful particles, and a renewed sense of wonder in the city!
150 nature discovery
outings organised/year
“The magic lies in discovering that, even in the city, an entire world of biodiversity coexists with us, constantly interacting.”
When City dwellers cultivate nature
“We want to make the living world accessible to everyone,” Victorine explains. The association engages residents in hundreds of nature outings and community projects, including pond creation, façade greening, river restoration, and the planting of 15 km of hedgerows across Lyon—grown from a nursery established by Victorine and her team.
She has witnessed a true transformation in people’s perspectives: “For the first time, they open their eyes to biodiversity, discovering 60 species in just two hours. It’s a revelation for them.”
Victorine’s Greatest Achievement?
The Gabiodiv’ project, which has transformed the concrete embankments of the Rhône River. “This is the first time we’ve successfully installed an ecological structure in public space,” she smiles. These vegetated modules have quickly restored habitats for various plant and animal species.
Nature’s resilience is striking: in just two years, over 85 plant species and 100 animal species, including some endangered ones, have made their home along Lyon’s riverbanks. Victorine proves that urban environments can become biodiversity refuges—if given the chance. Through her work, she demonstrates that nature can enhance both ecological continuity and the quality of life for city dwellers.
Discover the Association
Des Espèces Parmi’Lyon
