User: Ville de Laval
Green spaces are reservoirs of biodiversity that help maintain a balance between human, animal, and environmental health. Currently, it is challenging to predict the full scope of these benefits and to determine which types and sizes of green spaces provide the greatest returns. The objective of this project is to benchmark the urban microbiome of the City of Laval against that of the Carré Laval district and other cities worldwide. A large-scale sampling campaign will be conducted in collaboration with about a hundred citizens. This mapping of the urban microbiome will help identify the diversity and microbial functions that are favored by different types of green infrastructure that could be implemented in the Carré Laval. The project will lay the foundation for a unique longitudinal study, enabling the monitoring of the impact of green infrastructures on the health of citizens, animals, and the environment. With its microbiome-centered approach to green infrastructure selection and design, the City of Laval will become a world-class living laboratory for sustainable urban planning. Thus, the approach and knowledge gained will be transferable to other cities to assist them in developing their own green infrastructures.