Considering that over the last 30 years in France, 30% of birds and 75% of insects have disappeared, Victor Guilbert, a 5th-year student at ITEEM, decided to launch his company “Coup de pousses” in June 2021 alongside his studies, to organise the collaborative planting of mini-forests for companies, local authorities and private individuals.
It was by chance during one of his internships that Victor discovered the Miyawaki forest ecosystem concept. The creation of this first mini-forest allowed him to directly immerse himself in the project, which truly fit with his interest in biodiversity and his desire to take concrete action for the planet. So, after several months of studies and work, Victor launched his company, which focuses above all on raising awareness. He wants to help change mentalities starting at an early age. He was lucky enough to start with a planting project with schoolchildren in the town where he grew up (in the Oise department of France). He was able to explain the reasons for his action through presentation workshops, namely the importance of biodiversity, capturing CO2, combating the urban heat island phenomenon, etc.
“When I launched Coup de pousses in June 2021, I didn’t think I would complete a project in the autumn. But I have actually had the chance to create two mini-forests. In total, I have planted 1,500 trees (including activities) and reached out to 160 people. The workshops he ran with first-year primary school children will remain the highlight of these first six months. They really made me want to continue the adventure,” he says.
For 2022, Victor already has several projects in mind, such as developing other mini-forests for local authorities and businesses.
