2nd edition of the Ceïba Foundation Gala

The Ceïba Foundation, founded by the property group Socri Reim, is named after an emblematic tropical tree. The tall, magnificent Ceiba tree was considered sacred in Mayan culture, symbolising the connection between human beings and the spiritual world. The Ceiba’s foliage is remarkable, its crown covering up to 2,000 square metres on the ground – half the size of a football pitch. This image perfectly represents the Foundation’s aim: “To cover cities with nature”.
With the aim of preserving and enhancing nature and biodiversity in the cities of the 21st century, the Ceïba Foundation is dedicated to taking action for renaturation, revegetation, soil depaving and reduction of heat islands. It also aims to improve water cycles and biodiversity in urban environments, both in France and internationally. These initiatives contribute actively to the fight against climate change and the promotion of sustainable development.

The Foundation has brought together a committee of five world-renowned experts:
Jean Mus, Landscape Architect

Jean-Paul Viguier, Architect

Léo Marguerit, Landscaper and Urban Planner

Yann Fortunato, industrialist in the field of forestry

Bruno Ricci, Landscaper.

With the first event in 2022 having raised €60,000 for the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier, the Ceïba Foundation decided to organise a second reception in 2023 to continue its work to preserve the trees in this garden, a historic and botanical landmark in the city where the SOCRI REIM group is based.

The Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier, founded in 1595 by Pierre Richer De Belleval, was inspired by the gardens of Italy, known as “padoues”. It became a benchmark for the botanical gardens in Paris. From the 16th century onwards, this garden was distinguished by its biodiversity, with the creation of various environments and the combination of exotic and local species. Over time, the garden has been extended through the acquisition of land and the addition of several greenhouses, an orangery and a pond.

After more than four centuries of history, the Jardin des Plantes is now protected as one of France’s “Historic Sites and Monuments”. However, this unique site has been weakened by a number of diseases and a lack of specific maintenance.

Endangered trees include the Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) and the message tree (Phillyrea latifolia) planted around 1604. These two trees will receive special attention thanks to the funds raised by the Ceïba Foundation.

The endowment fund of the Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier was created to finance all enhancement and rehabilitation operations. Presided over by Françoise Panthène, this fund enables individuals and companies to make donations to this wonderful project. The Ceïba Foundation has joined forces with the endowment fund to save the trees in the Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier.

To raise the necessary funds, the Ceïba Foundation is holding its second gala dinner on Wednesday 25 May 2023 at the Orangery in the Jardin des Plantes. Alongside representatives of Montpellier City Council, the University of Montpellier and the management of the Jardin des Plantes, this reception will be attended by 14 partners of the CEÏBA Foundation and the SOCRI REIM group who have decided to make a donation to the Jardin des Plantes endowment fund:
A+ Architecture
AEKO
AURA
CGCB Avocats
Crédit Agricole du Languedoc
Ernst & Young
Haussmann Patrimoine
Lexnot
Muhan Invest
Planet Indigo
Pousse Clanet
SVA Avocats
Triomphe Sécurité
Verspieren

These partners are demonstrating their commitment to the development of nature in the city alongside the SOCRI REIM Group. The Foundation’s experts will be giving a number of talks during this exceptional event to help everyone gain a better understanding of the challenges facing nature in the city.

The first Ceïba Foundation gala provided funding for a series of scientific diagnostics (pathology, physico-chemical and biological characterisation of rhizosphere soil) carried out by AGRENE, a Dijon-based research and development company.

A phytosanitary diagnosis was then performed on the selected trees by INFFE in
Contact: Cédric LEON (cedric.leon@socri-gestion.com – 06 46 32 50 34)

Madrid in order to identify all the problems encountered at the Jardin des Plantes.

Finally, under the guidance of two experts from the Foundation, Bruno Ricci and Léo Marguerit, a detailed rescue and maintenance booklet was compiled. This document identifies the individual problems of each tree and their degree of urgency, and recommends the most appropriate specific solution.

The implementation of these actions has already begun thanks to the Head of Culture at the Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier, Emmanuel Spicq.

Faced with the alarming report based on the analyses carried out in 2022 and the risk of losing the trees, some of which are over 400 years old, the Ceïba Foundation is launching the second phase of its emergency action plan using the €77,000 raised at the 2023 gala. The Foundation’s Board of Governors has therefore decided on two new projects to save two historic trees in 2023.
The first large-scale action consists of decompacting, replacing and enriching the soil around the Judas tree in front of the Intendance building. This action must be preceded by the removal of the stone and bitumen base that is suffocating the tree. Finally, the Foundation will fund the installation of a protection system around the tree to protect the soil from further compaction.

The second, even bolder project concerns the “message tree”, one of the very symbols of the Jardin des Plantes. This tree suffers from compacted and impoverished soil, as well as damage to the trunk caused by visitors. The Foundation is therefore planning to design and install a walkway around the tree to allow it to breathe and enjoy healthier soil for many years to come. This initiative aims to protect this historic tree while improving its living conditions and ensuring its preservation for future generations. Many hours were spent carrying out studies and designing the walkway as part of this urgent action. The Ceïba Foundation then had to submit several validation files to the relevant bodies to champion this project alongside the University of Montpellier. The Foundation is now awaiting the necessary permits to install this unique structure by the end of the year.

Nicolas Chambon, Chairman of the Ceïba Foundation, is delighted: “I would like to thank all our donors for their generosity. This second edition of the Foundation’s gala is essential to the preservation of the exceptional heritage that is our Jardin des Plantes. We hope to have drawn the attention of the authorities and the general public to this unique garden, which still needs all our efforts”.

Nature at the heart of SOCRI REIM projects

All the projects of the Socri Limited group (parent company of the French company SOCRI REIM) reflect the desire to develop nature in the city. For example, the Polygone Béziers shopping centre, located in the middle of an urban block, has around 150 planters and a large number of outdoor flowerbeds. A redesigned area along the Canal du Midi features Korean mulberry trees, cypresses, Aleppo pines, olive trees, lemon trees, orange trees, bamboo, bay laurel, oleander, laurustinus, pittosporum, sacred bamboo, jasmine, arbutus, agapanthus, vines, sage, phillyrea, rosemary, white roses, Indian lilac, germander, abutilons, cassie, bee-bee tree, cork oak, Russian sage, serviceberry, pistachio, myrtle, gaura, New Zealand flax, bindweed, euphorbia…
Similarly, at Polygone Riviera in Cagnes-sur-Mer, the banks of the River Malvan, which runs through the heart of the shopping centre, have been enhanced over a distance of around a kilometre to create a park spanning nearly a hectare, providing a genuine breathing space for the district. More than 1,000 trees (plane trees, maples, palms, poplars, weeping willow, privet, false pepper trees, gingko biloba, olive tree, etc.) accompany the green façades and roofs of this exceptional site.
Lastly, the redevelopment of the Fontvieille shopping centre in Monaco is an opportunity for Socri Reim to once again demonstrate its expertise in integrating landscaped areas into its urban projects, and to create the largest landscaped city centre retail park in the world: this exceptional 2-hectare park will be home to 30 “heritage trees” in a sanctuary containing rare and protected species, while also enhancing the UNESCO Garden areas.

Press release – Montpellier – 1 Decembre 2022