The use of pesticides in cemeteries has been banned since July 2022. But in Grenoble it has already been like this for ten years. Weeds, uncultivated plots: the town hall wants to make room for biodiversity. But some users complain about the lack of maintenance.
After a year of absence, it’s the bad surprise for René. “Last year I cleaned everything, it was clean!”, S.annoys, ripping off the branches of a Japanese polygon, twice the size of his.
In a few months this invasive plant completely covered the graves of its relatives. “This is unacceptable, I am very shocked”, whistles Elietteaccompanying it.
A few aisles further on, Colette is occupied by a tree that has taken root right next to a tomb. “We are unfortunate to be next to a grave that is not being maintainedhe said, cutting the branches of the tree with a pruner. So I don’t know who should do it, if it’s the cemetery or the people … “
It is in fact up to private individuals to maintain their concessions, tand is that the 22 kilometers of alleys in the cemeteries of Saint-Roch and Grand Sablon are managed by the municipal services. “ON sometimes it occurs between the graves but only on the aerial part of the plant. The N it goes I cannot demonta dSuddenly, he will refuse. So we try to have regular interventions to cut the vegetation as the plant wears out“Explains Nicola Gononsustainable management technician at the Nature department of villas.
However, many hikers mention the poor maintenance of the premises. But elected officials deny this and propose pesticide-free management and preserved biodiversity.
“This cemetery was created around 1810, tell Anuch overwhelmDeputy Mayor of Grenoble. And at the time it looked like that, there were no plant protection products, there was vegetation everywhere, the paths were grassed and the plants lived their plant life.
The city services intend to collect the abandoned concessions as a whole. The goal is to create a more modern cemetery on the surface, but also underground, “so that the deceased is buried in a more natural way, without conservation care and with an untreated coffin”Cecile adds Allibehead of the user relations department.
A total of 36,000 plots currently occupy the Saint-Roch and Grand Sablon cemeteries in Grenoble.
