Honu
The Village in service of causes
Commitment by all, for all. The home of environmental associations, foundations and NGOs, a place of ideas, sharing and transmission, at the heart of the Village.
Footfall, a responsibility.
The manifesto
Each year, Surfers Village Paris will welcome several hundred thousand visitors. That footfall is also a responsibility: making the Village a place of awareness, awakening and action.
Honu is its standard-bearer, a dedicated space for associations, foundations and NGOs working for the ocean, water, energy, climate and health. A place of ideas and sharing, open to young and old alike, where people learn, exchange and act.
A symbol of wisdom, longevity and protection in Polynesian culture, the honu, the sea turtle, is the universal icon of ocean conservation. It gives its name and spirit to this place.
Raise awareness, without guilt. Pass it on, without imposing. Act, together.
The 5 pillars
Five causes, one common home.
Honu brings together five structuring pillars, four open to partner associations and foundations, a fifth embodied by The Refuge, the Village's ecological territory.
Ocean & Biodiversity
Protecting marine ecosystems. Raising awareness of the ocean's role in the climate. Supporting conservation and citizen science programmes.
Water
Understanding the water cycle, conservation and quality. Making every visitor a conscious actor of this resource, at the Village and in daily life.
Energy
Frugality, transition, clean energy. Decode, demystify, experiment, pitched at children and experts alike.
Social bond & Health
Adapted sport, inclusion, access to activity for all. Social commitment as a natural extension of environmental commitment.
Land: The Refuge
Six hectares dedicated to biodiversity and rewilded. 30-year management plan, formal process engaged with LPO Entreprise for Refuge recognition at opening. The territory where Honu takes root.
Land: The Refuge
Where Honu takes root
Of the Village's twelve hectares, six are rewilded and dedicated to biodiversity: hedgerows, copses, wildflower meadows, educational pond, living soil, locally planted trees and native species. A reserve managed under a thirty-year plan, overseen by an independent committee (LPO, FNE, ecologist, landscape architect, SVP team) with the LPO Entreprise Refuge recognition process under way. These are our targets for opening.
6 ha
Land dedicated to biodiversity
30 years
Management plan committed
LPO Refuge
Independent third-party certification targeted
Independent committee
LPO, FNE, ecologist, landscape architect, SVP
The programme: over 30 years
- Hedgerows, local species, structural for wildlife, ecological corridors
- Copses & pollard trees, refuge for bats, cavity-nesting birds, saproxylic insects
- Wildflower meadows, late mowing, wild pollinators, nectar plants
- Educational pond, amphibians, dragonflies, support for school activities
- Living soil, no-till, compost, mycorrhizae, organic mulch
- Planting of noble & local tree species
- Trail & participatory work camps, open to schools, local residents and Village members
Honu watches over the ocean. The Refuge watches over the land. 35 minutes from Paris, two commitments for the same generation.
The 4 formats
Four ways to get involved.
Honu offers an annual programme built around four complementary events, accessible to all, families, friends and school groups.
Honu Kids
For children
Children's workshops: every Wednesday and Saturday.
Ocean science, biodiversity, recycling, energy frugality, adapted surf initiation. Ages 4–12. Run in partnership with Honu associations.
Honu Talks
For everyone
Monthly talks open to all.
Scientists, athletes, activists, NGO founders: a monthly gathering to understand the issues and hear different perspectives.
Honu Lab
For researchers
Hosting scientific and association programmes.
Water quality monitoring, aquatic biodiversity, CO₂ measurements, student projects: Honu welcomes citizen and academic research.
Honu Days
For flagship events
Annual events.
World Ocean Day (8 June), Earth Day (22 April), Surfrider Ocean Initiatives, adaptive sport week. Major events open to the general public.
Our partnership ambitions
A network in the making.
Honu welcomes several resident or guest associations each year. Partnerships are built progressively with Target: 2030-2032.
Ocean conservation
Protecting marine ecosystems, awareness-raising, citizen science.
Water & coastline
Preserving water resources and coastal quality.
Adaptive sport & inclusion
Surfing access for all, adapted practice, disability.
Surf-health
Therapeutic practice, rehabilitation, well-being.
Terrestrial biodiversity
Nature protection, ecological restoration, refuges.
Education & youth
Raising awareness among young people, school partnerships, sport-health.
Areas of action identified. Partner associations and foundations will be announced as commitments are formalised.
Are you an association, foundation or NGO?
Honu welcomes you. A dedicated, free space at the heart of the Village, to champion your cause to several hundred thousand visitors a year.
Response within 5 business days.
Target: 2030-2032 Honu will open its doors with the Village, with the ambition of 2030-2032. The detailed programme and network of partner associations are being built right now.
