He was professor at the University of Lorraine, specializing in medicinal plants and traditional pharmacopeia, and is the author of several scientific articles and books on pharmaceutical plants, plant biology and urban ecology.[1] Pelt was known to the French public as the producer of several television series and radio broadcasts on plant biology and ecology.[2][3] He has been nicknamed the Konrad Lorenz of the vegetable world.[4][5]
In addition to his research work at the university of Nancy and more recently the University of Lorraine, Pelt founded the European Institute of Ecology in 1972 and co-founded the French Society of Ethnopharmacology in 1987 and the Committee of Independent Research and Information on the Genetic Engineering in 1999.[6][7] Along with Simone Veil, Jacques Delors or Corinne Lepage, Pelt was a fellow member of the Committee 21, the French deliberative assembly for the environment and sustainable development which is in charge of implementing the Agenda 21 action plan.
Thought of a biologist on the evolution of the Western industrial societies, notably European ones; search for new balances based on the respect of some fundamental rules: justice, economy toward ecology, new culture and school.
– Blurb of The re-naturalized Human, 1977 book of Jean-Marie Pelt in which he developed his pioneering approach of urban ecology.
As municipal councilor of Metz between 1971 and 1983, Pelt pioneered a policy of urban ecology.[8] Because of the failure in post-warurban planning and housing estates occurring in Europe during the 1960s, and gathering inspiration from the concepts of CIAM,[9][10][11] Professor Pelt initiated a new approach towards the urban environment.[12] He developed his ideas on this topic in The Re-Naturalized Human, a pioneering book from 1977 which was awarded the European Prize of Ecology.
Based on the ideas of the Chicago School, Pelt's theories advocated for a better integration of humans into their environment and developed a concept concerning the relation between "stones and waters".[8][13][14] His ideas were materialized in Metz with the establishment of extensive open areas surrounding the Moselle and the Seille rivers and the development of large areas for walking. He died on 23 December 2015.[15]
The creation of a water garden around a tributary stream of the Moselle river in Metz during the early 70s was one of the major materializations of Jean-Marie Pelt's urban ecology and planning concepts.
Universe's God, science and faith (French: Dieu de l’univers, science et foi) (1995), Eds. Fayard
Words of nature (French: Paroles de nature) (1995), Eds. Albin Michel
The secrete languages of the nature (French: Les Langages secrets de la nature) (1996), Eds. Fayard
From the universe to the Being (French: De l’univers à l’être) (1996), Eds. Fayard
The plants in danger (French: Les plantes en péril) (1997), Eds. Fayard
The soul's garden (French: Le jardin de l’âme) (1998), Eds. Fayard
The most beautiful story about plants (French: La plus belle histoire des plantes) with M. Mazoyer, Théodore Monod, and J. Giradon (1999), Eds. Le Seuil
The cinnamon and the panda (French: La cannelle et le panda) (1999), Eds. Fayard
The Earth in inheritance (French: La terre en héritage) (2000), Eds. Fayard
Variation on celebrations and seasons (French: Variations sur les fêtes et les saisons) (2000), Eds. Le Pommier
Listening the trees (French: À l’écoute des arbres) (2000), Eds. Albin Michel
The life is my garden (French: La vie est mon jardin) (2000), Eds. Alice, Belgique
The new natural remedies (French: Les nouveaux remèdes naturels) (2001), Eds. Fayard
The reason of the weakest (French: La raison du plus faible) with Franck Steffan (2009), Eds. Fayard
Little story of plants: the diary of a committed botanist (French: Petite histoire des plantes: Carnet de bord d'un botaniste engagé) (2009), Eds. Carnets Nord
The precious gifts of the nature (French: Les dons précieux de la nature) (2010), Eds. Fayard
The paths of happiness (French: Les voies du bonheur) (2010), Eds. de la Martinière
Evolution as seen by a botanist (French: L'Evolution vue par un botaniste) (2011), Eds. Fayard
