Adapto: towards a flexible management of the coastline - Petit et Grand Travers

Carnon, La Grande-Motte – France

Project leader: Conservatoire du Littoral

Dates : 2017-2022

Classification

Risks

Solutions

Actors

Costs

Summary

The Adapto project seeks to demonstrate by example the value of flexible management of the coastline as a solution for adapting coastal territories to climate change. This project is being financed by the European Programme Life, and carried out by the Conservatoire du Littoral and the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières. 

In France, this project is deployed across 10 pilot territories, including the Petit and Grand Travers site. Located between two highly urbanised seaside resorts, this site is subject to high tourist attendance levels. It has been largely owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral since 1976. For ten years, the study and consultation about a sustainable development programme for the dune barrier resulted in the renaturation of the dune and the reorganisation of the site’s reception system. The turning point of this operation was the removal of a section of the road from the dune, allowing the natural dynamics to regain their rights. Adapto’s objective for this site is to draw on the knowledge and experience gained to continue to reflect on the long-term evolution of the site, taking into account the impacts of erosion and climate change.

The actions carried out on this site are as follows: (1) Exchange of experiences with other sites and capitalisation on the approach taken; (2) Educational actions with schoolchildren, elected officials, users and coast guards; (3) A historical and prospective analysis of the evolution of the landscapes; (4) The establishment of an ecological quality indicator; (5) An analysis of the social perception of users and residents; (6) The development of decision-making tools (economic and multi-criteria analyses) and consultation on possible development scenarios.

Actions

For ten years, the study and consultation about a sustainable development programme for the dune barrier resulted in 2015 in the restoration and development of the dune system and the wetlands. 

In parallel to the renaturation of the dune, a thorough reorganisation of the public reception on the site was thought out. The structuring element of this operation was the removal of a section of the road built on the dune, with the creation of a side street and parking areas, which allowed the natural dynamics to recover.

As part of the Adapto project, the Conservatoire du Littoral is deploying a series of educational actions:

  • Development and deployment of an educational programme for primary and secondary school classes 
  • Raising awareness and developing tools for the department’s rangers (facilitator’s kit)
  • Creation of an exhibition (kakemonos format) on the past evolution and future of the Petit and Grand Travers

The project is also committed to organising events to report and communicate the results of the project to practitioners, elected officials and the general public at the local and regional levels. 

It also participates in national actions to capitalise on and put into perspective the other Adapto sites’ experiences

As part of the Adapto project, the following on-site studies are being conducted: historical and prospective analysis of landscapes’ evolutions; analysis of the users and residents’ social perception; development of decision-making (multi-criteria analysis) and consultation tools on possible evolution scenarios 

The Conservatoire is also working on the implementation of an ecological quality indicator. This research project, carried out in partnership with the National Museum of Natural History as part of the Adapto project, aims to develop an ecological quality indicator tailored for natural coastal environments. This indicator should allow the description of the reconnection impacts on the ecological quality of natural coastal areas and the monitoring of their evolution. It is pivotal for the Conservatoire du Littoral and its managers that intend to improve the environmental quality of the coast. It also entails the provision of answers to the concerns expressed by various environmental stakeholders about the potential negative impacts of marine reconnection on species relying on these soft environments. 

Outcomes

Thanks to the removal of the road and the creation of access paths to avoid trampling, the dune and the various habitats are regenerating. For the time being, a habitat map is being prepared to provide details of the work’s impact on the habitats.

The initiative proposes a consultation among stakeholders on the solutions to be implemented and invites them to adopt a long-term vision of their territory.

More than half of the site is owned by the Conservatoire du littoral, which means that the Conservatoire du Littoral and the manager can provide support over a long period of time. 

Consultation with local stakeholders is essential to the smooth running of the project. 

Importance of popularising and widely disseminating the results of the monitoring carried out on the site to local stakeholders, in order to strengthen the social acceptability of management choices.

Partners

Technical partners: Conservatoire du Littoral, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Urban Community of Pays de l’Or, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CPIE Bassin de Thau, state services, municipalities and inter-municipalities,  economic actors, local stakeholders

Financial partners: European Union, French Water Agency,  Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Fondation de France, Total Foundation

Resources