Camargue ponds & salt marshes (France)

– Rising sea levels in the Camargue (the largest delta in France) requires the development of cost-effective, long-term solutions for a system that had been extensively modified with dykes and channels.

– Following a nature-based solution approach, the former saltworks were transformed into a buffer zone to mitigate the impact of sea level rise and coastal flooding risk by enhancing the restored natural ecosystem’s functions.

– The land was bought in 2008 by French public agency ‘Conservatoire du littoral’ and its use was legally changed from salt-production to wetland conservation.

– Several coastal defences were not rebuilt neither further maintained, whereas further inland dykes were reinforced. This hybrid adaptative strategy relies on the complementarity of Nature-based Solutions and grey infrastructures and focuses on achieving greater flexibility to manage the coastline, is known as ‘strategic retreat’.

– Hydraulic works were carried out to restore hydrobiological connections of the water systems of the former saltworks to other lagoons and artificial islands have been created to promote bird reproduction.

– A new co-management structure was established with updated objectives to address sea level rise and improve habitats for biodiversity.

-The CPIE Rhône Pays d’Arles coordinated the participation of local stakeholders in creating a 10-year management plan. The plan was subsequently approved by a steering committee comprising local authorities, State services, associations, and representatives of stakeholders and users of the territory.