VERDIER MARSHES – SOUTHERN FRANCE

Community-based conservation empowers local people in the management process through partnerships in planning and implementation of conservation projects, with the aim of creating accountability and a sense of ownership of conservation objectives. We have taken this concept a step further, using community- based conservation principles in the planning, implementation and monitoring of a wetland restoration project. With the active collaboration of the local community, scientists from Tour du Valat (which is also the landowner) have recovered 120 ha of natural wetlands that had been converted for fish-farming.

The conservation objective was to restore key traditional Camargue habitats by moving from artificial marsh exploitation with high, continual water levels to a more natural management approach with seasonal fluctuations in water levels. The results of participatory monitoring have shown a return of traditional flora and fauna, with the recovery of permanent and temporary marshes, reed beds, pastoral vegetation and bush lands. The project evaluation showed that stakeholders appreciated their involvement in a co-learning process where habitat management, plant ecology, local uses of plants and game birds were discussed in depth with scientists and villagers.