VIGUEIRAT MARSHES – ARLES, RHÔNE DELTA, FRANCE

The domain is characterized by a mosaic of natural wetlands and abandoned agricultural land, in particular abandoned rice fields – which were cultivated from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Cultivation practices related to rice growing have significantly modified the environmental conditions, giving rise to the possibility of natural (passive) restoration of the original environments.

The practice of levelling, soil compaction, and the construction of dykes and canals induce a fragmentation into flat plots with higher levels of salinity. Before the restoration, these agricultural wastelands provided very poor habitats for flora and fauna and were not conducive to pastoral activities.