PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The coastline of Languedoc-Roussillon is low, consisting of wetlands that cover some 40 000 ha. Along this coastline, a great number of Natura 2000 sites have a similar natural heritage: the same types of lagoon habitats, perilagoons and dunes of Community interest and the same species related to these habitats.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective is to create a network of five lagoon and dune Natura 2000 sites. Such a network and other actions are expected to improve the management of each site. The specific objectives are to:
RESULTS
All actions achieved their objectives, except for two actions that were cancelled. In the Natura 2000 site of the Palavasian ponds, the project restored the connection between 1,000 ha of peripheral wetlands and the lagoons, improving the ecological state of the lagoons. The project also directly contributed to restoring dune habitats in the sites of Camargue gardoise (25ha of fallow land in Terre-Neuve reconnected to the Espiguette dune massif) and Basse plaine de l'Aude (4 ha of dune habitats restored by the removal of a car park). Moreover, the beneficiaries carried out experimental actions on invasive species on the 5 project sites except in Camargue gardoise, especially on the Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) for animal species and on Barbary Fig (Opuntia ficus-indica), Hottentot Fig (Carpobrotus acinaciformis), False indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa) and Baccharis spp. for plant species. The beneficiaries shared the knowledge acquired. Finally, they improved the management of public attendance on all sites except in Salses-Leucate. Concerning indirect impacts, the project improved the coordination of the different environmental police bodies and raised the awareness of decision-makers, tourism professionals, farmers, school children and the general public on the ecological value of the coastal natural areas. The project led to the creation of a methodological and technical guide to carry out restoration activities on lagoon and dune habitats, which may be useful to other natural area managers. The project had a positive impact on the employment at the regional level - in a region that is economically depressed. Indeed, the project used the services of local economic operators for about 908,000 euros. and directly employed 27 full-time equivalent contracts over five years. All actions achieved their objectives, except for two actions that were cancelled. In the Natura 2000 site of the Palavasian ponds, the project restored the connection between 1,000 ha of peripheral wetlands and the lagoons, improving the ecological state of the lagoons. The project also directly contributed to restoring dune habitats in the sites of Camargue gardoise (25ha of fallow land in Terre-Neuve reconnected to the Espiguette dune massif) and Basse plaine de l'Aude (4 ha of dune habitats restored by the removal of a car park). Moreover, the beneficiaries carried out experimental actions on invasive species on the 5 project sites except in Camargue gardoise, especially on the Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) for animal species and on Barbary Fig (Opuntia ficus-indica), Hottentot Fig (Carpobrotus acinaciformis), False indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa) and Baccharis spp. for plant species. The beneficiaries shared the knowledge acquired. Finally, they improved the management of public attendance on all sites except in Salses-Leucate. Concerning indirect impacts, the project improved the coordination of the different environmental police bodies and raised the awareness of decision-makers, tourism professionals, farmers, school children and the general public on the ecological value of the coastal natural areas. The project led to the creation of a methodological and technical guide to carry out restoration activities on lagoon and dune habitats, which may be useful to other natural area managers. The project had a positive impact on the employment at the regional level - in a region that is economically depressed. Indeed, the project used the services of local economic operators for about 908,000 euros. and directly employed 27 full-time equivalent contracts over five years.
