Event details

The workshop enabled French and European participants who work on major rivers to share their experiences with the management of dynamic’s rivers and their approach of the “free space for river” concept. Through presentation of projects and field trips, participants did exchange so that they could better understand this concept and its application. The documents are available on: http://centrederessources-loirenature.com/mediatheque/PF3E/workshop/work...

Contact: Stéphanie Hudin: stephanie.hudin@enf-conservatoires.org +0033 0238245500

Cet atelier a permis aux participants français et européens qui travaillent sur les grands cours d’eau de partager leurs expériences de gestion des rivières dynamiques et leur approche de l’espace de mobilité. Les présentations de nombreux projets agrémentées de sorties sur le terrain associés à des temps d'échanges ont permis aux participants de mieux appréhender ce concept et son application. Les documents relatifs à ces deux jours sont consultables sur le lien suivant : http://centrederessources-loirenature.com/mediatheque/PF3E/workshop/work...

Contact: Julien Levrat: julien.levrat@enf-conservatoires.org+0033 0238245500

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Context:

The river’s dynamics are the main instrument of a good ecological state of a watercourse. From the sediments exchange regulation to the creation of a mosaic of habitats, the importance of a river free of its movements is essential. The human activities have been disrupting this synergy between the different geomorphologic parameters structuring the alluvial systems. The great European rivers are a testimony of this, through the major works they have been subjected to. Still, there remain some undisturbed watercourses, which illustrate a “natural” functioning.

Since the 90s efforts have been put into maintaining these preserved spaces or to try to correct the inflicted damages. This is at the origin of the emergence of the mobility space left to a watercourse concept, to give rise to new orientations for the preservation and restoration of a fluvial dynamic.

During these ten years, and the Loire catchment has been a place to experiment concrete actions in favour of the mobility space on the Allier and the Loire, last great watercourses in France with a strong fluvial dynamic. Strong of these experiences, the third phase of the Plan Loire has displayed the thematic of mobility space preservation amongst the priorities of the “water, spaces, species” platform, animated by the water agency of Loire Bretagne with the support of the Federation of the natural areas conservancies.

Others initiatives are developed on different large watercourse in France, as the Adour, Ain, Moselle…

At the European level, different projects are developed with similar objectives as the restoration of the fluvial dynamic. Moreover, the structuring of a network on the mobility space of watercourses has also been considered by different parties involved (WWF, CEPA…).

Objectives:

The workshop's goals are to enable French and European participants who work on major rivers to share their experiences of the rivers dynamics management and their approach to the “free space for river” concept. Through presentations of projects and field trips, participants will be able to exchange on this concept and its application.