www.mc-salt.eu The Aigues-Mortes saltmarshes Compagnie des Salins du Midi et des salines de l Est FRANCE Sonia Séjourné, Ecosystem Manager WORKSHOP N 4 May 2015, Comacchio, Italy
www.mc-salt.eu General presentation of the Aigues-Mortes saltmarshes
www.mc-salt.eu The Salins Group : the first European seasalt producer (~2 million tons) and private owner of remarkable wetlands France 16,500 ha Compagnie des Salins du Midi et des Salines de l'est Spain 3,100 ha Union Saliñera de España Tunisia 2,600 ha Cotusal Saltworks are all integrated into the Natura 2000 Network Saltworks are almost included in the Ramsar sites
280 000 t «Fleur de sel» : 400 t Seasalt production activity Principle : circulating sea water over ponds to increase its salt concentration (35g/liter to 320g/liter) by evaporation under the effect of the sun and the wind Surface : 8296 ha Mechanical harvesting Harvesting by hand
Fishing activity Artemias Tellines Anguilla anguilla
Tourism activity 2 types of guided visits : small train to discover the salt tables : 120 000 visitors in 2014 (+20% compared to 2013) a 4WD vehicle to discover the seasalt production and the biodiversity : 600 visitors in 2014 2 new visits in 2015 : electric minibus (8 people) and bike (10 people) a salt eco-museum : included into the guided visits
Natural Spaces Management : an ecological management plan renewed for the period 2014-2019 WATER BIRDS : 200 species of birds 157 protected bird species 97 species targeted by the Bird directive (Appendix I and II) and 42 bird species registered with Appendix I 43 ISLETS CREATED SINCE 2006 Slender-billed Gull Larus genei Pink Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Natural Spaces Management FLORA : 286 species including 14 protected species HABITATS : 13 habitats of Community interest Malcomia nana The main habitat : Coastal Salt lagoons ELIMINATION OF INVASIVE PLANTS (Pampa grass)
www.mc-salt.eu Actions implemented on the Aigues-Mortes saltmarshes
Restoration of hydraulic circulation Objective to preserve and restore 6069 ha of Costal lagoons (1150*) to keep or optimize the good conditions of reception of many birds registered with Appendix I of the Directive Birds (Gulls, Terns, Avocets, Flamingos) and shorebirds State of progress Executive project written (A8) 16 of the 16 hydraulic sluices systems restored (C5) 4 of the 4 pump stations restored (C5) Evaluation of the impact of the hydraulic restoration works (E6) : a common protocol of follow-up and the monitoring indicators of the state of conservation of habitats coastal salt lagoons and associated birds specific of the saltmarshes study in progress hydraulic sluice system restoration works
Burying the electric cables Objective to reduce the mortality rate of birds due to collision to reduce any fire provoked by birds collision on electrical cables leading to damage in the natural habitats (1410 and 1420) State of progress Executive project written (A8) Works finished : 3,5 km of the electric cables buryed (C5) Machine used to bury electric cables
Actions for the favorization of nesting Objective to increase bird populations of 9 species targeted by the Appendix I of the Directive Birds (Sterna albifrons, Sterna nilotica, Sterna sandvisensis, Sterna hirundo, Larus genei, Recurvirostra avosetta, Larus melanocephalus and Phoenicopterus roseus) Nesting site creation State of progress Executive project written (A8) 1 islet created : works finished(c5) : Evaluation (E6) : decrease of pairs number between 2014 and 2013 Action in March 2015 : installation of a fence to limit the disturbance by the wild boar Species Number of pairs in 2013 Maximum strength Number of pairs in 2014 Maximum strength Sterna albifrons 16 39 Sterna hirundo 22 5 Recurvirostra avosetta 62 51 Larus genei 352 0 Sterna sandvicensis 30 0 Haematopus ostralegus 0 1 Total 482 96
Actions for the favorization of nesting State of progress Authorization obtained for the Herring Gulls scaring and eradication in 2013 and other authorization obtained for the period 2014-2016 (A8) Herring Gulls Scaring and eradication have been implemented since January 2014 instead of January 2013 because of a technical problem with the scareyman (C5) Evaluation (E6) : since January 2014, a monitoring of the impact of the fright and eradication of the yellow-legged Herring Gull has been implemented. The scarey-man was installed the 21st of January 2014 and removed the 16th of April 2014. Only one pair of the Yellow legged Herring Gull installed late between the 16th of April 2014 and the 5th of May (3 eggs). One of the two adults of Herring Gull was eradicated the 12th of May 2014. This bird carried incubatrices patches. Any installation was observed after the 12th of May Nesting site creation Scarey-man
Installation of bird hides and notice boards Objective to valorise salt-marshes and the associated biodiversity by increasing the quality of the visitors reception State of progress the Executive project is written (A8) 3 of the 3 bird hides and 17o the 15 notice boards installed in 2014 (D5)
Documentary "Salt and nature" on the Aigues-Mortes salt marshes Objective to increase the general public and pupils' awareness about the role played by the Mediterranean salt marshes in favour of biodiversity State of progress The documentary finalized in March 2015 (D6) 2 versions : 6 60 and 20 50 English and French versions French versions subtitled in English The 300 copies of DVD edited The date of inauguration at the cinema of Aigues-Mortes is in the course of definition (June 2015) It will be broadcasted at the Festival de la Camargue the 18 th of May 2015
Communication and valorisation actions State of progress a presentation brochure of the Life program concerning the salt marsh of Aigues-Mortes printed in 200 000 copies in July 2012 the specific Internet pages for the project updated regularly on the web site in connection with CSME (www.salins.com, www.saunierdecamargue.fr) : on line since March 2012 a biannual electronic newsletters on the natural areas of salt marshes managed by CSME called "Horizon sel" integrating information on the Life project : 3 broadcasted and An article on the Actions implemented in the framework of the Life + MC-SALT was broadcasted in the «lettre des lagunes méditerrannées» in May 2013 http://www.pole-lagunes.org/actualites/lettre-deslagunes/lettre-des-lagunes-mai-2013 2 press releases broadcasted : 1 released in September 2012 and 1 released in May 2014
Networking with other LIFE and/or non-life projects Two articles broadcasted in local Newspapers Midi Libre and La Provence on the workshop in the Camargue in May 2014 Interview Radio Delta FM Terre de Camargue on the European projects carried out by Compagnie des Salins du Midi in June 2014 Visit of the Sečovlje Saline located in the Strunjan Landscape Park in Slovenia to see the Thalasso activities and the other aspects of the management Photos credit : T. Vezon, P. Aguilar, C. Pin, Rey, S. Tollari, X. Ruffray and S. Séjourné /Salins
Networking with other LIFE and/or non-life projects Conference on the Life Projects implemented in the regions PACA and Languedoc-Roussillon in May 2012 (LAG'NATURE, CHIRO MED and MC-SALT) Conference organized by EuSALT (European Salt Producers' Association) the 23rd of May 2012 in Sevilla. The article "The Salins Group, a SALT company committed to European biodiversity protection" was presented to more than 70 people from all over the world. Reception of 6 people of Slovenia and Italia on the Aigues-Mortes salt marshes in 2012 in the framework of the European Project "Saltworks" which aim at making the inventory of tourist activities implemented in way compatible with ecology and restoring infrastructures in 4 saltworks (Secovlje, Strunjan, Cervia Commacchio). The LIFE + MC-SALT project was presented during the 15th edition of the Day of the Food-processing industry of Montpellier in 2013 in the presence of the regional industrialists of the food-processing industry organized by Montpellier SupAgro. (see www.supagro.fr/jaam) After the workshop in Bulgaria in 2013, we visited the Saltworks of Burgas and other wetlands around the Burgas lake
Photos credit : T. Vezon, P. Aguilar, C. Pin, Rey, S. Tollari, X. Ruffray and S. Séjourné for the Salins Group Networking with other LIFE and/or non-life projects The LIFE + MC-SALT project was presented in the framework of the Pôle Industries Culturelles et patrimoines the 23/04/2013 (see http://www.industries-culturelles-patrimoines.fr/pole-icp/actu-aemergences/mardi-23-avril-a15h.html Interview Radio Delta FM Terre de Camargue on the current events of the Life + MC-Salt in 2013 : (http://www.delta-fm.com/?p=3776) Participation at «Sapore di sale» in Cervia the 7 and 8 th of September 2013: presentation of the Life + MC-Salt and Tourism on the Aigues-Mortes saltmarshes; creation of a red beetween mediterranean saltworks La Compagnie des Salins du Midi received the Prize for Companies and Environment the 3 rd of December 2013 for its actions carried out with respect for biodiversity (http://www.developpementdurable.gouv.fr/prix-entreprises-environnement,36013.html) This information was broadcasted in the letter diffused by the "Pôle Relais Lagunes de Mediterranée en France" which is diffused to 500 partners
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