Regional Nature Park of the Cotentin and Bessin Marshes is one of the winners of the setec Foundation’s 2023 annual campaign, which focused on biodiversity in coastal wetlands.
The aim of the project to adapt agriculture in the backshore marshes of the East Cotentin coast to climate change is to improve knowledge of backshore wet meadows by monitoring their evolution in relation to global warming, in order to support farmers in adapting their practices on these meadows.
The project is sponsored by Aymeric Jayet of setec énergie environnement.
The setec Foundation has pledged 15,600 euros towards the creation of the observatory, the purchase of equipment and the outfitting of the plots.
Context
There are 19,000 hectares of agricultural land on the east coast of the Cotentin peninsula. Today, backshore wet meadows are fully integrated into the forage systems of dairy and equine farmers. The impacts of climate change on the coastal fringe will be increased by marine submersion, flooding from rising groundwater and salinization of aquifers.
The funded project is part of a wider “Our coastline tomorrow?” program comprising 3 components:
1. Regional planning
- Identification of the need for fallback zones for sectors at risk from water-related hazards in 2060.
- A prospective study on the creation of a new waterfront.
- A pre-feasibility study on relocating the Utah Beach Museum.
- Improving the resilience of protective natural spaces.
2. Business adaptation
- Analyze, anticipate and help farms adapt to climate change. Funded by the setec Foundation.
- Analyze, anticipate and support the adaptation of professional buildings to prevent coastal risks.
3. Raising awareness
- Organizing artistic, scientific and cultural events to raise awareness of the challenges of climate change.
- Experimenting with new awareness-raising methods to help local residents embrace change.
How far along is the project? :
Indicators are currently being defined. 4 major parameters have been identified:
- Climatic
- Hydraulic
- Agronomic
- Vegetation” indicators
The next steps will be to recruit volunteer farmers to equip their plots, and to consult with companies to purchase the necessary machinery and equipment.