Restoration of a floodplain meadow along the Mosson River

Three Main
Missions: Promoting Knowledge About the Region’s
Biodiversity. This mission involves establishing and coordinating the Occitanie Regional Biodiversity Observatory, as well as developing and disseminating communication materials to help the general public and elected officials better understand biodiversity issues.

Networking biodiversity stakeholders at the regional
level This mission aims to create and manage the regional network of natural area managers in Occitanie, as well as the regional forum for ARB stakeholders.

Supporting Project
Leaders Our mission is to encourage and support project leaders to promote the integration of biodiversity into social and professional practices and enable the implementation of concrete actions. To this end, a roadmap is developed in collaboration with our technical and institutional partners.

The LIFE ARTISAN
Project The LIFE ARTISAN project (Increasing Territorial Resilience to Climate Change by Promoting Nature-Based Adaptation Solutions) aims to create, over the course of eight years, the conditions for the widespread adoption of Nature-Based Solutions for climate change adaptation throughout France. It thus contributes to the implementation of France’s National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC) and Biodiversity Plan.

Supported by the efforts of 28 partners, the initiative is dedicated to:

• Demonstrating and promoting the potential of Nature-Based Adaptation Solutions (NBAS), particularly through the demonstration program comprising 10 pilot sites.
• Raising awareness and building capacity among stakeholders on this topic.
• Supporting and scaling up NbSA projects throughout the country (including overseas territories).
  Through the implementation of 40 actions, the ARTISAN Integrated LIFE Project aims to create a framework conducive to the implementation of NBS at all levels: national, regional, and local.

Case Study: The Mosson
Alluvial Meadow

Objectives:

• To recreate a functional, rich, and diverse alluvial meadow connected to the groundwater table and the Mosson River;
• Reclaim a priority floodplain area designated by the SAGE (Water Development and Management Plan);
• limit the degradation of the water body (incision of the riverbed);
• restore the green and blue infrastructure and reopen the site to the public

RESTORATION
COMPONENT Removal of infrastructure associated with a former nursery (buildings, greenhouses, road, parking lot, electrical systems)
        Reconnecting the floodplain to the river and the groundwater table:
                             - Removal of earthen embankments and clearance of fill material placed to prevent the Mosson
from overflowing                             - Deepening of the area and reprofiling of the
riverbanks - Creation of a two-level pond and a riverine annex

        Management of invasive alien plant species and preservation of protected plant species present on-site

       Vegetation restoration of the newly created habitats through seeding and planting of local species, including those collected on-site

AWARENESS-RAISING
COMPONENT Development of a visitor parking area and an educational trail (soil-and-stone mixture)
Organization of site tours (for school groups, university students, professionals, the general public, etc.)
Production of various reports on the project (video reports, technical notes, brochures, etc.)

Results
5,000 m² of impervious
surfaces removed 45,000 ^m³ of fill excavated
5 ha of wet meadows restored

Apart from annual mowing by a local rancher and the installation of educational signs along the newly created trail, the plan is to allow the restored site to evolve naturally.

This project won the 2022 Ecological Engineering Award.