The Mediterranean Wetlands Newsletter | L'info des zones humides méditerranéennes

Newsletter # 43 - July 2023

The Mediterranean Wetlands Newsletter

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Our new activity report is online!

The Tour du Valat publishes its annual Activity Report, illustrated with magnificent photos and presenting the achievements and actions carried out by the members of the five departments in 2022.

Marion Vittecoq obtained her Habilitation to supervise research

Congratulations to Marion Vittecoq, who received her habilitation to supervise research (HDR) on Tuesday 9 May 2023, after presenting her dissertation :

Parasites at the heart of biodiversity shaped by human activities: dynamics and impacts in the Camargue.

It’s summertime! Come and discover the Domaine du Petit Saint-Jean, a mosaic of Camargue environments, and its agroecologically farmed vineyard

Christian Cau, guide who has been labelled a “Vignoble et Découverte” (“Vineyard and Discovery”), offers you two ways to discover Petit Saint-Jean, our magnificent 101-hectare estate in the Camargue gardoise, cultivated according to the principles of agroecology.

A new dynamic within the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory

Based on this observation, as well as on the MWO’s experience and legitimacy as a key stakeholder in the development and dissemination of knowledge about Mediterranean Basin wetland ecosystems, it was decided to give it a new impetus that will make it a genuine strategic tool for the Tour du Valat’s pan-Mediterranean influence...

Discover our new “Adopt a Flamingo” postcards!

The tourist season is a unique opportunity to publicise our flamingo sponsorship operation and to encourage tourists in the region to become sponsors by choosing one of our flamingos for themselves or their loved ones.

Prospective campaign to study the microbial flora on the pilot site of the Rhône delta

As part of the REST COAST project, a major field campaign aimed at taking surface sediment cores from nearly 160 points spread over the entire Rhône Delta pilot site was undertaken in April 2023.

Winner of the South Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur 2023 Regional Wood Construction Prize for the renovation of the “Luc Hoffmann” building

The South Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur 2023 Regional Wood Construction Prize has been awarded to the Tour du Valat (project owner) for its architectural and energy-efficient renovation of the Luc Hoffmann building. Atelier Ostraka refurbished this 672 m2 building without air conditioning.

Fabien Verniest’s Ph.D – The contribution of assessment methods of exposure to climate and land-use changes to protected areas planning – The case of Mediterranean wintering waterbirds

Fabien Verniest, Ph.D. student in Tour du Valat has successfully defended April, 4 2023, his doctoral thesis entitled:

The contribution of assessment methods of exposure to climate and land-use changes to protected areas planning – The case of Mediterranean wintering waterbirds.

Anticipating future changes to protect waterbirds in the Mediterranean

Nearly 500 Mediterranean wetlands that are highly threatened by future climate change and natural habitat loss remain unprotected, of which 32 are of major importance for the conservation of waterbirds. These results were published in the scientific journal Biological Conservation...

Restoring islets: nesting sites now attractive thanks to a major collective effort

After 10 years of restoring or creating islets suitable for seagulls, gulls and terns all along the Mediterranean coast, the results of monitoring are now known and very encouraging. These promising results were unveiled on March 29, 2023 in an article published in the journal Conservation Biology.

Increasing presence of cranes in the Camargue: scientists and farmers take stock

These censuses show that crane numbers in the Camargue are rising sharply, with over 26,000 cranes counted in 2023, compared with just 300 in 2007. In just a few years, the Camargue has become the main wintering site for cranes in France...

INITIATIVES

TAKH launches immersive stays on the Przewalski Horses Conservation located on the Causse Méjean

in July: creation of educational tools around Przewalski’s horse
in September: science & communication
in October: study of the data collected by TAKH over the years.

You will share this unique site with the team and be supervised by a team of specialists.These trips are intended for English-speaking people and groups are limited, in 2023, to 6 people.

Mobilisation of scientists from around the world to maintain Doñana’s rich natural heritage

Scientists from all over the world, including those from the Tour du Valat, are mobilising to draw attention to the problems currently facing the Doñana region in Andalusia-Spain. This vast wetland area of international importance, a Ramsar site, a National Park, a Biosphere Reserve, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, plays a crucial role in welcoming large numbers of migratory birds from the European and Mediterranean region.

Hunters, nature managers and scientific partners meet to discuss hunting and the management of waterbird populations in the Camargue

Every year since 2007, the Tour du Valat and the Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB) have brought together those involved in hunting, nature conservation and research in the Camargue for a half-day meeting. This year’s meeting took place on Friday 26 May in Arles, and was attended by over fifty participants. The aim of this annual meeting is to encourage interaction between the various players in the region on issues relating to hunting and the management of waterbird populations in the Camargue.

Restitution of the 1st phase of the national wetlands mapping project

The restitution symposium for the 1st research and development phase (2021-2022) of the national wetlands mapping project took place on February 16, 2023. National wetland pre-location data are now available for download.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The key challenge RIVOC takes up the biodiversity and vectors summer school initiated by KIM RIVE, University of Montpellier. This year, the “Biodiversity & Vectors” summer school will be held at the Tour du Valat from 19 to 22 September 2023.

Internation conference - DÉFENDRE LA NATURE DE 1923 À AUJOURD’HUI

An exceptional conference to celebrate the Centenary of the 1st International Congress for the Protection of Nature (Paris, 1923) on 27-28-29 September 2023 at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris!