In June 2024, six French territories were rewarded for their exemplary actions in terms of adaptation to climate change and nature-based solutions. Among the winners of the 2nd edition of the Climate Change Adaptation Trophies of the European Life ARTISAN program, the town hall of Sainte-Anne, in Guadeloupe, stood out for its fight against coastal erosion and the rise of the sea level.
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An initial observation: the coasts are receding
Coastal erosion is a real problem in Guadeloupe. On Bois Jolan beach for example, the coastline has retreated by more than 50 meters! The causes of this significant erosion? Rising temperatures, rainwater runoff and marine flooding with the consequences: a loss of biodiversity, even the disappearance of certain species.
An ambitious project to stem the crisis
Sainte-Anne town hall won the award in the “Climate Risk Reduction” category by tackling the problem on several fronts. It reinforced the wooded line, that is to say, planted trees on a “line” in order to protect the soil, regulated water flows and created a biological corridor for wildlife. Ecological restoration was carried out, including stopping the planting of species not adapted to sediment retention, as well as the planting of 172 native tree species. Finally, a path was closed to traffic to be renatured.
Everyone is concerned!
For the project to work, it was obviously necessary to raise awareness among locals and tourists. The town hall of Sainte-Anne encouraged the general public to preserve this space, via information panels, discovery hikes, school trips and public meetings with local residents. Result: the project, in addition to its social acceptance, led to a slowdown in the retreat of the coastline and a return of biodiversity.
A competition that celebrates adaptation to climate change
You didn’t know about the Climate Change Adaptation Trophies? ADEME organizes this competition in partnership with the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) and the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion (MTECT). This national competition is supported by the European Life ARTISAN program and rewards the most concrete and effective field projects for adapting to climate change and preserving biodiversity. Participants are local authorities, businesses, unions or representatives of civil society. This year, the awards ceremony took place on June 10 during the Alliance Nature and Adaptation Forum organized in Toulouse by the French Biodiversity Office and the Adour-Garonne Water Agency.
How are the winners chosen?
Participants must distinguish themselves by implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS). More specifically, each participant must “present solutions to strengthen our capacity to adapt while preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services”. Verdict: out of the fifty projects submitted, five metropolitan territories and one overseas territory were rewarded!
Who are the 5 other French winners?
They competed in ingenuity in their actions. Burgundy-Franche-Comté has rehabilitated a hydrosystem in the Rumilly-Chaource forest massif to reduce water stress (lack of water) of forest species. In Normandy, agroforestry systems have been deployed to strengthen the resilience of agricultural plots. In the Grand Est, mixed silviculture with continuous cover (SMCC) on the Auberive massif has made it possible to combat the dieback of stands. In the Pays de la Loire, the Marcé stream (and its peat bogs!) has been restored to cope with changes in rainfall. Finally, the jury’s special prize rewarded developments in Hauts-de-France to combat runoff and soil erosion. Not bad is not it ?
Are you a community, a company, a union or an association working to adapt to climate change? We are waiting for you for the 3e edition of the Trophies in 2025!
