Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 December, the Department of Maine-et-Loire, via the public river land service and in collaboration with learners from the Fresne Vocational Training Center, planted 300 meters of riparian forest along the Sarthe. Ripisyl is all the vegetation necessary to protect river banks, preventing their erosion and promoting the development of biodiversity.
In the commune of Briollay, 85% of the banks of the Sarthe are devoid of vegetation. This poses a real problem of erosion, loss of biodiversity, warming of water and a decline in attractiveness for tourism.
To respond to these issues, the Department carries out various operations along the Sarthe, between the Cheffes lock and its confluence with the Mayenne.
A renaturation operation in Briollay
The Department carries out revegetation via three methods: maintaining spontaneous vegetation by stopping mowing, planting willow cuttings on the banks in the areas most exposed to erosion and planting riparian forest along the river courses. 'water.
In Briollay, the Department has undertaken a complete planting project. This involves encouraging the spontaneous resumption of vegetation on the left bank of the Sarthe and planting riparian forest.
In order to accelerate the recovery of woody trees, the work took place on December 9 and 10, 2024. It was initially scheduled to last three days, but rising water levels, due to recent rains, prevented further planting for the moment. Over a 300 meter stretch, trees and shrubs were planted. The long-term objective is to create a total of nearly one kilometer of plantations.
François Letourmy, Rivers Technician at the Department, explains: “ The new riverine plants come from local crops and are particularly suited to the banks of watercourses. These species resist the erosive force of the current well and keep the banks of these rivers navigable. Riparian forest promotes shade and coolness, essential to combat global warming. Finally, it constitutes an excellent habitat for the surrounding biodiversity. ».
A project in partnership with the Fresne Professional Training Center
This project is entrusted to the Fresne Professional Training and Agricultural Promotion Center (CFPPA) as part of a school project. Around ten learners planted plants of local species adapted to the banks of watercourses: Fresnes, Black Poplars, Black Alder, Black Elder, etc. In order to limit competition from herbaceous plants, a biodegradable canvas was placed on the entire plantation linear.
Among the learners, landscapers, but also people in retraining like Lola, formerly an actress: “ I wanted to do something concrete, given the environmental situation ».
For Marie-Jo Hamard, President of the ecological transition commission, “ The Department is proud to partner with the Fresne Training Center to preserve biodiversity in Maine-et-Loire. The Department's teams maintain, enhance and protect the 250 km of rivers in the Fluvial Public Domain which run through the territory. Climatic conditions have changed greatly in recent years, but the community knows how to adapt and act to continue to make Anjou a good place to live. »
The cost of the work
The total cost of the operation is limited to €3,300 including tax thanks to the creation of a training site. This operation is subsidized up to 80% by the Loire-Bretagne Water Agency and the Pays de la Loire Region.
A three-year plan
The sectors concerned by these actions are defined in consultation with local authorities, managers of paths along the Sarthe, and farmers.
This ecological restoration work is financially supported by the Loire-Bretagne water agency and the Pays de la Loire Region through the Territorial Water Contract for the Basses Vallées Angevines and de la Romme (CT Eau BVAR).
Several operations for the reconquest of the Sarthe riverine forest downstream of Cheffes are planned for a budget of €42,000 including tax over the period 2024-2026.
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