Capvern. This wetland resurfaces after ten years of work

“Swimming prohibited”. In the middle of the grove where the water is exposed, this sign betrays the nature of the place, a few hectometers from the A64 and the Capvern casino. A vast area of ​​nearly 175 hectares covered by brambles, ferns and invasive vegetation but which, until recently, housed a pond and remains a wetland, property of the Capvern town hall which has entrusted its management to the Conservatoire d' natural space (CEN) and for which a management plan was established in 2013. “At the time, everything was made of brambles,” recalls Audrey Ratié, responsible for site management at the CEN. “We had to clear the bush in order to allow our herd of Scottish cows to open up the environment to the five grazing parks (read elsewhere), as part of the European Life Biodiv landscape program for the restoration of natural environments via grazing.”

Although the cows have opened the way, their action is not enough to respond to the habitat, fauna and flora challenges that arise in this sensitive wetland. Also, this Thursday, students from the St-Christophe de Masseube agricultural high school (32) carried out a project to evacuate the branches generated by the cutting operations the day before to reopen this area. “It is a favorable territory for the amphibious vole, a mammal that is almost threatened and protected in France which loves these wetlands,” explains Audrey Ratié. We could not bring cows here because their trampling would have damaged the environment. Historically, we know that the vole circulates on this site, fed by the watershed of the Saint-Martin, a tributary of the Baïse.”

Marsh orchids too…

In total, two areas facing each other were reopened at the end of the day. “We take all the cutting residues from this wetland to a composting plot to preserve this environment and avoid enriching the soil,” explains Adrien, a 2nd year BTS Nature Management and Protection (GPN) student in Masseube. We talk a lot about wetlands and their protection during training, it's important to see that on the ground.” Especially since high school students are immersed in a work situation, for example with a determined site manager. “What better way to protect an ecosystem than by restoring the habitat of a species,” explains Marion Potestat, the teacher. “This is the essence of the GPN. These are the kinds of projects that they have already carried out , particularly with regard to the removal of invasive plants from ponds, and which they will be required to carry out tomorrow. Those responsible must, for example, ensure the safety of others and the equipment, compliance with the instructions given by the sponsor, and compliance. preservation of the environment, by following specifications. It is also to limit the impact that they opted for a chain to evacuate the residues.”

At the heart of attention, the amphibious vole is not the only species to benefit from this restoration program which will continue according to a new management plan. “It is a very complex environment which has experienced a lot of upheaval, with the decline of agriculture, the arrival of the A64 which diverted the watercourse, the bullet trap which fired lead in the past , continues Audrey Ratié There was a lot of rearrangement. In the 1940s, there was not a tree here, only pastures. Today, for example, we find drains which contribute to the drying out of the area. area. By blocking these ditches, we hope to raise the water level. But we must act quickly. Another opening project must take place these days, in order to restore light to wild orchids (marsh epipactis) whose 70 feet recorded are suffocating…