During three days, 150 researchers and managers from all over France gathered in Arles, in the Camargue, one of the country’s most iconic wetlands. Their goal: to strengthen the links between research and wetlands management in order to better preserve these essential environments.
As climate and biodiversity crises are intensifying, wetlands play key roles : water management, food security, climate change mitigation, ‘One Health’ approach, and Nature-Based Solutions.
The National Research-Management Forum on Wetlands took place in this context, from 19 to 21 November 2025. Hosted by LUMA Arles, this event brought together scientists, managers, local authorities and institutions around three goals:
- creating strong synergies between research and management;
- working better together to protect wetlands;
- devising concrete and innovative solutions.
The first day was dedicated to field visits to the Verdier Marshes, the Camargue National Nature Reserve and the Tour du Valat Regional Nature Reserve, allowing participants to immerse themselves in the specific characteristics of the Camargue region.
The following two days, organised at LUMA Arles, consisted on collective intelligence sessions led by Atout Diversité ans focusing on a central question: ‘How can synergies between research and management support the preservation and restoration of wetlands while responding to major societal challenges?’
Six key themes were explored:
- Coherence of public policies impacting wetlands
- Climate change: mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation of management
- Implementation of the ‘One Health’ approach in wetland management
- Technological innovation for wetland management: promises and limitations
- How to accelerate implementation and fund Nature-based Solutions?
- Compatibility and synergy between economic sectors and wetland protection: the example of agriculture
This Forum provided an opportunity to share the latest scientific knowledge, gain a better understanding of the needs and constraints faced by managers, and foster concrete collaborations between researchers, field workers and institutional partners. The work that emerged from these days will result in a roadmap for the next 10 years, which will be shared in early 2026.
This event was organised by the Tour du Valat, as part of the Wetlands Resource Centre run by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), and in partnership with the Ministry for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature.