Cathy-Anna Valentini, Regional Affairs and Biodiversity Project Manager, Rhone-Mediterranean and Corsica (RMC) Water Agency, Paca and Corsica Delegation, answers our questions about the ‘Turquoise infrastructure’ concept and the Rest-Chir’Eau project, supported by the Agency in its deployment.
1. THE RMC WATER AGENCY IS SUPPORTING PROJECTS TO RESTORE THE “TURQUOISE INFRASTRUCTURE.” CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS CONCEPT?
The RMC Water Agency has been pursuing an ambitious biodiversity policy under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) since 1964. We support restoration projects aimed at achieving good ecological and chemical water status through various programmes. Our aim is to preserve biodiversity and guarantee the proper functioning of essential ecological processes (reproduction, movement, maintenance of nutritive areas) and to strengthen the resilience of habitats that face climate change.
Historically, we have only worked on the “blue infrastructure,” linked to aquatic environments. Since 2016, in line with the “Law for the Reconquest of Biodiversity, Nature and Landscapes,” the Water Agency has extended its remit and areas of intervention that now include terrestrial and marine biodiversity. The concept of “turquoise infrastructure” emerged in this context and is defined locally by the RMC Water Agency to delimit a new geographical area of intervention in which biodiversity will be restored and preserved. The “turquoise infrastructure” takes account of terrestrial environments that are closely linked to aquatic environments, to better protect the species that depend on these two habitat areas to complete their life cycle. In practical terms, certain species that are dependent on aquatic environments must, at some point, leave the water to complete essential stages of their life cycle on land, whether to reproduce, feed, or move around. These species include amphibians, damselflies and dragonflies, and certain mammals, including certain chiropteran species (bats).
At the end of 2024, the Water Agency’s 11th programme (2019-2024) will come to an end. In this context, we have developed a call for projects “Water and biodiversity” aimed at restoring ecological continuity and habitats within the turquoise infrastructure to encourage the movement of target species that use aquatic and wetland environments. 235 projects aimed at restoring this “turquoise infrastructure” were selected throughout the RMC basin over the course of the 11th programme, with aid totaling approximately €35.7 million out of a total project value of €57.1 million.
Continuing in this direction, the Water Agency’s 12th programme (2025-2030) will be adopted by the Agency’s Board of Directors before the end of the year. It provides for a more advantageous rate of aid (80% instead of the current 70%), enabling €600 million to be mobilised over the next six years to support the preservation and restoration of aquatic and wetland environments, including turquoise infrastructure (subject to approval by the Board of Directors). We are aware that these policies require a long-term commitment, which is why it is so important for certain stakeholders to submit new applications so they can continue actions already in progress.
2. WHY DID THE REST-CHIR’EAU PROJECT ATTRACT YOUR ATTENTION?
The Rest-Chir’Eau project is particularly interesting for its twofold approach. On the one hand, a methodological dimension, providing a better understanding of the issues and the methods for reconnecting wetlands to facilitate the movement of chiropterans; and on the other, an operational dimension, aimed at defining the actions required to restore turquoise infrastructure.
In addition, it’s part of a coherent approach for us, as it follows on from an initial project funded by the RMC Water Agency on the Petit Badon site: having worked on restoring the wetlands themselves, we’re now focusing on interconnecting them to re-establish the ecological corridors essential for the movement of species that depend on these habitats, such as bats. This fits in perfectly with our objectives.
The approach is also quite innovative, as we have not yet worked on any initiatives assessing the functionality of wetlands and the turquoise infrastructure from the point of view of chiropterans. It could therefore serve as a reference for other similar projects in the future. This feedback will also enable us to promote similar initiatives in areas with comparable characteristics, based on a tried and tested methodology for tackling these issues.
The citizen science developed in Rest-Chir’Eau also represents a particularly interesting aspect for us in the context of this project. The 2022-2027 SDAGE (Master Plan for the Refurbishment and Management of Water Resources), which defines the water policy framework for each river basin, and the Water Plan emphasise the need to involve the general public more closely and raise awareness on the issues involved in preserving water, aquatic environments, and biodiversity in the broadest sense of the term. Informing and involving the general public in local projects is often crucial to their success, as it generally leads to a better understanding of the issues and objectives, and even enhances the project.
3. COULD YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY THE WATER AGENCY THAT HELP CHIROPTERANS?
As part of the “Water and Biodiversity” call for projects in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region, several interesting initiatives have been aimed at restoring habitats and continuity for bats in the turquoise infrastructure, such as the rebuilding of hedgerow networks so as to reconnect aquatic and wetland environments. One example is a project with the Camargue Regional Nature Park, which submitted a project in 2024 to restore hedgerow networks for chiropterans within the turquoise infrastructure. The project was selected by the jury and should receive aid from the Water Agendy. For more than 30 years, the Camargue RNP has run an annual reforestation campaign aimed at local residents. Since 2018, it has also been supporting the restoration of wooded corridors in the wetlands of the Camargue, by planting hedges along the edges of agricultural fields. More than 6 km of hedges have been planted in a project guided by the RNP, in partnership with volunteer farmers, the Bouches-du-Rhône Chamber of Agriculture, the Tour du Valat, and the Provence Chiropteran Group (GCP). The Camargue RNP wishes to continue this turquoise infrastructure reconnection process, with the aim of planting an additional 20 km of hedgerows by the spring of 2027.
It is important to note that, in addition to the biodiversity issues, these types of projects can also contribute to other objectives, which can increase the involvement of local stakeholders, such as:
- Improving the quality of agricultural land in the context of climate change;
- Preserving natural resources, keeping water in the soil, limiting irrigation needs;
- Preventing soil erosion, promoting water purification, and mitigating natural risks;
- Encouraging crop auxiliaries, reducing or avoiding spraying, promoting pollination;
- Producing a wind-breaking effect and providing shade for livestock.
To find out more about the Water Agency’s commitment to biodiversity and wetlands, visist the visit the agency’s website.
