Based on several years’ monitoring of biodiversity and farming practices in the Camargue, the Tour du Valat, in collaboration with Solagro and Agribio 04, is proposing ways to improve the reception of biodiversity in Camargue rice-growing systems. These recommendations are set out in a brochure published in January 2025, aimed in particular at farmers in the sector.
The Camargue is home to exceptional biodiversity, thanks to a mosaic of natural habitats (lagoons, marshes, salt marshes) and those shaped by agricultural activities, such as rice-growing, which plays a key role in creating wetland habitats at the height of the summer season. However, as elsewhere in Europe, the decline of farmland birds is accelerating, as a result of the loss of habitats and resources. In the face of climate change, soil salinization and herbicide resistance, it is urgent to rethink production systems and experiment with practices that are more resilient in the face of climatic hazards and market volatility, while preserving and enhancing the biodiversity of this exceptional site.
Based on work carried out in the Camargue and elsewhere in Europe, and taking into account the specific context of agriculture in Mediterranean wetlands, the Tour du Valat and its partners have published a new brochure containing recommendations for promoting biodiversity in Camargue rice-growing systems. These recommendations target the compartments for which we have expertise: birds, chiropterans, reptiles, amphibians, insects and fish.
We hope that these proposals will provide a starting point for designing new, sustainable and economically viable rice-growing systems that contribute to the biological richness and resilience of this region.
👉 The brochure, enriched with testimonials from Camargue rice growers, is available free of charge in hard copy on request from Tour du Valat and as a download at the bottom of the page (in french only).
Editors
Arnaud Béchet, Thomas Galewski & Pierre Mallet
Caroline Gibert
Clémence Rivoire
Illustrations
Cyril Girard
Graphic design
Garance Guiraud
With the support of
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Béchet A., Galewski T., Mallet P., Rivoire C. & Gibert C. 2024. Améliorer l’accueil de la biodiversité dans les systèmes rizicoles camarguais. Tour du Valat. Arles, France.
