The Grand Radeau / Brasinvert site stretches along the sea and the banks of the Petit Rhône, to the west of the commune of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Included in the Camargue Regional Natural Park and the Camargue Biosphere Reserve, this remarkable natural area features a variety of landscapes: maritime shores, dune ridges, pine forests, salt marshes, and sansouïres (salt-tolerant coastal meadows). It is also part of the European Natura 2000 network.

On the right bank of the Petit Rhône, Grand Radeau / Brasinvert is separated from the village center by the river’s mouth. This location makes it a unique area where the main activity is extensive breeding of Camargue bulls and horse riding tours to explore the site. Hunting is practiced on the communal plot, and the entire site is subject to regulated tourist visits.

Furthermore, the site is subject to significant erosion: in the 1980s, this led to the installation of several hard coastal defenses along this sandy shore (groynes, rock-armored dikes), which today are deteriorating and increasingly vulnerable to the sea’s assaults.

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe a remarkable assemblage of macrophytes including Althenia filiformis and Tolypella salina. The site also hosts breeding birds characteristic of the Camargue: Stone-curlew, Kentish plover, Spectacled warbler, Skylark, and Tree pipit. The Icard pond is an important site for the wintering of several species of ducks and geese.

Local partners:

Following an initial experiment solely on the coastal fringe of the Brouage Marsh between 2017 and 2022, the site’s perimeter has been significantly expanded, and support for local stakeholders will continue with Adapto+.

Located in the former Saintonge Gulf, the Brouage Marsh has gradually been reclaimed from the sea over the past centuries through progressive sedimentation linked to the Charente River’s alluvium. These natural processes have been complemented by human presence, which has shaped and embanked the area for various activities evolving over time: salt production, oyster farming, and agriculture.

The Life Adapto project (2017 to 2022) enabled collective consideration of several management and coastal evolution scenarios, along with their consequences for the future of the site in the face of climate change. For this second phase, the Life Adapto+ project will play a role in supporting local stakeholders—both public and socio-professional—in developing tools to adapt agricultural practices to climate change, including the possible relocation of certain primary activities (cereal farming, livestock, shellfish farming, etc.). This will be done in full consultation with professionals (farmers, agricultural chambers, local cooperatives, shellfish farmers, Regional Shellfish Committee).

Scientific studies will also complement these perspectives (e.g., physicochemical impact of flooding on agricultural land and its effects on natural habitats and shellfish areas, the impact of sheep grazing near shellfish farming zones, etc.).

Alongside human activities, part of the site also includes a wide range of highly diverse wetlands that support the establishment and development of remarkable biodiversity. Located in the heart of a migratory route, the Brouage Marsh is a site of major importance for the wintering, refuge, and migration of many waterbird species.

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe 270 bird species, including 69 breeding species. The most common species are wintering or migratory waterbirds, depending on the water depth and salinity. Besides birds, the site hosts 10 species of freshwater fish, 7 species of amphibians (such as the Mediterranean tree frog, Western spadefoot toad, and marbled newt), as well as 7 species of reptiles including the European pond turtle, green and yellow snake, and viperine snake. Twenty-six mammal species breed there (including the European otter and aquatic shrew). In front of the dikes, the flora consists of typical species of Atlantic slikkes (bare mudflats) and schorres (salt marshes), with large stands of spartina grasses, glassworts, sea purslanes, and seablite.

Owned by the State and managed by the National Forests Office (ONF) since around 1880, the Carcans site is part of the Aquitaine coastal dune systems. This area is classified as a “natural zone,” meaning there are no public facilities, and it is also part of the European Natura 2000 network. It consists of an unvegetated dune along the ocean edge and forested areas further inland.

Today, the coastal dune is threatened with disappearance in some parts of Aquitaine due to increasing marine erosion over time. At the Carcans site specifically, the dune’s width has decreased from 138 meters in 1957 to 40 meters in 2021.

To try to preserve the dune and maintain the essential sediment exchanges between the beach and the dune, the ONF implemented a first trial of “controlled remobilization” in 2022. This method aims to use natural processes (wind, vegetation dynamics, etc.) to shift the dune and thereby maintain its width or even strengthen its resilience.

Following the example of “La Teste / Biscarrosse,” the Life Adapto+ project will address several technical questions about the site’s future: Will dune translation be sufficient to maintain it? How will the flora and fauna evolve on and near the site? Should intervention occur on the dune’s inland retreat to ensure the potential survival of the heritage vegetation of the grey dunes?

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe the Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus), classified as a “vulnerable” species in the Red List of reptiles of Metropolitan France. The flora includes several species: Marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), Sea rocket (Cakile maritima), Sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias), Sea bindweed (Calystegia soldanella), Sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), Lyme grass (Elytrigia juncea), Curry plant (Helichrysum stoechas), and Thyme-leaved toadflax (Linaria thymifolia), among others.

In the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, between the Bec d’Andaine and the Pignochet beach of Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, the intervention area within the project framework consists of a dune massif stretching 5 kilometers and the Claire Douve marsh located inland, spanning the communes of Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, Dragey-Ronthon, and Genêts, as well as the public maritime domain.

Since the 1950s, the sea has eroded more than 350 meters of the dunes bordering the beach on the northern part of the dune massif, while central and southern sectors have received significant sediment deposits. This configuration of dunes and back-dune marshes makes this site unique. It is classified as a Natura 2000 site, a ZNIEFF 1 zone (area of great biological or ecological interest), and partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The site hosts many uses, which increase during the summer: beach activities, dune and marsh agriculture, horseback riding on the public maritime domain, hiking, including the passage of the long-distance hiking trail GR 223. This trail is threatened by severe erosion at certain points along its route.

Since the 1980s, parcels of land have been acquired by the Conservatoire du Littoral, with management entrusted to SyMEL (Mixed Syndicate for Coastal Spaces of Manche), particularly for site management work, usage agreements with agricultural operators, and relations with local stakeholders.

Fauna and flora

Regarding the flora, one can notably observe the Ophioglossum-leaved buttercup, bulbous rye-grass, lake bulrush, broad-leaved catchfly, and others.

The site is also a nesting area for many bird species such as the sand martin, reed warbler, spotted crake, and water rail. Located close to the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, the marsh plays an important role during wintering and pre-breeding migrations, especially for the wigeon, teal, black-tailed godwit, Eurasian spoonbill, and green sandpiper.

Located on the Caribbean coast of Martinique, the Bay of Fort-de-France is a strategic and dynamic area, characterized by dense coastal urbanization.

It is home to around 40% of Martinique’s population, as well as major commercial and transport infrastructures, particularly a port and an international airport, thus playing a central role in the island’s economic, social, and cultural life.

In addition to significant urban development, the Bay of Fort-de-France also includes large agricultural areas, notably dedicated to sugarcane cultivation, as well as vast natural spaces.

However, due to its low elevation, part of this territory is now exposed to marine flooding, and the agricultural lands are experiencing soil salinization, threatening the existing agricultural model.

The Fort-de-France mangrove, also known as the Génipa mangrove—the largest mangrove in Martinique—is a key element of the area and plays a crucial role in coastal protection and biodiversity preservation. It is home to several plant and animal species endemic to the island, including various types of mangroves and mahogany trees.

The southern part of the bay was assigned to the Coastal Protection Agency (Conservatoire du Littoral) in 2015, followed by the northern part in 2017.

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe mangrove species such as Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove), Avicennia germinans (black mangrove), Laguncularia racemosa (white mangrove), and Conocarpus erectus (buttonwood or grey mangrove). Protected plant species include: Oncidium ceboletta (orchids), Ammania coccinea (scarlet ammania), and Zygia latifolia (river acacia). Two CITES-listed species (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora): Swietenia macrophylla (Honduran mahogany) and Swietenia mahagoni (West Indian mahogany), as well as 153 plant species from the back-mangrove zone.

Local partners:

PState-owned and managed by the National Forestry Office (ONF), the La Teste-Biscarrosse site is part of the Atlantic coastal dune massifs of Aquitaine. Similar to Carcans, this area is classified as a “natural zone,” meaning it has no public facilities, and it is part of the European Natura 2000 network. It consists of an unvegetated dune along the oceanfront with forested areas in the background.

Following the major storms of the winter of 2013-2014, dune cliffs became widespread, and marine erosion of the beaches and dune bases intensified. As a result, the dune width is gradually decreasing.

To help preserve the coastal dune and maintain the essential sediment exchanges between the beach and dune, experimental works conducted in 2015 and then in 2020 have increased the transport of sand towards the back of the beach and allowed for the natural reshaping of the dune. This nature-based solution aims to create a new dynamic between the beach and the dune ridge.

Following the example of Carcans, the Life Adapto+ project will develop new management tools with national and European relevance for this type of similar setting.

Fauna and flora

The Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus), classified as a “vulnerable” species in the Red List of reptiles of Metropolitan France, can be observed here. The flora includes several species such as Marram Grass (Ammophila arenaria), Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima), Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias), Beach Morning Glory (Calystegia soldanella), Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum), Lyme Grass (Elytrigia juncea), Everlasting Flower of the Dunes (Helichrysum stoechas), Thyme-leaved Toadflax (Linaria thymifolia), and others.

Over more than 420 hectares protected by the Conservatoire du littoral, the Lido de l’Or (Petit and Grand Travers) consists of natural environments of high ecological value such as dune ridges, salt marshes, and forested areas that require particular attention for biodiversity conservation. It is notably part of the European Natura 2000 network of protected sites.

Located between the urban areas of La Grande Motte and Carnon, this area is particularly fragile, subjected to strong pressures from both natural and human origins. While it experiences significant erosion effects on the Petit Travers, year-round tourist activity greatly contributes to the degradation of the coastal strip.

After extensive consultation, Petit Travers was the subject of an ecological restoration project in 2014. Between 2017 and 2022, the Life Adapto project helped to consolidate and share the experience of restoring Petit Travers and to develop a forward-looking, cross-sectoral vision for the Lido over the medium and long term.

Today, the ambition is to expand the project to cover the entire Lido, including Grand Travers. This project aims to better manage the multiple uses and the very high visitor numbers over the long term while improving visitor facilities, maintaining or even developing agricultural activity, implementing innovative forest plantation management solutions with the National Forestry Office (ONF), connecting the site to the river network, and restoring and opening to the public an 18th-century signal tower listed as a Historic Monument. In this context, the Life Adapto+ project is intended to provide decision-support tools to feed the project and anticipate updates to the site’s management documents through the lens of climate change adaptation.

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe numerous bird species such as the Crested Lark, Blue Tit, Willow Warbler, Nightingale, Blackcap, and Green Woodpecker. During migrations, migratory passerines are also seen resting during stopovers. The flora is also extremely diverse, with over 150 species, including 21 considered to be of heritage value.

The Loire Estuary site has a unique dimension: spanning over 5,500 hectares, it is characterized by a rich network of wetlands, part of which is used for agriculture—mainly livestock farming. Within this site, four areas are or will be part of the Adapto+ Loire Estuary initiative.

Corsept, the westernmost area on the south bank of the estuary between the communes of Paimboeuf and Saint-Brévin, underwent a series of actions carried out between 2022 and 2024 as part of the Adapto Estuary Corsept project. Studying the expected changes at the land-sea interface, this approach highlighted adaptation pathways to rising sea levels for these areas, which include hay meadows, pathways, and nearby buildings.

Lavau-sur-Loire is one of the three new areas integrated into the LIFE Adapto+ project. This site, covering around 2,700 hectares and encompassing the former islands of North Loire, is located 19 km from Saint-Nazaire and 33 km from Nantes. To the east are Massereau-Migron, including the former islands of South Loire, and the Percée de Buzay, together covering an additional 2,200 hectares. These sites are partly designated within the European Natura 2000 network. These three new sites, where changes are already noticeable (vegetation, landscapes, and evolving uses), will be subject to further study within the LIFE Adapto+ framework.

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe many species across these four sites, such as the European otter, Alpine longhorn beetle, stag beetle, great crested newt, sea and river lamprey, twaite shad, European eel, several species of bats including the barbastelle, lesser horseshoe bat, and brown long-eared bat, as well as numerous bird species: black-winged stilt, pied avocet, golden plover, Eurasian spoonbill, black-tailed godwit, northern shoveler, marsh snipe, common shelduck, bluethroat, marsh harrier, aquatic warbler, and reed warbler…

Owned by the State since the late 19th century and currently managed by the National Forestry Office (ONF), the Luzéronde site is located in the northwest of the island of Noirmoutier and is part of the European Natura 2000 network of sites.

This site is a textbook example of a coastal dune in contact with a rock revetment. It consists of a dune ridge that protects extensive agricultural and aquaculture areas, as well as several urbanized zones located to the east (mostly private land), from flooding. This natural barrier currently varies in width from 80 meters in the northern part of the site to 20 meters in the south—the area adjacent to the Devin dike. In the event of a breach during major weather events, the island of Noirmoutier would be severely impacted.

The ONF, as owner and manager of the dune area, and the Community of Communes of the Island of Noirmoutier (CCIN), within the framework of GEMAPI, have been working together for several years to reduce risk on the southern part of the dune ridge.

The Life Adapto+ project aims to strengthen this previously initiated approach by improving the dune’s resilience through actions that enhance sediment exchanges at the dune foot and support managed retreat of the dune ridge (accompanied translation). This project relies on the expertise of partner organizations (Cdl, BRGM, CEREMA, Observatory of the Island of Noirmoutier, ONF) as well as the shared commitment of local stakeholders (CCIN, municipalities, etc.) to promote nature-based solutions to address the effects of climate change.

The findings could lead to the creation of new management tools with national and European relevance for similar configurations.

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe Ammophila arenaria, Cakile maritima, Euphorbia paralias, Calystegia soldanella, the coastal Omphalodes, Eryngium maritimum, as well as the Western spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes), a reptile species endangered in mainland France.

The Marquenterre site, located within the perimeter of the Baie de Somme National Nature Reserve, is a bird sanctuary of European renown that attracts an average of 170,000 visitors each year. Land reclaimed from the sea in the 1950s and once used for growing tulips and hyacinths, it is now made up of marshes, dunes, meadows, and reed beds.

With the acceleration of climate change effects, the site is currently vulnerable to rising water levels, drying of wetlands, and dike breaches during storms. The implementation of the Life Adapto+ project approach will help generate reflections and decision-support tools aimed at evolving the configuration and management of this site through nature-based solutions. These changes will need to balance the various uses of the site in harmony, including socio-economic activities, primary activities such as shellfish harvesting, and maintaining the attractiveness of this natural area. These studies will contribute to the “Grand Marquenterre” project, which aims to extend its influence beyond current boundaries with a coastal center project to improve visitor facilities.

This site has belonged to the Conservatoire du littoral since the 1980s and is managed by the Syndicat Mixte Baie de Somme-Grand Littoral Picard; it is part of the European Natura 2000 network.

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe more than 300 species: Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Spoonbill, Pied Avocet, Plovers sp., Eurasian Oystercatcher, Terns sp., Natterjack Toad, European Tree Frog, Loesel’s Orchid, Sand Couch Grass…

Owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral since the 1990s, the Bastidon Pine Forest covers over 18 hectares within the municipality of Londe-les-Maures. Part of a pine woodland stretching along the coastal fringe, the site also includes a wetland area and agricultural land.

Managed by the municipality, this site comprises both public and private property, local and tourist leisure activities (port, beach, walking trails, camping). It is heavily frequented during the summer season, with approximately 150,000 visitors annually on the coastal path.

Remnants of military fortifications dating back to the German occupation from 1942 to 1944 remain along the seafront. A long concrete wall marks the coastline and attests to the steady retreat of the shoreline over several decades. The proposal is to study the conditions for renaturalizing the site by removing the various hardened coastal structures. These reflections are carried out with the aim of limiting erosion downstream of the site, as well as continuing the coastal restoration efforts initiated by the previous Life Adapto project (2017–2022) at the Vieux-Salins d’Hyères site. Separated by a campsite, the Bastidon Pine Forest and the Vieux Salins d’Hyères are contained within the same hydro-sedimentary unit. This approach is also planned within the framework of the bay contract for “Rade de Toulon and the Golden Islands.”

Fauna and flora

It is possible to observe typical coastal natural habitats such as Juncus acutus, halophilous wastelands with Elytrigia species, the Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus), the Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), saltwort grasslands, and wrack lines.

Local partners:

Located in the northeast of Cotentin between Barfleur and Cherbourg, the Val-de-Saire is a site with a remarkable landscape. It consists of rocky headlands, beaches with dune ridges behind which lie marshes, wet meadows, and heathlands. As such, the reefs and backshore marshes from Cap Lévi to Pointe de Saire are part of the European Natura 2000 network of sites.

The Conservatoire du littoral has been a major stakeholder on this site since 1983, when it made its first land acquisition. It currently owns more than 530 hectares in total. The maintenance and monitoring of its lands are entrusted to SyMEL (Syndicat Mixte des Espaces Littoraux de la Manche), which manages biodiversity monitoring and relationships with local stakeholders, notably agricultural operators inland through usage agreements.

The coastal area is typically frequented in the most accessible places for recreational activities (shore fishing, hiking, hunting, etc.), including the route of the long-distance hiking trail GR 223. This trail is threatened by significant erosion at certain points along its path.

Among concrete actions, the project aims to support local stakeholders in reconfiguring land uses by relying, among other things, on the measures implemented at the Fréval site (Fermanville) in the context of coastline retreat (notably the retreat of the coastal trail).

Fauna and flora

The Val-de-Saire plays an important functional role as a stopover site during migration, wintering, and nesting periods for many emblematic waterbird species. It is possible to observe the common shelduck, pied avocet, black-winged stilt, as well as three breeding species of plovers, which is remarkable at the departmental level. The backshore wetlands also host the great crested newt, and the dunes support a heritage plant species: sea kale.