Delta of the Golo

Located between the municipalities of Bastia and Penta di Casinca in Haute-Corse, the Golo Delta site stretches along nearly 30 km of coastline. It is a low, sandy formation with a lido that encloses the Biguglia lagoon. Its low profile and substrate make this area vulnerable to various coastal hazards, particularly extreme marine weather events. The richness, uniqueness, and pressures affecting these areas have led the Conservatoire du littoral to undertake land acquisition efforts covering nearly half of the coastline.

Along this coastline, the natural areas and significant economic interests must be understood and managed to organize their coexistence through the development of intention frameworks for integrated coastal zone management.

In some parts of this coastline, the environments are neglected, and the dune ridges are heavily weakened by natural impacts (storms and swell) and human pressures (buildings close to the shoreline and uncontrolled motorized use of the beaches). On Conservatoire-owned land, protective measures such as the installation of sand fences help address the issues of uncontrolled beach use and allow the dune ridges to rebuild and stabilize, restoring their natural function as barriers against saltwater intrusion.

Moreover, the Golo Delta site hosts remarkable biodiversity, including, for example, the presence of large-fruited prickly juniper, Hermann’s tortoise, and the European pond terrapin at the Mucchiatana site—species that are emblematic and of major heritage interest. Beyond these species, the delta’s geological history has also created notable wetland and coastal habitats , which are now recognized and protected as the Biguglia lagoon nature reserve, ZNIEFF sites, and Natura 2000 zones.

A study conducted by BRGM, based on shoreline evolution from 1948 to 2007, revealed different trends in coastline change across the site: some areas show sand accumulation and shoreline advancement towards the sea, while others are eroding, with local erosion rates near the Golo river mouth reaching up to 100 meters over 50 years. Using this historical analysis, BRGM projected the shoreline’s future evolution up to 2050.

The Conservatoire is actively promoting the Adapto approach among public and private stakeholders in the region, including raising awareness about responsible beach cleaning and supporting sustainable development efforts that consider long-term challenges.

Project actions and outcomes

The areas of reflection that have guided the development of the project for this site are numerous but compartmentalized (hydro-sedimentary functioning, naturalist monitoring, landscape components, etc.). These should be integrated and enhanced through a more holistic understanding. Furthermore, the site deserves local support to monitor environmental changes where natural dynamics are now freer to operate.

Forward-looking scenarios, informed by economic factors, will serve as a basis for dialogue with local stakeholders in the eastern plain (elected officials, associations, professionals, residents, and government services).

These steps are essential conditions for establishing robust, shared solutions.

Additionally, the Conservatoire will continue its efforts to protect the coastal area through land acquisition, dune ridge restoration work, and facilities to welcome the public.

Chronology

September 2018: Meetings with economic stakeholders (hospitality sector) of the study sites with the BRLi office. The goal was to present the results of the proposed development scenarios, the cost-benefit analysis, and the multicriteria analysis.

October 2018: Information meetings with residents of housing estates located on the dune ridge in the communes of Biguglia and Borgo: presentation of a technical plan for the restoration and protection of the coastal area, gathering participants’ feedback, and responding to their questions. Read the report.

February and March 2019: Presentation of technical restoration and coastal protection plans to the town halls of Furiani and Castellar di Casinca.

Spring 2019: Development works carried out as part of the Adapto project in the communes of Borgo and Venzolasca.