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:

In French Guiana, large mudbanks move along the coastline from east to west. When present, they dissipate wave energy, protect the coasts from erosion, and allow mangroves to develop. When absent, waves break directly on the beaches, causing stronger erosion. In this way, the coasts of French Guiana are highly dynamic and ever-changing.

Until the early 1980s, the coastline of Mana was made up of a mosaic of wetlands and mangroves along the shore. This area, called the “Savane Sarcelles,” was then converted into a large 5,000-hectare polder dedicated to rice cultivation, which led to the creation of new open wetland habitats rich in biodiversity.

Between 2000 and 2016, in the absence of a protective mudbank, the coast receded by one and a half kilometers.

In addition to these erosion problems, other constraints and difficulties arose that hastened the end of the large rice development project on the site: regulatory changes, changes in ownership, and various economic challenges.

This agricultural decline led to the closure of wetland habitats, which became less rich in biodiversity.

The Mana polder is known for its remarkable and unique ornithological richness at the scale of French Guiana. Each year, it hosts hundreds of thousands of birds from over 200 different species. Among these, migratory shorebirds represent the largest populations, and for them, conserving the Mana polder’s carrying capacity is a conservation issue of global importance.

Aware of these stakes, the Conservatoire is undertaking land management actions to protect this area and preserve its richness by implementing a site project based on diversified agricultural use, public access, and ecotourism development focused on birdwatching.

Project actions and outcomes

The Adapto program plans to implement several studies, some of which are essential for developing the site’s management plan. An example is the BRGM study aimed at modeling the medium-term projection of the coastline. This study will help define the boundary between the natural area, where a flexible coastal management approach will be tested, and the exploited area, thereby establishing an appropriate management strategy.

Maintaining open habitats through cattle grazing, combined with the restoration of the hydraulic network, will contribute to preserving wetlands favorable to birdlife. The ornithological richness of the rice fields gives them strong ecotourism potential. Birdwatching could eventually become the main activity in the former rice fields.

Chronology

2018

• July 5: Land acquisition of 1,500 hectares.
• September 3: Acquisition of a pre-emption right on an area of 2,200 hectares.
• September 14: First steering committee for the development of the management plan; a consortium of four consulting firms is responsible for its implementation.
• October 17: BRGM begins a study aimed at modeling the medium-term (50 years) projection of the coastline and the risk of marine flooding on the polder.
• November 19: Start of the landscape study in partnership with ENSP.
• November 28: First technical committee meeting; BRGM explains the vulnerability of the rice fields to erosion and marine flooding.

2019

• March 11 to 16: EUCC-France workshop in Guyana. Meeting between researchers, managers, and elected officials to exchange knowledge and management strategies for the Guyanese coastline. The Adapto project and results of the landscape study will be presented.
• May 13 to 17: Study trip to Camargue; stakeholders from the Mana territory and elected officials visit sites facing similar issues to Savane Sarcelles.
• May: Results of the BRGM study, on which the consulting firms in charge of the management plan will rely to finalize their diagnosis.
  June: Second steering committee for the management plan; consulting firms will present the results of their diagnosis.
  Workshop on agriculture with actors from the agricultural sector and project leaders to discuss allocation conditions and individual needs.
• July: Start of work to create the first public access to the sea.
• September: Implementation of educational activities in Mana primary schools in partnership with the Association for the Discovery of Nature in Guyana (ADNG).
• December: Third steering committee meeting presenting the project definition for the site.