15 October 2001: Workshop 1 “Wetlands and water management”
Including wetlands in the management tools for water resources: general
water catchment basin plans (SDAGE) and sub-catchment management
plans (SAGE) in the Rhone-Mediterranean-Corsica basin of France
Nathalie Saur, Water Agency Rhone-Mediterranean-Corsica, France
With the general water catchment basin plans (Schémas directeur d’aménagement et de gestion des eaux - SDAGE)
and the sub-catchment management plans (Schémas d’aménagement et de gestion des eaux - SAGE), the French
Water Law of 1992 has defined the first real tools for decentralized planning. Prepared at the level of the
large water basins (six basins in metropolitan France and four basins in the overseas departments) by
Basin Committees, the SDAGEs establish for each basin or group of basins the orientations of a balanced
management of the water resources, as provided for in the law.
The Rhone-Mediterranean-Corsica SDAGE was the first true opportunity to take up the subject of
wetlands at the level of water policy with water management partners more accustomed to working on
“classic” questions, such as combating pollution or management of the water resource, rather than
management of natural spaces.
Over all, the SDAGE has defined many objectives for the preservation and management of wetlands and
emphasizes:
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the need for responsible and coordinated management of water at the level of watersheds integrating
their functions;
the need to convince and involve all interests concerned;
the inclusion of these environments in conservation projects and water management and territory.
In order to fulfil these objectives, the Basin Committee took the initiative by creating a Technical
Commission for Wetlands. It is composed of 20 members representing various interests. Since September
1997, this commission has carried out studies and made concrete action proposals for the four majors
areas defined in its mandate, namely:
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surveys;
indicators the characterize wetlands and their monitoring;
means of taking wetlands into account in land management policies and water management;
creation of awareness about the role and functions of wetlands.
All of these activities have led to the preparation of several methodological tools that define the means
required for their conservation: a brochure promoting awareness and two technical notes and two
technical guides.
The most important technical note is on basin priorities, which describes in detail the policy of the RhoneMediterranean-Corsica basin. It is based on 15 priorities for action that establish rules of good conduct to
adopt for the development of a “wetland reflex” and emphasizes the need to integrate upstream wetlands
into projects (urbanism, infrastructure) and not marginalize these environments. For example, this
inclusion should become unavoidable in the sub-catchment management plans (Schémas d’aménagement et de
gestion des eaux - SAGE) that represent the SDAGE at the local level.
More than 20 per cent of the area of the Rhone-Mediterranean-Corsica basin is concerned by SAGEs
now, underway or planned. Because of this, there is a real opportunity to make efficient progress in the
integration of wetlands into local policies:
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The consultative process involved in the preparation of the SAGE is a real advantage for creating
awareness, explaining objectives and the taking up of challenges.
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The scale of the work makes it possible to work at the policy level in the field of spatial management
(development of urbanism, economic activities).
At the time of the first SAGE, taking this approach into account was relatively difficult, primarily because
of a lack of tools and methods for local committees. But the situation is now evolving, and several SAGEs
have excellent wetland components. However, aware that a political process and technical studies should
go hand in hand, the basin committee took the initiative of adopting the “Charter for Wetlands in the
Rhone-Mediterranean-Corsica basin” in October 2000. This charter reiterates the basin’s priorities from a
more political angle, but clearly shows the importance and responsibility of all interests (communities,
spatial managers, sponsors, government services and farmers) in order to meet the challenge of the
wetlands.
Acceptance of the charter implies a commitment in favour of the preservation of wetlands. The charter
was intended for parties interested in the basin in order to encourage them to initiate activities
implementing the charter’s principles.
As a further step, the basin committee will organize a conference on wetlands in the RhoneMediterranean-Corsica basin on 29 January 2002, close to the World Wetlands Day. The conference will
make it possible to review the activities completed or planned with reference to the charter, highlight
progress and begin new projects.
The main challenge will be to demonstrate the interest of these environments in relation to the
preservation and the management of water. The slogan of this day will be simply “wetlands–useful areas”.
This conference will be the first opportunity for exchanges among decision-makers in the basin and will
ensure the spreading of knowledge about outstanding activities in the basin.
Implementation of the basin’s policy on wetlands is a long process, because these environments are still
too threatened. Step by step, it tries to erase the negative perception of wetlands, point out their
usefulness and mobilize interested parties for their conservation using water management tools.