Post-flood work in the Haute Loire: Stop indiscriminate management and clear-cutting

In an open letter to those responsible for planning, delegating or carrying out work to remove logjams, SOS Loire Vivante welcomes the rapid decision by the French government to provide financial support to communes and communities of communes, but is also surprised at the way in which the work has been carried out.

In some sectors, clear-cutting was carried out without any distinction being made between vegetation that poses a problem for the flow of water and vegetation that is useful for the proper functioning of the environment and for maintaining the banks. Riverside vegetation is a habitat for numerous species, including the emblematic beaver, the otter and many birds. The lack of training or guidelines for the companies to whom the work is delegated is no longer possible.

In its letter, the association also asked that future logjam removal and, above all, maintenance projects in the Allier region be subject to precise specifications to take account of biodiversity issues, while respecting the environment and species protection laws.

Read letter (in French only)

logo Living Rivers Europe

Living Rivers Europe publishes its position : Making Europe climate and water resilient

from wwf epo , 24 january

Europe stands at a critical juncture. As the fastest-warming continent, we are witnessing the devastating impacts of climate change – from deadly floods to severe droughts and wildfires – all driven by extreme water events. At the same time, Europe’s freshwater is widely polluted, with less than 30% of surface waters meeting pollution standards set by the Water Framework Directive. Time is running out, but decisive EU leadership can pave the way for a resilient future.

As the EU prepares its Water Resilience Strategy, the Living Rives Europe coalition is launching its joint position on the path forward for a water and climate resilient Europe.

Read the position here.

New cycle of Tuesday Webinars: REGISTRATION OPEN

Public debate – also via videoconferencing and webinars

Register and take part in our next webinars. Already 3 new dates.

Programme details and registration here (in french only)

  • 26 novembre 2024 de 16h à 18h : « Saumon Loire Allier : où en est-on ?

  • 3 décembre 2024 : Les aménagements urbains de protection contre les inondations de Brives-Charensac à l’épreuve!

  • 21 janvier 2025 : La pollution microplastique sur le bassin de la Loire.

Flood of 17 October 2024 in up part of the Loire

We were all impressed by this latest episode of flooding on the upstream Loire, which brought back a few memories.

Fortunately, once again, the arrangements at Brives-Charensac and the warning systems for major floods worked well.

The SOS Loire Vivante – ERN association is delighted to be behind this 4th solution.

In December, we will be organising a webinar on the subject of flood defences at Brives-Charensac, including an assessment. This will be an opportunity to find out more about the project.

In the meantime, for more information, you can read the brochure published in 2019 by the Ministry on the role of ecosystems in preventing natural hazards and page 11 dedicated to Brives-Charensac.

You can also read the article in L’Eveil about the flood of 17 October 2024.

Save the date: Tuesday 4 June from 4pm to 6pm Webinar Sélune – how do the river and the valley get back into flow?

In the series of Tuesday webinars organised by ERN- SOS Loire Vivante, book your Tuesday 4 June trip to the Sélune.

ERN France in partnership with the OFB is organising a webinar on the Sélune on Tuesday 4 June from 4pm to 6pm.

We will be welcoming 3 researchers. They will present the latest results of their work. Focusing on the post-effacement phase, we will try to understand how the river and the valley are resuming their course. The presentations will be followed by an hour of discussion.

Programme:

Alain Crave: Restoration of sedimentary, hydric and chemical continuity and changes in water quality
François Martignac: Recolonisation of the Sélune valley by migratory fish
Marie-Anne Germaine: What project for the region after the dismantling of the Sélune dams? A social approach to ecological restoration

 

If you are interested, register to take part in the webinar (in french) : https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ytrz6dxMQUCAhysM6DCCVw

All replays of our webinars (french only) :  Webinaires – European Rivers Network (ern.org)

15 days to go until 2 February, World Wetlands Day!

In a couple of weeks, we’ll be celebrating wetlands all over France and the world!

530 events have already been approved for WWD 2024.

From 2 to 29 February, organise or take part in an event on the theme: “Wetlands, sources of human well-being”.

Our 2023-2024 webinars are online: flood risk, ecological continuity, hydric stress, etc.

With between 70 and 90 people registered for each webinar, SOS Loire Vivante – ERN is helping to raise awareness of the issues surrounding water and rivers.
Watch the replays of our webinars from December 2023 and January 2024 (french only):

9 January 2024: Flood risk: “How can technology help us respond better to flood risk?” more info and programme here
19 December 2023: Law, Hydro & Ecological Continuity, more info and programme here , organised in partnership with Réseau RivièresTV, the Centre de Ressources Cours d’eau and supported by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB)
5 December 2023: Water stress and water savings on the Allier, more info and programme here

All our webinars since 2020 (french only)

February 1st Webinar (In French only) : Flood risk: memory as an awareness tool

 

With climate change, the risk of flooding is changing. Raising awareness and transmitting the memory of the risk are essential to better live alongside living rivers. Through examples of cities in France and abroad, ERN proposes to review the situation on Tuesday, February 1, from 4 to 6 pm during a webinar.
Detailed program available soon.
>> You can already register by clicking here! (french langage only)

Colloquium “Climate Stress: Nature to the Rescue of Aquatic Environments” in Paris on October 26, 2010

On Monday, October 26, ERN will co-host the meeting “Climate stress: nature to the rescue of aquatic environments” with IPEC (Sub-Directorate for Pedagogical and Collaborative Innovation/ Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Land Use Planning) and the University of Lorraine. Accessible both in person and remotely, registration is free but compulsory.

Information, registration and program: https://catalogue.ifore.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/content/stress-climatique-la-nature-au-secours-des-milieux-aquatiques

Contact and information: Alexis Pasquet-Venzac – alexis.pasquet [at] ern.org

 

 

 

23 companies signed a joint business statement of support for the WFD

23 large companies taking a stand for the EU water law & calling on the EU to uphold it ! Fantastic !

We hope EU Commission will bear this in mind as it finalises its #BiodiversityStrategy.

Euractiv published the announcement of this statement made this morning. The statement is available on Coca-Cola’s website.

“DON’T WATER DOWN THE RULES (Read complet article on euractiv.com)

“Why Europe’s rules on protecting our water are working – and why we should stick with them.

There has never been a greater need for us to protect and restore our freshwater resources in Europe. […] Coca-Cola, as the world’s largest beverage producer, recognizes the need to protect freshwater resources for people, nature and business. It’s why effective water management is one of our key business priorities. […]. That’s why Coca-Cola and two of its biggest bottling partners in Europe (Coca-Cola European Partners and Coca-Cola Hellenic), along with 20 other companies who have signed a joint business statement stand with the 375,000 European citizens who have urged the European Commission – and governments across the EU – to maintain the EU’s Water Framework Directive in its current form. We want to see this Directive kept intact and fully implemented and enforced, as called for by numerous environmental groups through the #ProtectWater campaign. This EU wide law is vital.  It sets a much-needed deadline for us to protect and restore Europe’s freshwater ecosystems by 2027. […] In fact, other countries outside of Europe, including India and China, have been so inspired by the governance model provided by this Directive, they have adopted similar principles when drafting their own legislation. To maintain its credibility globally, the EU cannot and must not change the current legal requirements of the Water Framework Directive.  The rules are working and we should stick with them.