The Tour du Valat Estate covers a total area of 2649 ha in two different geographical areas located in the Camargue:
– The Tour du Valat Estate itself, near the village of Le Sambuc (city of Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône), covers 2548 ha, including 1845 ha listed as a regional nature reserve, 715 ha of agricultural parcels and buildings, the Verdier marshes (find out more), the Petit Badon Estate, and the Commanderie dunes;
– The Petit Saint-Jean Estate, situated in the part of the Camargue located in the Gard Department, covers 101 ha, and is about 30 kilometers further west, near the town of Saint-Laurent-d’Aigouze
We are glad that efficient management and good state of conservation of 7 new French sites have been recognized by the Green List Program! I have no doubt they will constitute inspirational sources and new references for future applicants. Diversity and richness of habitats, species, governance systems and protection status of French Continental and Overseas territories are now well represented by those 22 Greenlisted sites. They will very soon be engaged in the creation of the Francophone Green List network and globally contribute to the international influence of the Green List
Conservation
Good governance
Community benefits
The Tour du Valat Estate covers a total area of 2649 ha in two different geographical areas located in the Camargue:
– The Tour du Valat Estate itself, near the village of Le Sambuc (city of Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône), covers 2548 ha, including 1845 ha listed as a regional nature reserve, 715 ha of agricultural parcels and buildings, the Verdier marshes (find out more), the Petit Badon Estate, and the Commanderie dunes;
– The Petit Saint-Jean Estate, situated in the part of the Camargue located in the Gard Department, covers 101 ha, and is about 30 kilometers further west, near the town of Saint-Laurent-d’Aigouze
Outcome of EAGL Vote on Site
Consensus
EAGL Summary
Pillar 1: Fair Governance The governance of the entire site is properly ensured by the various governance bodies set up by the Tour du Valat Foundation, which owns the entire area, and ensuring wide consultation with all stakeholders regarding the many sites managed within the Domain. The issue of governance at the Tour du Valat was considered very interesting in that the different types of protection and management of these overlapping spaces call for distinct modes of governance. Thus, the various governance bodies seem to cover the four IUCN governance categories (A, B, C and D). The seniority of the Foundation’s actions and the cooperation with the many socio-economic actors involved in the management of the various sites generates a strong local anchorage and contribute to the sustainability of these interactions. The EAGL considers that the Tour du Valat Estate has achieved all the standards of Pillar 1 of the Green List.
Pillar 2: Robust Planning All sites owned by the Tour du Valat are registered on the WDPA. However, the scope of the Domain as a whole does not appear to correspond to a specific IUCN management category, but rather to a myriad of categories based on the management objectives of each of the sites within. The Tour du Valat Estate was therefore considered by the EAGL as a preserved area or OECM (Other Effective Conservation Measures). To date, this is the only French applicant to the Green List pre-identified as such. As the Tour du Valat is an internationally renowned research Centre, the results of monitoring, studies and research benefit to the management of the various components of the site. For example, a comprehensive review is carried out during the revision of the management plan for the regional nature reserve, which allows the reorientation of management objectives for the next 5 years. The management plans for the various sites are well developed from a global diagnosis including natural, social, economic and climatic contexts. The Tour du Valat is developing programs on climate change impacts, but knowledge has not yet been integrated into management measures as such, and will be integrated with the renewal of the various management documents. Moreover, the site’s interactions with the many socio-economic players in the sector lead the manager to take into account the pressures and changes as soon as they are identified. The EAGL considers that the Tour du Valat Estate has achieved all the standards of Pillar 2 of the Green List.
Pillar 3: Effective Management The regional nature reserve is the subject of numerous scientific monitoring on natural habitats and populations and has a battery of operational and efficient status indicators. New follow-ups with indicators are being studied on parcels of economic activity. Combined with the monitoring of adjacent natural environments already carried out, this work is very interesting for the study and coherence of activities related to the various ecosystem services provided by the Domain (hydrological regulation, livestock, agriculture, saltworks, hunting, etc.) and conservation activities of the environments and target species. Two management experiences can be quite inspiring in this regard because integrating socio-economic and cultural contexts: the agroecological project of the Domaine du Petit-Saint-Jean and the participatory management of the Marais du Verdier. The Tour du Valat Foundation has a remarkable financial, human and technical resources. Threats are included and dealt with in the various management documents. The three site management plans are based on the so-called “Open Standards” methodology, ensuring the monitoring of management operations and the assessment of the state of conservation of the main values identified. Threats to the main values of the sites are well managed and adequate responses in relation to the actors of the territory are made, even if the emergence of potential imbalances (climate change, economic crises) can bring some difficulties to reconcile the various issues in the territory. The EAGL considers that the Tour du Valat Estate has achieved all the standards of Pillar 3 of the Green List.
Pillar 4: Successful Conservation Compliance with the Open Standards methodology has demonstrated the achievement of the various objectives in terms of natural values, ecosystem services and cultural values. Although some indicators are not yet established for each site regarding ecosystem services, the methodologies deployed on Petit-Saint-Jean may be adapted and replicated at other sites. Maintaining the many socio-economic activities on the site does not appear to compromise the objectives set by the various management plans for nature protection. Some components of the Domain aim to be exemplary in agroecological field in a region where agro-pastoral activities are predominant, while ensuring the preservation of the surrounding environments, the experience of the Tour du Valat in this area is quite new and inspiring for the network of the Green List.
The EAGL considers that the Tour du Valat Estate has achieved all the standards of Pillar 4 of the Green List. Decision Following the review of the application of the Tour du Valat Estate, the EAGL welcomed the remarkable efforts of the team of managers for the conservation of the values of the site and underlined the quality and completeness of the file. On the basis of these elements, the EAGL voted unanimously in favour of the inscription of the Tour du Valat Estate on the protected areas green list. The site’s visit report is available on another platform for the reviewer and Committee anytime.
Reviewer Summary
The Reviewer confirms that the Green Listing process of Le Domaine de la Tour du Valat is in compliance with the rules and procedures of the User Manual. A site visit took place after the visit schedule was approved by the Reviewer and included a visit of some of the sites of the Domaine de la Tour du Valat, as well as a consultation of relevant stakeholders. The visiting EAGL member reported to the EAGL on her visit during the EAGL meeting that was held on March 4, 2020. All needed information and documentation were shared with the EAGL members and the Reviewer prior to the EAGL meeting. The meeting, hosted by the Implementing Partner (IUCN French Committee), was attended remotely by the Site representative, their mentor and the Reviewer. During the meeting, the Site Representative and Mentor had the opportunity to present their arguments regarding the site performance level with regard to the Green List standard and its indicators, and to answer all questions from the EAGL. As for all French application processes, the Reviewer would like to highlight the efforts and time invested by the mentors to visit the site and to submit a report on the site. All MoV and site argumentation as well as the EAGL assessment outcomes and required documentation are well recorded in COMPASS (for confidentiality reasons, the site visit report will be made available to the Green List Committee through another platform). Based on their assessment, their discussion with the Site Representative and internal discussion, the EAGL decided to consider the “Domaine de la Tour du Valat” as a Conserved Area/OECM as per the IUCN definition, and after deliberation, voted unanimously for the Site nomination for the Green List. The “Domaine de la Tour du Valat” is thereby the first “OECM” (considered as such by the French EAGL) in the French jurisdiction to apply and to be nominated for the Green List. The Reviewer validates the Green List process of the “Domaine de la Tour du Valat” and submits the site to the Green List Committee for its final approval.
