Context
As part of its restoration projects, the Syndicat Mixte d'Aménagement de l'Arve et de ses Affluents (SM3A) endeavors to use plant engineering or mixed techniques, thus allowing a better integration of the works in the alluvial environment and limiting as much as possible the disturbances of the ecological functions, in particular the risks of disruption of the ecological continuity.
Plant engineering is in full expansion since GEMAPI has competently taken over the management of aquatic environments and flood prevention, as well as the regulation of dams. Indeed, the management of the numerous waterways in the Arve catchment area (1'400 km) involves several worksites set up by the SM3A.
The demand for basic plant material (various species of the genus Salix, capable of vegetative reproduction) will increase in the years to come. Hence, the need to identify extraction sites where the resource is qualitatively and quantitatively sufficient.
Objectives
If the collection of plant material in the natural environment appears to be an advantageous solution for the local supply of willow, it is necessary to establish a knowledge base of the resource available in the territory concerned, in order to constitute an inventory.
The proposed method consists of four steps:
Survey of the prospection areas:
In order to reduce the time-consuming field survey, suitable areas are targeted using geomatics’ and cartographic analyses. Initially, the criteria for defining a suitable sampling site will allow an automated selection of potential areas, particularly in terms of access. Areas outside this result will be discarded as not suitable for sampling and/or the presence of willows.
Several deliverables result from the previous stages of the project:
Project partner(s)
Project leader - team
Pierre-André Frossard
(HEPIA),
Laurent Huber
(HEPIA),
Patrice Prunier
(HEPIA)