NEWS & EVENTS

Balancing Conservation and Development: A Case Study in France and Madagascar

This case study explores the balance between conservation and urban infrastructure development in two distinct regions: France and Madagascar. Both countries face the challenge of preserving biodiversity while pursuing essential infrastructure projects. In France, the Ligne Nouvelle Montpellier-Perpignan rail project intersects with protected natural areas, while in Madagascar, efforts focus on mitigating the environmental impact of urbanization and transportation expansion. Through the GUARDEN project, innovative tools and collaborations are being used to address these challenges and support sustainable development in both regions.

Case Study in France

The Ligne Nouvelle Montpellier-Perpignan (LNMP) is a rail development project aimed at improving passenger transport in the Occitanie region and between France and Spain. Currently, certain sections of the route are not designed to carry freight. This segment crosses the Parc Naturel Régional de la Narbonnaise, an area known for its rich biodiversity.

The park, like other regional parks, follows a land-use planning strategy that balances protection, management, and economic development. One of its goals is to support major infrastructure projects while minimizing their environmental impact and integrating them into the region’s growth. Along with the new rail line, a new station in Narbonne is also being planned near the park.

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As part of the GUARDEN project, a collaboration between the Parc Naturel Régional de la Narbonnaise and the Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen—a GUARDEN consortium member—has been initiated. GUARDEN aims to enhance knowledge on local flora, habitats, and ecosystem services, helping to address conservation challenges. This will be done through four key GUARDEN technologies: Pl@ntNet, GeoPl@ntNet, Future Scenarios Maps, and a Decision Support Application.

  • The Pl@ntNet app will improve plant identification by introducing a new feature for identifying plants within quadrats. To support its development, the Conservatoire is conducting botanical inventories and photographing quadrats—43 locations have been surveyed so far, primarily in the Narbonnaise park and along the planned route.

  • The GeoPl@ntNet app will map plant species observations and predict both species distribution and EUNIS habitats.

  • The Future Scenarios Maps  will visualize biodiversity and ecosystem services under different climate and land-use scenarios. They will also allow for an assessment of various train route options and their potential impacts.

  • Finally, the Decision Support Application will centralize all this information, offering a holistic view to aid decision-making. A focus group has already been conducted to identify the stakeholders’ needs, with further discussions planned to refine the tools.

Case Study in Madagascar 

Madagascar, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, is home to over 12,000 species of vascular plants, most of which are endemic. The GUARDEN project in Madagascar focuses on three objectives:

  1. Studying the impact of weeds and ruderal plants on habitat fragmentation.
  2. Quantifying natural vegetation and evaluating the role of native plants in ecosystem restoration, particularly in areas along national highways and frequently burnt vegetation.
  3. Increasing public involvement in nature conservation.
To achieve these goals, GUARDEN is promoting the development of Pl@ntNet while engaging stakeholders in project activities. In its first year, a partnership led by the University of Antananarivo and CIRAD brought together key players like Madagascar National Park (MNP), the Forestry Department (FOFIFA), and the University of Mahajanga.
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Fieldwork has significantly enriched the Pl@ntNet database. Observations and vegetation plots are grouped under the “Madagascar Flora” category within the app. Currently, there are over 130 members who have contributed more than 4,400 observations representing 1,216 species. Additionally, more than 300 vegetation plots have been recorded, with this data being used to assess local plant diversity and the impact of human activities—such as road construction or logging—on ecosystems.

These observations have primarily come from various regions, including Analamanga, Itasy, Alaotra-Mangoro, Boeny, Ihorombe, Atsimo-Andrefana, and Anosy.

Fieldwork and training sessions are scheduled for the second year to continue expanding knowledge and engaging stakeholders in the region.

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