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A tool to design and monitor the ecological rehabilitation of degraded sites integrating nature-based solutions. Implementation on actual cases and improvement of the tool

Summary

The ALUR law, the LAAF law and France's strong commitment to achieving the "zero net artificialisation" (ZAN) objective are all encouraging the reclamation of formerly industrialised areas, with the aim of encouraging the construction of cities on top of cities and thus combating soil artificialisation. Against this backdrop, the rehabilitation and decontamination of run-down urban and rural habitats has been on the increase in recent years. One of the current challenges of redevelopment projects is to encourage the renaturation of environments and contribute to improving the quality of life of users. However, data on combined ecological rehabilitation and depollution projects is still limited, particularly with regard to the overall functioning of the restored ecosystem. Similarly, there are very few operational tools (methodology/indicators) to guide the design of a redevelopment project in such a way as to encourage the re-establishment of a functional, self-sustaining ecosystem that provides goods and services to the population.

This study proposes a conceptual and methodological approach for guiding a redevelopment project in such a way as to encourage ecological rehabilitation through the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NBS). With a view to operationalisation, an Excel tool has been developed based on this approach. Using input data specific to a site and entered by its user (manager or industry), it provides access to a list of Nature-based Solutions that can ideally replace conventional solutions that have a high impact. The tool also provides indicators for monitoring ecosystem functions and services, so that the success of the ecological rehabilitation implemented on the site can be measured. Finally, the tool can be used to keep a record of the data and actions undertaken on a site.

This tool was tested on case studies proposed by RECORD members. It was then improved to produce the prototype version 2.1 made available to RECORD members.

Publication date: July 2023

Achievement: Soltis environnement, BRGM, Vertigo Lab

Reference: RECORD, Outil de conception et de suivi de la réhabilitation écologique de sites dégradés intégrant les solutions fondées sur la nature. Mise en application sur cas réels et amélioration de l’outil, 2023, 107 p, n°22-1027/1A


Report for RECORD members only

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