The riparian forests of the Cèze and Gardon rivers include several habitats of Community interest such as alder woodlands on floodplains and Mediterranean riparian poplar forests.
These woodlands are in a poor state of conservation due to historical methods of watercourse use (i.e., channeling and removal of sediments) and inappropriate management practices that continue today, notably clear-cutting for the exploitation of energy wood. These activities continue to impact habitats and can even limit their regeneration. In addition to their role of water filtration and protection against floods, the riparian forests of the Gardon and Cèze rivers play multiple ecological roles for different species, acting as hunting corridors for bat species such as the Great Rhinolophus and as a breeding ground for certain dragonflies.
Riparian forests protection
Riparian forests are woodland that may be found on the banks of a waterway. While riparian forest only form 1.6% of the Languedoc territory, compared to 51% for forests in general, they withstand a lot of pressure, including from forest exploitation.
Establishing an ORE in a strategical Bonelli’s eagle nesting site
Before the 1980’s, the Lussan garrigues used to be the home of the Bonelli’s eagle. Today, they have a high potential for rehabilitation.