Field Trips

It wouldn’t be a EUROPARC Conference without field trips! Great opportunities to discover the Protected Areas of the region, to learn from the field and enjoy time with colleagues and friends.

*The times expressed include travel time

#1 Management of the dunes along the Mediterranean coast

Management of the dunes along the Mediterranean coast in the general context of climate change and in the face of public overcrowding in the summer period. Each year the site is frequented by half a million visitors; which requires large-scale management operations to reconcile the preservation of nature with human activities. The sandy coast regularly falls victim to storms and floods which, in the context of global climate change and the possible rise in sea levels, could seriously compromises the protection of the dunes and the beach

Expected duration:  4h • Level of difficulty : Very easy hike • Good to know: n/a • Max. capacity: 30

Mas Larrieu national nature reserve and Nature 2000 at the Mouth of the Tech river.

#2 Old-growth beech forest and climate change (Full)

The Massane forest has been evolving freely for 150 years, which gives it a natural character. Forest continuity has been preserved here for several millennia. It is considered an “open-air laboratory” by the scientific community with more than 100 years of observations and more than a thousand publications. Hence, it is a privileged observatory of climate change and was one of the first French reserves to implement an adaptation plan as a partner in LIFE Natur’Adapt.

Expected duration: 8h • Level of difficulty : Hard enough, 800m elevation• Good to know : Bring your hiking gear • Max. capacity: 20

La Massane Forest national nature reserve

#3 Conversion of an industrial site, a former dynamite factory.

The visit will be on foot and will explain the history of the place. Paulilles is a former dynamite factory, and was an important industrial site in the Pyrénées-Orientales from 1870 to 1984. You will also discover the biodiversity of the site, its redevelopment and its environmental management as well the effects of climate change in this particluar site. The didactic tools and panels dedicated to this theme have been developed  as part of the EctAdapt project).

Expected duration: 4h • Level of difficulty : Very easy • Good to know: n/a • Max. capacity: 50

The Classified site of the Anse de Paulilles

#4 Exploration of a Marine reserve by sea kayak (Full)

The Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve protects 6.5km of coastline between Cerbère and Banyuls-sur-mer. In 2018, the marine nature reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls received two awards: it has once again been included on the IUCN Green List and has been awarded Global Marine Refuge status by the Marine Conservation Institute of Seattle for its active habitat protection, maintenance of marine biodiversity and increase in populations.

Expected duration: 5h • Level of difficulty : Easy • Good to know: Bring shoes that can get wet, a towel & a windcheater • Max. capacity: 28

Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve

 

#5 Understanding the Emporda landscape and cultural heritage (Full)

From a reading of the landscape you will discover the riches of the natural and cultural heritage of the Natural Park and archaeological remains from all periods

Expected duration: 7h • Level of difficulty : Easy • Good to know: 1h30 bus trip to Spain. Bring your ID • Max. capacity: 25

Cap de Creus Natural Park

#6 Observation of coastal dynamics in the face of climate change

The outing will focus on the management choices favoured by the administration: monitoring the free evolution and resilience of the coast in a context of climate change, supervision of uses on one of the wildest beaches of the Languedoc coast.

Expected duration: 7h • Level of difficulty : Easy • Good to know: 1h15 bus trip• Max. capacity: 25

Saint Lucia regional nature reserve

#7 Restoration and conservation of open Mediterranean environments (Full)

The Conservatory of Natural Areas of Occitanie manages natural sites that it restores as part of compensatory measures. Challenges and difficulties of the return of pastoralism in the Mediterranean context (administrative aspects, global warming, fire risk, relations with the actors in the territory

Expected duration: 6h • Level of difficulty: Easy • Good to know: 45’ bus trip • Max. capacity: 15

Causse de Castelnou

 

#8 Protecting rocky cliffs coastal habitats in a context of climate change

Discovery of the Racou protected area. Participants will discover how rocky cliffs habitats of the Mediterranean coast can be managed in a global context of climate change and over-frequentation in the summer period and enjoy a nice picnic by the sea.

Expected duration: 5h • Level of difficulty: Easy • Good to know: Easy 30′ walk from conference venue • Max. capacity: 30

Racou Protected Area

#9 Pastoral practices and biodiversity conservation in Madres-Coronat (Full)

One of the management objectives of the Natura 2000 Madres-Coronat site is to maintain open environments by maintaining pastoral practices favourable to biodiversity. We will also discuss the management of large predators, large raptors, environmental mediation.

Expected duration: 8h • Level of difficulty: Medium, +500m elevation • Good to know: Dress for a hiking day. 1h45 bus trip • Max. capacity: 20

Madres-Coronat Natura 2000 Site in the Regional Natural Park of the Catalan Pyrenees

#10 Discovery of the underwater trail of the Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve (Full)

The Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve protects 6.5km of coastline between Cerbère and Banyuls-sur-mer. The nature reserve has created an underwater trail to discover the richness of the sea floor.

Expected duration: 5h • Level of difficulty : aquatic experience of 500m round trip requires good swimming skills • Good to know: Flippers, mask and snorkel will be provided. Bring swimming costume and towel • Max. capacity: 20

Cerbère-Banyuls marine reserve