D.T2.2.6 Environmental Assessment Report France 8.5 Mb

Project number: 639 Project acronym: trAILs Project title: Alpine Industrial Landscapes Transformation DELIVERABLE D.T2.2.6 environmental context assessment report TUM + CAUE84 Work package: T2 T2 – Assess AILs: assessment procedure (pilot-based) Activity: A.T2.2 A.T.2.1: Assessment framework Technical University of Munich, Chair of Restoration Ecology Organization: Kerstin Bär, Johannes Kollmann Deliverable date: 20.05.2020 Version: final Dissemination level: final Dissemination target: WP T2 This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg Alpine Space programme CONTENT 1 FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................................... 3 2 ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMINOLOGY ............................................................................................. 5 3 PART 1: RESULTS OF THE AIL ASSESSMENT .................................................................................... 6 3.1 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 RESULTS OF THE ASSESSMENT – POTENTIALS AND PROBLEMS ................................................................................... 9 4 PART 2: PERFORMANCE OF THE AIL ASSESSMENT ...................................................................... 20 4.1 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 20 4.2 ANALYSIS ELEMENTS REVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 24 4.3 PERFORMANCE CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 28 5 PART 3: FEEDBACK OF THE REGIONAL PARTNER ........................................................................ 29 6 APPENDIX............................................................................................................................................ 32 6.1 APPENDIX A – GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................................... 32 6.2 APPENDIX B – ASSESSMENT PILOT SITE L’ARGENTIERE ............................................................................................ 34 6.3 APPENDIX C – ASSESSMENT LA ROCHE DE RAME .................................................................................................... 63 7 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 70 Page | 2 1 FOREWORD The assessment report has two parts. First part is a document providing essential knowledge of a specific AIL pilot area, and second part is a reflection on the assessment method performance in the AIL pilot site. With the ‘learn-by-doing’ approach on four different pilot area, research project partners identify and gradually specify key elements of individual assessments that work for the AILs. Assessment reports are part of the activity WP T2: Co-assessment of AILs actual conditions and in a set of five thematic assessment reports, five different deliverables for each pilot area: D.T2.2.2 – Existing policies on local/regional level assessment reports D.T2.2.3 – Spatial and landscape assessment reports D.T2.2.4 – Socio-demographic assessment reports D.T2.2.5 – Economic context assessment reports D.T2.2.6 – Environmental context assessment reports Together with mini reports - D.T2.2.1, the assessment reports form an input for the workshops in the WP T3 (Fig. 1). The template of the assessment report is structured to facilitate two main parts of the Co- assessment of AILs: Part 1 – Assessment of AILs which constitutes main findings of the AILs actual conditions, results of the assessments, conclusions and recommendations. Its purpose is to be used for the activities in the WP T3 (the dossier) – workshops with relevant stakeholders. Part 2 – Performance of the Assessment that investigates how the Assessment and its parts performed on the given AIL site. It is conducted through a reflection questionnaire for the research partner and regional partner of that AIL. Its purpose is to evaluate the analyses used in the assessment process and to monitor variability of the assessments throughout the AIL pilot sites. Page | 3 Fig. 1: Scheme of the WPT2 Assessment Framework with the general structure of the assessment reports, their input source (WP T1 and site visits) and output purpose (workshops). Page | 4 2 ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMINOLOGY Alien plant = Plant taxa that occurs in a given area outside its region of origin due to intentional or accidental introduction as a result of human activity (Richardson et al. 2000). Habitat type = A unit in an ecosystem that is defined by a unique vegetation structure and comprises an environment for specific species and species assemblages. Ecosystem function = Energy, matter and information fluxes linking ecosystem compartments (Meyer et al. 2015). Ecosystem service = Functions and products of an ecosystem that directly or indirectly benefit humans; often ecosystem functions are considered a service when they can be attributed an economical value (Meyer et al. 2015). Indicator species = One or more taxa selected based on high sensitivity to a particular environment attribute, and then assessed to make inference about that attribute (Siddig et al. 2016). Invasive plant = Naturalized plant species that sustains viable populations over several generations without human intervention and produces reproductive offspring in very large numbers providing the species with the potential to spread over large areas (Richardson et al. 2000). Succession = Process of change observed in an ecological community in relation to species structure and assemblage with time after disturbance (Connell and Slatyer 1977). Page | 5 3 PART 1: RESULTS OF THE AIL ASSESSMENT 3.1 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY Brownfields can be ecologically valuable, since they often host a mosaic of numerous habitats within a small area, and thus support a high diversity of plant and animal species. However, they might be polluted due to former use and are often colonized by invasive alien species, that are negatively affecting human health, economy and biodiversity. Brownfields in the Alpine region could be an enrichment of the local biodiversity, but also threaten the largely intact and often rare Alpine ecosystems. Therefore, an ecological assessment of former brownfield sites is a prerequisite when aiming at their transformation. We assessed habitat units on and near the former Pechiney site in L’Argentière-la Bessée based on aerial photographs and verified them in the field. Almost half of the site was vegetated. These areas have considerable potential as habitats for plants and animals. Thirteen different habitats could be assessed in the field. The high diversity of habitats correlates with a high number of species. Thus, we could identify 143 plant, 27 butterfly, two reptile, two dragonfly and three locust species. Especially the area along the rail tracks, along the small stream Fournel and the dump offer valuable habitats to lizards. Dragonflies and locusts occurred in high abundances. Some of the identified species are rare and/or legal protected, and therefore have to be considered during the planning process. However, we also found three invasive alien species. Two of them might have negative impacts on native biodiversity. Other ecological problems related to industrial brownfields are risk of erosion, unfavourable soil conditions which affect plant establishment, risk of flooding and pollution. The risk of erosion was assessed using the information about slope and vegetation cover. Existing data on pollution point out that two larger areas were contaminated with fluoride and hydrocarbons from aluminium processing. Measures for flood protection have been taken at the site, therefore, the risk of flooding is low. However, where the rivers Fournel and Durance meet, there is a small, occasionally flooded area which is beneficial for species specialized on floodplains. We identified the follow main potentials of the site in L’Argentière: 143 plant species in 13 habitat types Conserve a large proportion of vegetated areas of different successional stages by keeping some of them unmanaged and implement mowing or imitation of industrial disturbances on others Diverse insect fauna, consisting of 27 butterfly, two dragonfly and at least three locust species, as well as several lizards in the southern part of the site Conserve existing habitat structures (e.g. by occasional shrub clearance, applying an adequate mowing regime) Consider improving habitat conditions on unused areas Page | 6 46% of asphalted and built-up surfaces concentrated in northern part of the site Vegetation, particularly trees, would improve the microclimate, especially cooling, and at the same time generate habitats for wildlife The main problems of the site are: Three invasive alien plants, among them two which might be problematic for native biodiversity (Robinia pseudoacacia, Buddleja davidii) Monitor their development If necessary, decide on suitable management measures in order to reduce or eradicate them Soil pollution with fluoride and hydrocarbons Continue

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