Card 01Project issues and challengesCard 02the concert’eau ProjectCard 03the gers amont territoryCard 04a team aPProachCard 05scenario assessmentCard 06demonstration resultsCard 07PortabilityCard 08ecobag consortiumCard 09 concert’eau Partners and stakeholders

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PRESENTATION KITC

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Contact : Philippe Vervier – Jérôme DepasseGroupement Ecobag15 rue Michel Labrousse31 023 Toulouse Cedex 105 34 63 78 30

concert’eau, working together for sustainable develoPment How can we reconcile European objectives to conserve water resources with economic development and territorial cohesion? Are these objectives reconcilable, or indeed compatible? How can we move toward more eco-friendly business practices with the support of economic stakeholders and territorial users, while assuring that measures applied are effective?

Through the Concert’Eau approach, all stakeholders can play their part in developing lasting solutions.The Concert’Eau approach has been tested in two areas: cereal crop farming and river water quality.

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PRESENTATION KIT - Project issues and challenges

concert’eauan innovative, collaborative aPProach geared to sustainable develoPmentThe Concert’Eau project is working to develop a collaborative technology platform to encourage dialogue and exchange between stakeholders. Its aim is to establish economically viable practices that are more eco-friendly, conserve water and preserve aquatic habitats while assuring broad acceptance by stakeholders.

concert’eaua demonstration for agricultureProposed new farming practices are identified together and scenarios are established.These proposals are assessed on the basis of their environmental effectiveness, economic viability and stakeholder acceptance.

concert’eauworking together to achieve objective resultsConcert’Eau provides a synoptic picture of the impacts of scenarios considered and an objective foundation for closer collaboration.Rather than relying on “top-down” proposals, Concert’Eau is a joint endeavour to build effective and viable programmes of action (PoA) and encourage uptake of new practices by farmers. Concert’Eau is an environmental decision-support tool that can be transposed to other regions and issues.

concert’eaua euroPean effortThe Concert’Eau project is being developed with the ECOBAG consortium under the European LIFE programme.The LIFE programme finances innovative demonstration projects in the areas of land-use development and planning; water management; reduction of the environmental impact of economic activities; waste management; and reduction of the environmental impact of products through an integrated product policy.

Concert’Eau is helping to meet the European challenge of reducing the impact of farming practices on water and ecosystems while guaranteeing the economic viability of farming businesses.

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PRESENTATION KIT - The Concert’Eau project

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PRESENTATION KIT - The Gers Amont territory

gers amonta concert’eau demonstration territoryThe Gers Amont territory, part of the Rivières de Gascogne unit within the Adour Garonne river basin district, stretches north-south from Roquelaure to Chelan, covering an area of 47,000 hectares and 55 boroughs.The rivers within this territory are the Gers, Sousson, Arçon and Cédon.It has 700 farmers growing mainly cereal crops.

For several years now, stakeholders in Gers Amont have been working to address pesticide contamination of surface waters. Monitoring of river water quality has shown that two-thirds of samples contain at least one molecule at a concentration higher than 0.1 microgram per litre, and nearly one-third exhibit cumulative concentrations higher than 0.5 microgram per litre. Herbicides used on maize crops are the molecules encountered most often, but molecules from products applied by local authorities, home gardeners and other users are also present.What’s more, the territory has become vulnerable in recent years to nitrate pollution.

accent on drinking water quality Today, the territory has five drinking water intakes serving 30,000 consumers. Sophisticated treatment processes have been introduced to comply with water quality standards. Preventive actions are also being pursued to reduce river pollution.

the concert’eau programme brings together all stakeholders working to better preserve water resources.

The Conseil Général du Gers has established a territorial action plan for Gers Amont, working with farmers and backed by the French national water board and European Structural Funds.The territorial action plan is intended to define and apply a range of measures over several years, working with local stakeholders to improve water quality. The Gers Amont territorial action plan aims to reduce pesticide pollution in the Gers River, of whatever origin.

concert’eaua team aPProachThe Concert’Eau method combines collaboration with co-development and assessment.

It is a three-step approach delivering expertise at each stage in the process:

1) The initial phase performs a status check of the territory and local stakeholders; participants then propose diversified practices—farming practices in the case of the Concert’Eau demonstration—and define indicators to assess them.

2) These proposals serve to build scenarios and simulations, and are assessed on the basis of environmental, economic and sociological indicators, using models developed locally by experts and academia associated with the Concert’Eau project.

3) The results are synthesized and communicated graphically so that participants can see the measured impacts of envisioned scenarios.

This kind of in-depth collaboration ensures effective decision-making and acceptance of practices, thus reconciling economic viability and responsible environmental stewardship.

Establishing new practices by consulting a broad array of stakeholders gives them a better chance of success.

concert’eau in the gers region

Several tens of gatherings, interviews and meetings have been held within the Concert’Eau framework since 2006 in the Gers Amont territory.Some 170 people attended consultation meetings in Auch, where the increasing involvement of farmers (40 participants), who were thus able to voice their concerns, was noted.During these consultations, 52 proposed changes to farming practices were identified, 34 of which were mapped out, assessed, compared and debated.

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PRESENTATION KIT - Une démarche collective

assessment of ProPosalsThe Concert’Eau method assesses scenarios identified jointly by stakeholders who will be affected by the environmental issue(s) addressed.

Practices are assessed on the basis of their measurable impacts, using parameters chosen together and sanctioned by all stakeholders.

Assessment tools are then selected to project variations in these parameters onto the scenarios.

For the Gers Amont territory, scenarios were assessed working with 40 experts from academia, research and business.

three types of indicator were chosen: 2 indicators of economic and environmental impacts indicators of scenario acceptability

The experts simulate the scenarios and enter values for the indicators from their tools and models, exploiting data on the territory.The scenarios are broadly and graphically compared to highlight their impacts and acceptability against a jointly defined grid.

For the Gers Amont territory, 52 scenarios were identified and 34 of them were mapped out and assessed on the basis of 7 indicators defined by stakeholders.

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PRESENTATION KIT - Scenario assessment

demonstration resultsThe results obtained by Concert’Eau in the demonstration territories of Navarra (Spain) and Gers (France) are measurable in terms of: level of participation at public meetings uptake by decision-makers adoption of the approach in Navarra

The level of participation at public meetings in the Gers Amont territory was: 70 participants at the first plenary meeting on 4 June 2008, in Auch 100 people at the feedback meeting on 10 December 2008, with increased participation of farmers who made up nearly half of attendees

A survey conducted after the meeting showed a high level of satisfaction: 82% of respondents considered that “identification and assessment of scenarios gives them added value for decision-making” 75% thought that the Concert’Eau process is “likely to change stakeholder relationships” 61% “felt that their proposals were taken into account in the Concert’Eau process”

concert’eau adoPted by local authorities and agencies

The Conseil Général du Gers and Adour Garonne water board are using Concert’Eau results and tools to implement the Gers Amont territorial action plan.

concert’eau ready to be Ported

The portability of the Concert’Eau approach was tested with the Navarra environmental resources centre.Three information and demonstration meetings brought together more than 150 participants from ten autonomous communities in Spain

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PRESENTATION KIT - Demonstration results

concert’eaua Portable collaborative technology Platform (ctP)L’intérêt de Concert’Eau repose sur le potentiel de transfert de la Plateforme Technologique et de Concertation.Concert’Eau a démontré depuis 3 ans la pertinence de l’outil (plateforme) appliqué au territoire Gers Amont, où il s’agit de concilier l’activité agricole notamment céréalière et la protection de la ressource en eau menacée de contamination par les pesticides et les nitrates. Les résultats de Concert’Eau sont aujourd’hui pris en compte par les acteurs des politiques publiques du département du Gers dans le cadre du pilotage du PAT « Gers Amont ».

Concert’Eau peut être également transféré à d’autres problématiques et sur d’autres territoires :Les étapes de co-construction des scénarios, de restitution graphique des évaluations et de co-décision sont directement transposables. Le process d’évaluation des propositions sur des critères économiques, sociologiques et environnementaux est à adapter localement.

concert’eau assessed in navarra and moselle The portability of Concert’Eau is currently being assessed in Navarra (Spain) and Moselle (France).

The portability of the approach was tested working in partnership with the Navarra environmental resources centre. Three information and demonstration meetings brought together more than 150 participants from ten autonomous communities in Spain.In a survey, 95% of respondents said that “joint identification and assessment of scenarios gives them added value for decision-making”.

Work is also underway in Moselle since November 2008 with a view to porting the Concert’Eau approach to define catchment areas for drinking water.

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PRESENTATION KIT - Portability

ecobagenvironment, ecology and economy in the adour garonne river basin districtECOBAG is an inter-regional consortium focused on water and sustainable development. For the last 15 years it has spurred innovation in support of public water policy in the Adour-Garonne river basin district, backed notably by the Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées regional councils, the Adour Garonne water board and government agencies.

The consortium has developed innovative methods employed at European level to identify innovation requirements and build tools through R&D projects.

ECOBAG’s current scope of activity covers issues affecting wetlands, urban areas, estuaries, farming, ecosystems and territorial planning.

The consortium’s input is also sought on health and environment and coastal issues, and it has extended its expertise to water and business technologies.

ECOBAG today can call on more than 80 research teams in the Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrenees regions, plus a broad network of members drawn from varied backgrounds including socio-economic stakeholders, corporations, institutions, local authorities, non-profit associations and researchers.

ECOBAG chairman: Professor Marc Jarry, University of Pau and University of Pays de l’AdourECOBAG chief executive: Philippe Vervier, Director of Research at CNRS, the French national scientific research centre

concert’eau founding members les Conseils Régionaux d’Aquitaine et de Midi-Pyrénées, les Directions Régionales de l’Environnement d’Aquitaine et de Midi-Pyrénées (DIREN de Bassin), l’Agence de l’Eau Adour-Garonne (AEAG), Le Centre national du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts (CEMAGREF), l’Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), le Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), le Pôle de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur «Université de Bordeaux», le Pôle de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur «Université de Toulouse», l’Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), l’Association pour le Développement de l’Enseignement et des Recherches en Aquitaine (ADERA).

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PRESENTATION KIT - ECOBAG consortium

Card 09PRESENTATION KIT - Concert’Eau Partners and stakeholdersPROJECT CONCERT’EAU PARTNERS

ADERA/ECOBAGAgence de l’Eau Adour-GaronneAKKAAPYGECCEMAGREFCNRSCRANAENFAInfoterraINPINRAIRH EnvironnementIRH ingénieur ConseilUT1

PROJECT CONCERT’EAU STAKEHOLDERS GERS

Action Test Gers Amont,ADASEA 65ADASEA du GersAGRI 32Arbre et Paysage 32ARVALIS - Institut du végétalAssociation Amis de la Terre GersAssociation Départementale des Producteurs Palmipèdes à foie Gras -Association des Agriculteurs d’AuradéASTRALE GEIE - Oréade-BrècheCACGCDTE du GersChambre d’Agriculture du GersCommunauté de Commune Pays de TrieCommunauté de Communes de Bergerac PourpreCommunauté de Communes du Grand AuchConseil Général du GersCoopérative Terres de GascogneCREDERDAR / Région SudDDAF 32 - Service Eau & EnvironnementDIREN Midi-PyrénéesDomaine Le CastagnéDRAF Midi-PyrénéesEARL Arnaud VASSELINEARL BAQUÉEARL BLAGNY ALBIGESEARL BORNANDEARL Christian AIROLDIEARL D’EmbourgadeEARL de VigneauxEARL des HourquesEARL GUILLOT et AGRI 32EARL PORTERIEEARL PORTERIEEARL ROUVILLEEPIDORFédération de ChasseFédération de Pêche du GersFédération Départementale de Pêche du GersFREDEC Midi-PyrénéesGABB 32 - Groupement des agriculteurs bio

Gaec de SicardGouvernement de Navarre,GRAMIP,Groupement Européen pour les Pyrénées FORESPIRJeune Agriculteurs du GersLa Chambre des Métiers du GersMairie de DurbanMaison de l’Elevage du GersMaison Nature Environnement 65ONEMAPays d’ArmagnacPôle de Compétences de Bordeaux BlanquefortSyndicat Coordination RuraleSyndicat des eaux de MasseubeSyndicat Mixte d’Entretien du Sousson, Cédon et des BaïsesSyndicat Mixte des 3 ValléesSyndicat Mixte des Eaux de MasseubeSyndicat Mixte du Pays des NestesUFC QUE CHOISIR DU GERSUMINATEVEOLIA EAUVIVADOUR

ESPAGNE

Agéncia Catalana de l’AguaAgencia Vasca del AguaAGUACANAL. Sociedad Concesionaria de la Zona Regable del Canal de Navarra. S.A.AIERDI-INGENIEROSÁrea de Hidrológía del Dpto. Proyectos e Ingeniería Rural. Universidad Pública de NavarraAyuntamiento de CortesAyuntamiento de Noain-Valle de ElorzC.R. BEIREC.R. CASCANTE REGADIO TRADICIONALC.R. EL FERIALC.R. MURILLO EL CUENDECarlos Santamaria, S.LCentro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA) Gob Aragón.Centro de Trasferencia Agroalimentaria (CTA) Gob AragónCNTA Laboratorio del EbroComunidad de MadridConfederación Hidrográfica del EbroConsejería de Agricultura del Gobierno de CanariasConsultora AmbientalCruz RojaDepartamento de Desarrollo Rural y Medio Ambiente. Sanidad VegetalDepartamento de Obras Públicas, Transportes y ComunicacionesDepartamento Desarrollo Rural y Medio Ambiente. Servicio de Información y Gestión Económica.Dirección General de Calidad y Sostenibilidad Ambiental. Consejería de Industria, Energía y Medio Ambiente,Dirección General de Medio Ambiente y AguaDirección General de Prevención Ambiental. Junta de Castilla y León.Dirección General de Recursos Hídricos.

Islas BalearesDirección General del Agua del Gobierno de la RiojaEHNE Federación de Sindicatos Agrarios de Euskal HerriaENSAYA. Laboratorio de Ensayos Técnicos S.AEuropActiZyme,S.L. Ingeniería de aguas EAZFundación Centro de Recursos Ambientales de NavarraGAP RecursosGMR CanariasIDRENAInguru consultoresInstituto de Salud Pública de NavarraInstituto Técnico Agronómico Provincial de Albacete (ITAP)ITG AgrícolaITG Formación AgrariaITG GanaderoJunta de Castilla-La ManchaLab. Hidráulica, Dpto. Proyectos e Ingeniería Rural. Universidad Pública de NavarraLABAQUA. Laboratorio NorteMendyra IngenieriaNamainsa, Navarra de Medio Ambiente Industrial, S.A.Negociado de Suelos y ClimatologíaRiegos de Navarra, S.A.Servicio de Agricultura. Dpto. de Desarrollo Rural y Medio AmbienteServicio de Diversificación y Desarrollo Rural. Sección de Planes y ProgramasServicio de Información y Gestión Económica. Departamento Desarrollo Rural y Medio AmbienteServicio de Producción Agrícola. Dpt. de Agricultura, Alimentación y Acción Rural. Generalitat de CatalunyaUAGN Unión de Agricultores y Ganaderos de NavarraUniversidad Pública de Navarra. Departamento de Ciencias del Medio NaturalUPA Unión de Pequeños Agricultores y GanaderosUPNA Grupo Hidrología, riegos y análisis estructuralUPNA Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia y Recursos Naturales

MOSELLEAgence de l’Eau Rhin – MeuseConseil Général des VosgesChambre Régionale d’Agriculture de Lorraine DDAF 57 – MISEDDASS 55DDASS 88DDEA 54DDEA 88DIREN LorraineDRAAF LorraineDRASS LorraineGRAPPE Lorraine