A return to school under the sign of adaptation to climate change

The 31 Park agents returned to work yesterday in Saint-Paul-la-Roche, in the presence of local elected officials and members of the scientific Council of the Park. A day that is both studious and friendly, focused on adaptation to climate change.

The morning opened with a speech by Colette Langlade, Vice-President of the Park in charge of energy transition and adaptation to climate change, to set the course for this new commitment of the Park to the territory. In front of an audience of around fifty participants, Jean-François Louineau, expert from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region on climate change, recalled the threats that the world and France are currently facing and the already visible effects of these upheavals in Périgord-Limousin: decline in water resources, weakening of forest systems, etc. A context that is now forcing territories to adapt. Subsequently, agents, elected officials and experts discussed in small groups, to get to know each other better and identify the extent of each person's skills.

In the afternoon, a storytelling walk allowed participants to project themselves into the Périgord-Limousin of 2050, and to offer a resolutely optimistic vision of the necessary changes to come in the face of climate change: revitalization of town centers, deimpermeabilization of soils, strengthening of social ties, etc. Led by Jean-François Vignaud of the Institut d'étude occitane, this stroll through the streets of Saint-Paul-la-Roche was an opportunity to recall the importance of local culture and the collective imagination in dealing with crisis situations.

Back in the room, the agents presented 5 actions already carried out by the Park to support local actors in adapting to climate change. Projects that are expected to multiply, particularly through the new Park charter, currently being written.

The day ended with a speech by Philippe Moutet, Energy Climate referent at the Fédération des Parcs. He recalled that while Regional Natural Parks work essentially to combat climate change, few of them have to date set up a commission and an agent dedicated to the subject of adaptation. In this respect, the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park is a pioneer.

Finally, the members of the Park's scientific council concluded the discussions by recalling the importance of a cross-cutting approach to adaptation to climate change and the need to continue at the same time the efforts made to act on the causes of this change, with the aim of mitigating it.

Your contact at the Park: Jeanne Leroy, climate change adaptation officer – j.leroy@pnrpl.com