The Park is mobilizing to support future agricultural professionals

From February to May 2026, the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park conducted an educational program for students at the Thiviers Family and Rural Training Center (MFR). The objective was to raise awareness among future agricultural professionals about the challenges related to water, aquatic environments, and wetland management.

Understanding how aquatic environments function

The program involved second-year classes in "Agricultural Equipment" and "Management and Operation of Equestrian Businesses" (CGEH) at the MFR (Rural Family Training Center) in Thiviers. Through several Indoor interventions and field tripsThe students were made aware of the functioning of aquatic environments, the water cycle and the links between agricultural practices, livestock farming and the preservation of natural resources.

The students worked in particular with an educational model that allowed them to better understand the functioning of hydrosystems, water circulation, and the role of wetlands in the landscape.

Both classes also participated in pond explorations and the observation of aquatic macroinvertebrates (dragonfly larvae, gastropods, etc.). These workshops allowed the young people to discover the specific biodiversity of wetlands and to better understand the ecological role of these habitats.

Activities rooted in the realities of the local area

The program continued with farm visits to observe firsthand the interactions between agricultural activities and natural environmentsThe students thus discovered various arrangements promoting the preservation of waterways, the management of animal watering and the maintenance of functional wetlands.

As part of the activities offered by the Park, the second-year "Agricultural Equipment" students benefited from a presentation by the Dordogne Livestock Health Group (GDS 24), dedicated to water-related health issues and watering the herds. A meeting with a local farmer also allowed them to discuss water management on a farm, the improvements made for access to water for the herds, and the preservation of wetlands on the farm.

The students in the second year of the CGEH program, for their part, explored the issues of management of grazed wetlands through horses, via a visit to a grazing site and work on developing a management plan that takes into account agricultural, hydrological and environmental issues.

The activities offered were made possible thanks to the Park's GEMAPI* mission and its Territorial Education department. The Park thus contributes to raising awareness among future agricultural and equestrian professionals about the importance of preserving water and wetlands, which are vital assets in the face of drought and climate change.

_{*Aquatic environment management and flood prevention}