Supporting the reconversion of the Sèves peat bog: storytelling for territorial development in favor of life (ArtSèves)

Appel à projet : programme de recherche-action ÉRABLE, ministère de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoires

The Sèves peat bog is spread over seven municipalities within the Cotentin and Bessin Marshes Regional Nature Park. In 2021, the government decided not to renew the permit for peat extraction, and by 2024, it committed to supporting the region in managing rising water levels by providing financial assistance to the most affected farmers and establishing a National Nature Reserve.

This structured transition, with clear timelines and defined objectives, offers a model for similar changes anticipated in other regions. The tight interconnections between socioeconomic and cultural concerns, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and water resource management underscore the need for an integrated approach. Such an approach will assist decision-makers and the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion in developing a unified territorial plan that reflects these overlapping priorities.

For local residents, who consider the peat bog part of their shared heritage, this shift requires embracing the intricate “biodiversity-climate-local development” dynamic. They are invited to honour the past (their roots), take pride in present-day decisions and efforts (the trunk), and expand their visions for a future in which they will be actively involved (the canopy reaching skyward). ArtSèves aims to bring this complex network of interactions to life through performative storytelling, providing a powerful opportunity to advance both societal challenges and the scientific understanding that informs them.

Membres impliqué·es :

• Charlotte da Cunha (porteuse pour le CEARC)
• Jean-Paul Vanderlinden