Coastline preservation, French territorial development, environmental challenges, anthropogenic activities, climate change, coastal erosion, secondary residences, sustainable development
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Abstract
This document discusses the environmental preservation challenges of French coastlines, affected by urbanization, anthropogenic activities, and climate change.
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[...] The mutations currently underway in French coastlines A. An increased pressure on French coastlines Due to the development of consumer society throughout the 20th centuryème century and the development of leisure, the coast has a particular appeal for the French and international tourists. In the 20thème century, coastal regions have become major tourist destinations and residential economic areas. This attraction is observed when examining the increased pressure exerted on French coastlines. This pressure is primarily of two orders: demographic and anthropogenic due to the progressive urbanization of these territories. [...]
[...] They are also an expression of conflicts of interest around the preservation of the coastlines. In fact, tensions are expressed between economic development objectives, urbanization, and environmental protection11. The lawyer at the Paris Bar, Anne Cadoret and her co-authors were interested in 2014 in the typology of conflicts that oppose actors in coastal municipalities12. Two logics are at odds: that of economic development and urbanization against that of environmental protection and preservation of the living environment. Depending on the contexts, they are carried by different actors who can be public (municipalities, prefects, central administration) or private actors (individuals, companies, associations defending local interests or environmental protection associations). [...]
[...] In 2020, this pressure is still increased: the coast represents of the total surface area of the French territory (20,950 km2) and it was 10% of the population who lived in coastal municipalities3. These figures highlight the demographic pressure exercised on these territories. This pressure is particularly important in certain regions of France, in Corsica where the coast represents 42% of the territory's surface, in Brittany where it represents 18% of the territory, followed by Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur of the territory4. This demographic pressure on the coastlines is accompanied by a progressive urbanization. [...]
[...] In the continuity of the creation of the Coastal Conservatory, a Coastal Law was voted in 1986. Its principles are as follows: the protection of remarkable spaces or the affirmation of non-buildability within the 100-meter band starting from the high tide limit or, for inland water bodies with an area of over 1,000 hectares, starting from the high water limit.15. In addition to these essential laws that have enabled the development of protective principles with regard to French coastal areas, measures have been taken by the European Union, some of which are included in the Climate and Resilience Law of 2021. [...]
[...] It is worth noting that this phenomenon is supported by the attraction of the French and their installations as secondary homes. The increase in the density of secondary residences on the coastlines between 1968 and 1999 is higher than 10% on the Atlantic coast and in Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, in particular (Map 1 - the presence of secondary residences on the coastlines of metropolitan France). A this pressure exerted by housing, the coastlines also welcome other anthropogenic activities that exert pressure on land availability: industrial, maritime and fishing activities or leisure and nautical activities. [...]
