The ECLA R&D Consortium: An action-oriented science for lake ecosystems

Abstract

The research and development consortium for lacustrine ecosystems (ECLA) is fully embedded in the context of the Anthropocene, characterized by the acceleration and intensification of environmental crises, particularly those affecting aquatic ecosystems. In France, lacustrine ecosystems, which include more than 800,000 water bodies, concentrate both remarkable biodiversity, multiple uses, and major environmental challenges. Created in 2009 and strengthened in 2019, ECLA is built on a structuring partnership between the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) and the main French academic research teams specializing in lacustrine environments. It currently brings together nearly 80 staff members from OFB, INRAE, and Université Savoie Mont Blanc, relying on governance structured around four thematic axes, a directorate, a management committee and a steering committee. Its mission is to strengthen the interface between science and public action in order to improve the preservation and restoration of lacustrine ecosystems. This mission is implemented through the identification of research priorities, the development of methods and operational tools, the production of scientific expertise, and the transfer of knowledge to managers and public decision-makers. The 2025–2030 scientific program is structured around four axes: (1) the assessment and management of lacustrine biodiversity; (2) the study of climate change impacts and mitigation levers; (3) the analysis of anthropogenic effects and the development of effective ecological restoration solutions; (4) the valorization and transfer of knowledge.The objective of the ECLA unit, to produce actionable knowledge and concrete scientific solutions to ensure the sustainable preservation of lacustrine ecosystems in the face of contemporary environmental challenges, is illustrated by 23 articles resulting from the 2019–2024 program.