The Sorgue landscape plan in Vaucluse

Abstract

The Sorgues network is at the heart of the Comtat region, which accounts for a population of about 500,000 and whose urban development keeps progressing. The decay of the plane trees that used to reinforce the banks and embankments of the Sorgues is felt by the inhabitants as a real landscape nightmare. After operations to bring in rocks, and upon the joint request of the « Syndicat des Sorgues » and of the DIREN, the Landscape Agency was led to reformulate and update the management of these sites. The landscape study started by an assessment and a diagnosis in order to highlight the wealth, potentialities, interest and fragility of this asset. The second part of the study is dedicated to the set up of a river project. This project, focused on the treatment of banks and of the riparian forest of the Sorgues, showed the extent to which the management of such a rich natural heritage must integrate all social and cultural, ecological, landscape and urban dimensions. It is now a complete strategy of land development and management which is initiated.