Supporting territorial dialogue through a participatory approach: feedback from the Brie'Eau project

Abstract

Artificial wetland buffer zones are an ecological innovation for drained agricultural areas affected by contamination of groundwater by phytosanitary products. But discussing this innovation with all the stakeholders in the territory is not obvious, as it responds to a controversial environmental issue, often a source of tension between stakeholders who do not always get along, especially between the agricultural and water worlds. From 2016 to 2019, the Brie'Eau project proposed an approach to support territorial dialogue in a sub-watershed of the Brie, in Seine-et-Marne. What can such a process contribute? How does it promote the emergence of common visions and solutions among the various stakeholders? What do they learn from it?