Sharing the Challenges and Mobilizing Stakeholders on the Phenomenon of Erosion
Carrying out preliminary work on the characterization of the erosion phenomenon and its issues will help build the essential argumentation to mobilize the territory's stakeholders.
But to take action and implement an adapted policy and effective actions, it is necessary to convince, mobilize, and organize the work.
This approach is divided into two steps:
- Identify the stakeholders.
- Set up working groups.
Once the stakeholders are mobilized, means can be implemented to reduce the erosion phenomenon at the local scale.
Identify the stakeholders
Decision-makers
It is essential that the approach is led by territory elected officials. To identify them, it may be appropriate to meet, for example, the elected officials of the municipalities concerned by a "natural disaster flood and mudslide" order. Elected officials particularly concerned with the general interest and the protection of water resources are elected officials of the department, elected officials present on the Board of Directors of the Water Agency, elected officials of the Water Development and Management Scheme, elected officials of River or Basin Syndicates, elected officials of Drinking Water Syndicates, etc.
Farmers
The farmers affected by erosion phenomena will be the operators in the implementation phase of anti-erosion actions. Their identification can be done through elected officials, Chambers of Agriculture, or organizations such as Agricultural Cooperatives. Some farmers organize themselves, for example within CETA (Technical Agricultural Study Centers) or by forming GIEE (Economic and Environmental Interest Groups). These organizations are interesting entry points created and managed by farmers wishing to benefit from personalized technical assistance to improve their practices and production performance. Young farmers may be particularly interested.
In territories with a significant share of woods and forests, foresters may also be involved in the approach.
Technical organizations
Among these organizations, we can mention : Chambers of Agriculture, Agricultural Cooperatives, Local Authorities (Department), Local Associations that can participate in erosion control actions (Agr’eau, Trees and Landscapes 32, etc.), Hunting Federations,...
Set up working groups
Two working groups can be quickly set up :
- A working group made up of elected officials, they are the decision-makers who must share the issues and lead the approach.
- A group made up of farmers, to strengthen the understanding of the erosion phenomenon and share proposed actions.
Several exchanges can be organized with the two types of stakeholders to share elements of understanding of the erosion phenomenon and its consequences. The goal is to confirm and complete the vision of erosion and its issues previously analyzed by the facilitator. From these exchanges may emerge particularly affected areas, approaches interesting to stakeholders, priority sites, etc.
It may be useful to hold a first meeting in spring and following an intense rainfall event to observe and share on-site traces of erosion and their impacts on crops (seed losses), on roads (mudslides), or on water resources (water turbidity).
It is important that the facilitator proposes objectives following this approach, to establish momentum and its progression.
The approach to combat soil erosion cannot be implemented without these stakeholders. Therefore, this step is essential for what follows. Elected officials and farmers must find an interest in engaging in this erosion control approach.
- For elected officials: the interest will focus on protection of property (roads, housing, water bodies) or the coherence of their commitments for resource protection and the general interest.
- For farmers: the interest is more on preserving soil resources and fertility and on reducing crop damage. Farmers will also identify the interest in sharing these issues and training in new agricultural practices aiming at soil cover, for example.
