The Tour du Valat Newsletter n°51| December 2025 | | | | | How do seabirds and migratory birds use the Gulf of Lion? Migralion programme results | | On November 6, 2025, the Migralion programme (2021-2025), a study of how seabirds and land birds use the Gulf of Lion, made a public presentation of its findings. This event gave the Tour du Valat an opportunity to showcase the results of this programme in which it is involved. | | | | | Initiated by the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) and the French government, this project was made possible thanks to €4.2 million in co-financing from the French government and the Sud and Occitanie regions. Faced with a critical lack of data on seabirds and migratory birds, particularly in the Gulf of Lion, and the urgent need to acquire accurate knowledge about these species, a consortium of scientists associated with a research consultancy, coordinated by the OFB, was formed in 2021 to develop the Migralion programme. Their approach is based on using various complementary technologies and monitoring methods, for an integrated and optimised methodological approach. | | THREE QUESTIONS FOR ... Constance AUDIFFREN, project manager for ‘Marine Environment Protection – Wind Power & Industry’ at the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) | | She answers our questions about the OFB’s involvement in the Migralion programme and the lessons learned after four years of work. | | | | | The Mediterranean Waterbirds Network (MWN) releases its new 2019–2023 technical reports | | The Mediterranean Waterbirds Network (MWN/ROEM) supports and coordinates waterbird counts across the Mediterranean basin. Created in 2012 as part of the AEWA African Initiative, it was initially developed with five North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt), in partnership with Tour du Valat and the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), to improve the quantity and quality of these surveys. | | | | | COP24Med – Mediterranean Wetlands Outlook 3: a science-policy interface tool to guide decisions | | The 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP24) is being held from 2 to 5 December 2025 in Cairo (Egypt). On this occasion, the Tour du Valat and MedWet organized a side event to present the key findings of the third Mediterranean Wetlands Outlook 3 (MWO-3) and its recommendations for coastal wetlands. | | | | | A national forum to promote synergies between research and wetlands management | | During three days, 150 researchers and managers from all over France gathered in Arles, in the Camargue, one of the country’s most iconic wetlands. Their goal: to strengthen the links between research and wetlands management in order to better preserve these essential environments. | | | | | Natur’Adapt Sud: a day of meeting to share the project’s progress and lessons learned | | On Thursday 4 December, project managers and reserve managers from Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, accompanied by their technical and financial partners, gathered in Peipin (04) for the third meeting of the Natur’Adapt Sud project. | | | | | The Tour du Valat receives the AEWA Conservation Award 2025!
This award, presented during MOP9, recognises our work to protect migratory waterbirds.
Congratulations also to Ruth Cromie, member of our Scientific Council, who was recognised for her advocacy work to promote wildlife health. | | | | | Nature-based Solutions in the Mediterranean region: A look back and moving forward Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as effective approaches to address environmental and societal challenges. By working with nature, these solutions help protect biodiversity, reduce climate-related risks, and improve human well-being. | | | | | Bird conservation threatened by shifting baseline syndromee New research shows that populations of dozens of waterbird and seabird species have been declining for much longer than previously thought in Europe. The article “Shifting the baseline for waterbird and seabird conservation in Europe, risk assessment over one century” demonstrates that ignoring population trends over the last century leads to setting under ambitious goals for restoring biodiversity. | | | | | When rivers warm up: what future for trout in the Soča? In order to better understand the impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems, and more specifically on the different species of trout found in the region — marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) — scientists have been monitoring the temperature of several rivers in the upper Soča basin in Slovenia for over 25 years. | | | | | How to better choose Nature-based Solutions at the catchment scale? A new method disclosed In a recent study, an international team including researchers from the Tour du Valat proposed a methodological, practical and reproducible approach for identifying, selecting and mapping the NbS most appropriate for each catchment, with a focus on water resource availability and water management. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tour du Valat Fondation Research Institute for Mediterranean Wetlands Conservation www.tourduvalat.org | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Editorial committee : J. Jalbert, R. Billé, B. Guénebeaud, C. Hermeloup, E. Stamm et G. Ollivier. They contributed : J. Champagnon, C. Audiffren, A.-S. Hervy, N. Nojaroff, D. Nicolas, A. Guelmami, M. Ronce Photos and illustrations credits : Stéphan Tillo (banner), Stéphan Tillo, C. Audiffren, ROEM, E. Tuaillon, A. Marquis-Soria, L. Keller, A. Marquis-Soria - photo & Tour du Valat (banner products Tour du Valat farm), M. Thibault, T. Galewski, D. Nicolas, ABBPhoto - Envanto ; T. Blanchon - photo & Tour du Valat (banner Adopt a flamingo). All rights reserved © Fondation Tour du Valat, 2025 | | | |
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