Innovative Solution

Water Framework Directive (WFD) ; Bio-indicators for aquatic environments; Research; Methodologies; Reference and quality standards; Scientific knowledge

technical

To implement the WFD (Water Framework Directive), pressures and effects must be identified for each water body composing freshwaters and coastal waters. In this implementation process, specificities on aquatic environments together with an associated knowledge deficit have been revealed. This is particularly true for methods and tools available for water bodies monitoring and quality status reporting, which do not match with ecosystems specificities (physiographic, hydrology, animal and plant aquatic species, chemical, temperature, etc.) As a result, important research efforts have been deployed and OMRs have become areas of experimentation for developing innovative aquatic environment monitoring methods. Different solutions have been identified and research carried out on several domains: bio-indication ; coral reef and mangroves monitoring; remote sensing monitoring; etc. These responses, initiatives and innovations developed locally must be documented and promoted.

Outermost Regions of Europe (OMRs)

 -       4 French « départements » – Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana and Reunion (Mayotte, the 5^th French “département” since 2011 should also apply for the OMR status)

 -       1 French « Collectivité d’Outre-Mer » –Saint-Martin

 -       2 Portuguese autonomous regions – Madeira and the Azores

 -       1 Spanish autonomous community – the Canary Islands

Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)

Regional neighbouring countries of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group

 Research and scientific knowledge must be developed with the Water Office of Martinique and its counterparts in other basins from OMRs, ONEMA, French national research institute of science and technology for environment and agriculture (Irstea) and French research institute for development (IRD)  as pioneer partners.

Other partners include: IFREMER; Université Antilles Guyane; Universidade dos Açores; Universidade da Madeira; Agence  pour la Recherche et Valorisation Marine ARVAM in the Indian Ocean

 Specific research hubs and projects such as Pôle relais mangrove of Conservatoire du Littoral; Projet Explore 2070

Specialized consultancy and research firms like ASCONIT consultants

From 2013

- Create a census survey form to identify and collect contact lists and directories of research institutes, university laboratories and associated bodies  involved in WFD implementation ; tropical and subtropical aquatic environments; other relevant themes

- Mobilize known research actors to send the form out and collect counterparts’ details

- Establish a bibliography of available research materials related to specific challenges of OMRs and other “island – basins” territories

- Map and benchmark key issues researched

- Create sub partners groups to exploit and analyze a selection of research papers

- Develop projects to investigate areas where data is either not conforming to standards or unavailable

Implementation of the WFD requires not only local adaptation of reference frameworks but also specific indicators for water bodies. Pooling and sharing R&D efforts and solutions appear to be key success factors for better water management in isolated territories like OMRs.

Improved knowledge of specific environments (e.g. coastal-island ecosystems and land-sea interface phenomena)

Improvement of scientific knowledge (ecosystems) and methodologies

Supporting the development of adapted technologies

Parameters for reference and quality standards in OMRs and other “island – basins” territories established

Adjusted WFD reference frameworks to report upon

Learning criteria

 1)         Acquirement of some new or important information through the network

 2)         Acquirement of some critical capability or skill through the network

 3)         Enhancement of enterprise’ existing capability or skill thanks to network

 4)         Number of publications

 5)         Quality of publications

 6)         Number of training courses attended

 7)         Number of workshops and educational events held

Innovation criteria

 1)         Enhancement of effectiveness of R&D efforts

2)         Improvement of existing products and / or services

3)         Development of new products and / or services

4)         Capabilities transfer : Number of processes and / or products transferred from academic to industry

Water Office of Martinique and ONEMA have committed financial ressources to this solution

Water Office of Martinique

Loïc MANGEOT

Deputy Director

 + 596 (0) 596 48 47 23 

 loic.mangeot@eaumartinique.fr