Articles | Volume 364
https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-364-416-2014
https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-364-416-2014
16 Sep 2014
 | 16 Sep 2014

Establishing ecological and social continuities: new challenges to optimize urban watershed management

V. Mitroi, A. de Coninck, B. Vinçon-Leite, and J.-F. Deroubaix

Keywords: Ecological continuity, urban watershed management; small rivers, urban ponds, Green and Blue Corridors, Ile-de-France

Abstract. The (re)construction of the ecological continuity is stated as one of the main objectives of the European Water Framework Directive for watershed management in Europe. Analysing the social, political, technical and scientific processes characterising the implementation of different projects of ecological continuity in two adjacent peri-urban territories in Ile-de-France, we observed science-driven approaches disregarding the social contexts. We show that, in urbanized areas, ecological continuity requires not only important technical and ecological expertise, but also social and political participation to the definition of a common vision and action plan. Being a challenge for both, technical water management institutions and “classical” ecological policies, we propose some social science contributions to deal with ecological unpredictability and reconsider stakeholder resistance to this kind of project.