French Wetland Restoration Initiative in Champnétery Highlights GEMAPI Efforts

On July 1, a GEMAPI‑focused outreach day was held in Champnétery, Haute‑Vienne, bringing together elected officials, the PETR du Pays Monts & Barrages, the Syndicat d’Aménagement du Bassin de la Vienne (SABV), the Office National des Forêts (ONF) and CEN Nouvelle‑Aquitaine. The event presented the recent restoration of a sub‑hectare wetland along the ruisseau d’Alesmes, a project funded through the regional “Accelerate Wetland Restoration” call and supported by a quadripartite agreement between the commune, PETR, ONF and CEN. Monitoring activities—including botanical surveys and manual piezometric measurements—were outlined to assess ecological impact.

The GEMAPI (Gestion des Milieux Aquatiques et Prévention des Inondations) competence, mandated by the MAPTAM law of 2014 and compulsory for certain inter‑municipal bodies since 2018, tasks a dedicated mission officer with coordinating water‑related policies, restoring rivers and wetlands, maintaining hydraulic infrastructure, and liaising with public authorities, river technicians and local stakeholders. The role requires technical expertise in hydrology, ecology and environmental law, as well as project‑management and public‑engagement skills.