Climate change impact on Global Geoparks management: experience sharing from the Massif des Bauges and the M'Goun Geoparks

Abstract

International audienceToday, according to various intergovernmental expert reports, there is no longer any doubt that climate change is accelerating and intensifying and the reason for that goes back to man-made activities. In the framework of a collaborative programme based on a comparative study, this presentation investigates the adaptation efforts of two territories, namely the Massif des Bauges UNESCO Geopark characterized by a cool, humid climate, and the M'Goun UNESCO Geopark with a dry, warm climate, in response to the impacts of climate change. Both territories experience hotter spells, drought periods, reduced snowfall, and water stress, impacting agriculture, natural environments, risk management and water resources. The focus of this presentation is on the strategies employed to mitigate and adapt to these changes, involving residents, elected representatives, and socio-economic partners in a transition process to limit the impact of climate change, including the future of winter tourism in the Massif des Bauges.The main levers for mitigating the impact of climate change include reducing energy consumption from the highest-emitting sources (such as the residential and transport sectors), improving process efficiency, enhancing carbon storage, and promoting non-carbon-emitting renewable energies. Adaptation measures need to be implemented systematically and across the board, covering all possible areas. Both Geoparks are focusing on supporting the climate transition in different sectors of activity, mobilizing stakeholders and partners around this major issue. In the Massif des Bauges, the Geopark accompanies the ski resorts, imports understanding tools to better manage problems related to climate change. First retracement concerning 3 ski-resorts (Aillons-Margériaz; Le Semnoz; and La Sambuy ski resorts) are observed, after initiatives have been taken to diversify their tourist activities, and creating alternatives to winter tourism and promoting year-round tourism (concept “four seasons”) beyond the winter season, The Geopark continuously work with the National Office of Forests and The National Forest Property Center, the departments and the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes to promote and protect the capacity of forests to mitigate and adapt to climate change by participating in the Regional Strategic Plan and the Regional Plan for the wood sector 2023-2027, and within the framework of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). In the M'Goun Geopark, the High Commission for Water and Forests, along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, play significant roles in combating erosion, deforestation, and desertification. They develop and implement policies for conservation, sustainable development of forests, and sylvo-pastoral resources. Institutional mechanisms are established to coordinate policy formulation, execution, monitoring, and evaluation in combating desertification and contributing to rural development.In addition, some strategic geosites are used or could be used as indicators and educational supports to record and show the effects of the climate change on natural processes and human activities