Eau et territoires

Overview & Synopsis

As water management takes on an increasingly prominent role in public debate, this book proposes to refocus water-related and environmental challenges at the local scale in mainland France. Drawing on a synthesis of current knowledge, it invites readers to adopt a perspective that is both place-based and cross-cutting, mobilizing the biophysical and social dimensions associated with water—that is, the natural functioning of the water cycle (stocks, flows, etc.), the impacts of human activities and their underlying causes, including issues of governance, regulation, and lifestyle. The book addresses, in particular, water abstraction and use, changes in land cover, river management, and climate change. It also proposes a number of action levers to strengthen the resilience of territories in the face of current and future crises—whether social, nature-based, or technical solutions. Intended for policymakers and water-resource managers, and more broadly for anyone seeking to better understand water-quantity issues at the scale of their own territory, this book also provides both theoretical and practical support for the implementation of the scientific mediation tool “Water and Territory Trajectory”, designed to foster dialogue among users and promote the sharing of local knowledge on water.