Nestled between Marseille and Cassis, Parc National des Calanques offers welcome natural relief from the salty chaos of Provence’s capital. If you revelled in the glitz and glamour of St. Tropez during Sail GP Season 2, the postcard-perfect scenery of the Calanques might entice to you travel just a little further to experience this natural wonder. Whether you long to hike to find solitude swimming in your very own deserted cove or want to enjoy a picnic while drinking in the pine-covered limestone vistas and heady herbal scents, the Calanques has a lot to offer.
Translating as ‘inlet’, the calanques are steep, narrow valleys that are usually formed in limestone regions and found along the Mediterranean coast. These inlets or valleys are created by fluvial erosion or when cave roofs collapse and are partially submerged by the sea. The delicate local ecosystem is typical of karst regions where there is very little soil and where unique plants root in cracks within the limestone. Home to over 900 plants species, some are very rare and found only in the hills of Marseille. The dark green pine trees contrast starkly to the bright limestone rock, and aromatic juniper, sage and myrtle bushes add further green splashes of colour in the lower-lying areas. As well as rabbits, foxes and boars, the area accommodates more exclusive inhabitants such as Bonelli’s eagle and Europe’s largest lizard and its longest snake; the eyed lizard and the Montpellier snake. Parc National des Calanques measures approximately 515 sq km, 85 km of which is land based, so perhaps it’s unsurprising that the underwater flora and fauna is equally impressive. Fishing is prohibited in many areas and boats are limited, so octopuses, anemones and countless Mediterranean fish thrive in the shelter of the Posidonia Oceanica and other aquatic flowering plants.
Sustainable tourism
The Parc National des Calanques became France’s 10th national park in April 2012. Three year later, the Bay Contract was signed to protect a coastal area that includes Parc National des Calanques. Concerned by erosion, marine pollution and overcrowding during summer months, the Bay Contract serves as an action plan with three primary priorities:
- Reduce sources of marine pollution
- Protect environments and ensure ecological restoration
- Raise awareness and educate people
Based on an understanding that the sea suffers from a variety of human activities, including waste water from industry and effluent from agriculture, the Bay Contract strives to preserve the ecological wealth of the area, while supporting the harmonious human developments to benefit the economy. It helps the region meet the EU challenge for sustainable tourism by:
- preserving and giving value to natural and cultural heritage and diversity
- limiting the environmental impact of tourism-related transport
- mitigating and adapting to climate change
The Bay Contract is scheduled to end in 2022, having lasted seven years and carried out over 160 separate operations to protect the region. At its end, a final evaluation will take place to assessing whether it’s possible to plan for a second Bay Contract. Let’s hope so!
The importance of the Posidonia Oceanica
Posidonia Oceanica, also known as Neptune Grass, is an endemic seagrass from the Mediterranean. This hard working plant is a vital source of oxygen for coastal waters, producing five times more oxygen as a by-product when compared to the Amazon rainforest. In fact, the Posidonia is sometimes referred to as ‘the lungs of the Mediterranean’.
The Posidonia acts as habitat for circa 1000 fish, who shelter, feed and breed in its meadows. Home to endangered species such as Pipefish and Nobel Pen Shells, the meadows also help keep costal erosion in check by anchoring to the sandy seabed and preventing sediment loss. When the plants dies and wash ashore, they also acts as a buffer to prevent sand loss from waves and swells.
As the Posidonia is a very sensitive species that only grows in clean and unpolluted waters, it helps indicate the quality of the coastal waters. So if the Posidonia is thriving, the waters are likely to be crystal clear.
Today, Posidonia meadows represent just three percent of the total Mediterranean underwater surface. In the past 60 years, up to 38 percent of the meadows have been lost to pollution and other threats including careless anchoring from visiting recreational boats. Initiatives such as the Bay Contract are vital to ensure the survival of this important plant, through fighting water pollution and promoting sustainable tourism.
The St Tropez episode of the Beneath the Surface show will take a deeper dive into the Posidonia and what actions we can take to preserve it, so make sure you check it out to learn lots more about this fascinating plant.
Beneath The Surface
Join us at Masdar City and discover if a truly sustainable city can survive and prosper in the desert. We also popped into Champions for Change, SailGP’s global thought leadership network, to learn how the league's partners are approaching water scarcity and agriculture in the middle east.
