Le canal du Midi : un patrimoine paysager en évolution : une image, une stratégie de développement touristique, et un mode de gouvernance à repenser ?

A critical threat to the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi, a historic waterway linking France's Garonne River to the Mediterranean, has emerged from the incurable platane disease known as chancre coloré. This study reveals that the 42,000 platanes lining the canal— integral to its aesthetic appeal and tourist experience—are at risk of disappearing, with their removal being the only viable measure to halt the infection. Beyond the immediate ecological impact, this crisis exposes deep-seated governance challenges, as diverse stakeholders with conflicting objectives have failed to unite around a cohesive management strategy. The research frames the disease as both a disruptor and a catalyst for re-evaluating the canal's future, highlighting how its effects vary across territories—some vulnerable, others resilient—while also shedding light on broader shifts in landscape governance. By analyzing these dynamics, the study underscores the need to rethink the canal's development trajectory, particularly in the context of its dominant role as a tourist destination.

Rebolledo, L. Le canal du Midi : un patrimoine paysager en évolution : une image, une stratégie de développement touristique, et un mode de gouvernance à repenser ? https://doi.org/10.70675/f68a47f6z3024z4a9azacddze09f068843ba