Last updated: March 2025
Trade winds from the east over the Bay of Fort-de-France increase agitation at the "Étang Z’Abricots" marina, reducing user comfort and raising maintenance costs for port equipment and vessels. Climate change worsen these problems, increasing the risks of coastline erosion, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels, which may diminish the protective effect of "Pointe des Sables," leaving the marina more exposed to the winds (Ref 1; 2). The Z’AB project aims to address these challenges by creating a protective barrier for the port by using mangroves. This involves installing lightweight, reversible devices to elevate the sea floor and accumulate sediments, encouraging the natural colonization of mangroves south of Pointe des Sables. Natural colonization refers to the growth of mangroves through processes like seed dispersal and sediment buildup. Once established, the mangrove will act as a natural buffer, protecting the marina from rough seas and adapting to rising sea levels. The project also includes educational efforts to raise awareness about the importance of mangroves for the region’s environmental issues and biodiversity (Ref 1). Although the Z’AB project has been in planning since 2018, in 2021, a separate project to extend the marina, costing 7 million euros, was approved by the water park authorities (Ref 5). The extension will add 77 new vessel spaces (Ref 7), but it threatens portions of the mangrove and a strictly protected coral species, Oculina Diffusa, found in the area (Ref 6, p.17). While the marina extension project aims to offset the loss of coral and mangrove with various solutions, "Projet Z'AB" is not explicitly mentioned as a compensation mechanism (Ref 6, p.24). However, stakeholders involved in Projet Z'AB are also participating in the development of the marina extension (Ref 6). It remains unclear to what extent Projet Z'AB will be used to mitigate the environmental impact of the extension.
Marina de l'Etang Z'Abricot with pre-existing mangrove on the right
This image comes from : https://www.martinique.org/node/55939/LOIMAR972V500FHE/detail/fort-de-france/marina-de-l-etang-z-abricot
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Mangroves
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Coastal hazards (e.g. erosion, flooding)
- Sea level rise
- Extreme weather events (e.g. storms, hurricanes)
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Coastal ecosystems restoration and maintenance (mangroves, dunes, saltplains, underwater meadows), Improving coastal resilience, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Restoration of mangroves, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
The intervention goals include:
-Guarantee the comfort of port users (primarily boat owners and tourists visit the area) from trade winds;
-Mitigate ongoing coastline erosion by the growth of mangrove species through processes like seed dispersal and sediment accumulation;
-Mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on the marina;
-Harness the ecological properties of mangroves to absorb CO2 to fight against climate change (carbon sequestration);
-Harness the ecological properties of mangrove to stimulate (marine) biodiversity (Ref 2);
-Educate on the properties of mangroves: "The project includes communication actions with the local population and schoolchildren, in order to increase the level of knowledge of the mangrove, its importance for the issues of the territory and its associated biodiversity" (Ref 1).
Implementation activities
To pilot the project, the following activities have been undertaken:
1) Broad stakeholder consultation (Ref 1).
2) Feasability study between November 2019 and April 2020 (Ref 8).
3) A three-stage intervention:
a) Installation of lightweight, reversible devices (Ref 2): The intervention is based on the installation of solid wood or bamboo stakes driven into the ground with other horizontal stakes, ropes, biodegradable nets or branches. The bamboo used might be from a circular source or harvested (Ref 1). This stage was completed.
b) Monitoring natural deposit of sediment which will raise the seabed at a shallower sea-level where mangrove can grow. Currently ongoing activity.
c) Mangroves will be planted on the raised seabed, and supplemented by natural colonisation from exisiting mangrove at the site of "Pointe des Sables" (Ref 2; 8).
4) The project also plans to carry communication activities "with the local population and schoolchildren, in order to increase the level of knowledge of the mangrove, its importance for the issues of the territory and its associated biodiversity" (Ref 1).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters
- Restore sediment supply to coastal zone
Climate change mitigation:
- Protect and restore coastal wetlands, mangroves and salt marshes, aiming at sequestering carbon dioxide and storing it in their soils
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Coastal communities
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore valued species
Main beneficiaries
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
- EU body
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The original idea of the project was initially developed by the design office of Suez Consulting and gained momentum after a first call for projects from the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB). The intermunicipal development agency "CACEM" then took over as a pilot project leader within the framework of the European LIFE ARTISAN program. The project financing agreement was signed by the OFB with the European Union, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Authorities). The Martinican Water Office and the CACEM have also committed some of their own funds. Suez Consulting is now involved in the project with a Research & Development contract. Multiple meetings, gatherings, exchange sessions are organised with: “state services, port authorities, environmental protection institution, funding organizations, economic institutions, environmental associations and universities (Ref 1; Ref 4, p. 11; 8)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(-The project was financed by the EU Life Artisan project which responds to EU directives on biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation. )
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(-“Initiatives for the reconquest of biodiversity in the Overseas Territories” launched by the OFB in 2018 helped the project "gain momentum" (Ref 1). The project is implemented via a financing agreement signed by the OFB with the European Union, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Authorities (Ref 1).)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public national budget
- EU funds
- Other
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Increased protection against sea level rise
- Expected increased protection against sea level rise
- Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Expected strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Expected enhanced carbon sequestration
- Enhanced protection against extreme weather events (e.g. storms, cyclones, tidal surges, coastal erosion)
- Expected enhanced protection against extreme weather events (e.g. storms, cyclones, tidal surges, coastal erosion)
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Other
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Safety
- Improved community safety to climate-related hazards
- Expected improved community safety to climate-related hazards
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Other
References
1.
France Villes & Territoires Durables (n.d.). Projet Z’AB – Projet d’expérimentation d’une solution technique basée sur la mangrove pour la protection du port de plaisance de l’Etang Z’Abricots. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Suez Group (n.d.). En Martinique, préserver la biodiversité grâce à la mangrove : une solution fondée sur la nature. Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
3.
LIFE ARTISAN (2020). LE CLIMAT CHANGE, ADAPTONS-NOUS AVEC LA NATURE. Office Francais de la Biodiversité, Accessed on August 6, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Ministère de la Transition Ecologique (n.d.). Synthèse de l’évaluation à mi-parcours du deuxième plan national d’adaptation au changement climatique (2018-2021). Accessed on August 7, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Claude Sandrine (2021). Port de plaisance l'Étang Z'Abricot : le projet d'extension approuvé. ViàATV, Accessed on August 7, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Pauline Wech (2022). Extension du Bassin Z’Abricots du Port de Plaisance d’Etang Z’Abricots. Le Lamentin: Communauté d'Agglomération du Centre de la Martinique, Accessed on August 7, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Mission Régionale d'autorité environnementale (2022). Avis sur l’étude d’impact environnemental relative au Projet d’extension de la Marina de l’ Étang Z’Abricots. Accessed on August 7, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Contrat de la Baie (n.d.). Projet en génie écologique ZAB. grandebaiemartinique.com, Accessed on September 16, 2024, [Source link];
The hatched black lines represent the area favourable to sedimentification and mangrove growth
The image is publicly available: https://borea.mnhn.fr/fr/programme-recherche/z%E2%80%99ab
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.