France

Project Overview

The CAMP Var (France) project was implemented within the framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan of the Barcelona Convention to support France in applying ICZM principles along the Var coastal area.

The Var coastline, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, faces strong development pressures linked to tourism, urbanisation, infrastructure expansion and environmental degradation. The project aimed to address these challenges by promoting a more integrated and sustainable approach to coastal planning and management.

CAMP Var served as one of the early pilot projects for testing ICZM methodologies in the Mediterranean, helping to bridge sectoral policies and improve coordination between national, regional and local stakeholders.

A strong emphasis was placed on spatial planning, environmental protection, risk management and stakeholder participation, to develop replicable approaches for other coastal regions.

Key Objectives

CAMP Var focused on strengthening coastal governance and sustainable development by aiming to:

introduce and test ICZM approaches in the Var coastal area
support balanced development between tourism, urban growth and environmental protection
improve coordination among institutions responsible for coastal management
develop tools for integrated spatial planning and decision-making
enhance stakeholder participation in coastal governance processes
address coastal risks, including erosion, pollution and natural hazards

Main results

The CAMP Var project generated a range of strategic, methodological and practical outputs that contributed to advancing ICZM implementation in France. Key outputs included:

Integrated Coastal Management Strategy

Development of strategic recommendations for sustainable coastal development in the Var region

Spatial planning and decision-support tools

Preparation of thematic studies on land use, environmental protection, tourism and risk management
Introduction of tools supporting integrated territorial planning

Pilot actions and demonstration activities

Testing ICZM approaches in selected local areas to demonstrate practical applications

Institutional and policy recommendations

Proposals to improve coordination between administrative levels and sectors

Stakeholder participation and capacity building

Organisation of workshops, consultations and training sessions
Strengthening collaboration among public authorities, experts and local communities

These results contributed to improving coastal management practices in France and informed broader ICZM policy development at both national and Mediterranean levels.