ATABLE

A Territorial Workshop on longitudinal biodiversity on the Garonne lateral canal

The ATABLE program was created in response to growing concerns about the risk of spreading plane tree canker (Ceratocystis platani) along the Canal Latéral à la Garonne. An extension of the Canal du Midi, this waterway is a major heritage site, lined with trees that play an essential ecological, aesthetic, and cultural role. The experience of the Canal du Midi, where the disease led to the felling of thousands of plane trees, showed the extent of the landscape and social changes that this pathogen can cause.

In this context, ATABLE aims to anticipate the landscape and ecological changes to the Canal Latéral à la Garonne in the face of the risk of canker stain spreading. The program, running from 2021 to 2025, has mobilized a network of stakeholders, consolidated a knowledge base on canal landscapes, and incorporated exploratory research showing the high vulnerability of single-species rows of plane trees. The work highlights the need for a gradual landscape restructuring based on species diversification, supported by spatial analysis tools to prioritize interventions. ATABLE also highlights the importance of concerted governance involving managers, local authorities, researchers, and users, thus providing a solid basis for future action research initiatives and for the preparation of a European project extended to include biodiversity, heritage, and climate adaptation issues.