Amiens, labeled “City of wetlands accredited by the Ramsar Convention”, highlights its commitment to preserve biodiversity, in particular marshes and peat bogs of the Somme and Avre valleys, recognized ‘International importance »Since 2017. In this context, the city of Amiens, in partnership with Amiens Métropole, is organizing a series of events between January 31 and February 19, 2025, to raise public awareness of the importance of wetlands, to their protection and the need to preserve these natural habitats. The theme of the 2025 edition is: “protect wetlands for our common future”.
January 31, 2025 will mark the national launch of the commemorations of this day, in the presence of 100 to 120 participants from all over France. This day of exchanges will start with two round tables on themes such as “protect wetlands for our common future” and “city and wetlands”. Field visits and workshops will complete this program.
Several events are scheduled in Amiens and its surroundings to allow the public to better understand the ecosystem of wetlands and to discover its biodiversity. On Wednesday, February 5, the screening of the documentary film It was a peat bog will be followed by a presentation on the actions of restoration of the peat bogs by the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturals in Hauts-de-France. On Thursday, February 6, the film Nou Sonme will be screened to explore the issues related to water in the Somme Valley, with a debate on the management of water and wetlands. On Friday, February 7, Professor Guillaume Decocq will give a conference entitled “consequences of the erosion of biodiversity on human health”.
Several natural outings are also on the program. On January 31, the Conservatoire des spaces Naturals des Hauts-de-France will offer a night outing to observe night raptors at the Saint-Ladre de Boves nature reserve. On Saturday, February 1, a bicycle outing will allow participants to discover the ecosystems linked to the Selle River and the neighboring wetlands. On Sunday February 2, nature outings will take place in Blangy-Tronville to explore the marshes and near Vogel Square to understand the concept of ecological continuity for migratory fish. On Wednesday, February 12, a creative workshop entitled Le Pays de l’Eau will be organized for families, inviting to imagine a watershed through a collaborative construction game. A double exhibition will be visible from January 31 to February 11, 2025 at the Dewailly space. The first, entitled the Natura 2000 network on the Somme Basin, will explain the operation of the European network for the protection of natural areas. The second, on the Life Anthropofens program, will highlight the actions undertaken to preserve local peat bogs.
The events are free and open to everyone, but certain activities, such as natural outings, require prior registration. You are therefore invited to discover and get involved in preserving wetlands while learning about these vital ecosystems for our common future.
