Purpose of the study tour

The study tour offers river restoration practitioners a direct insight into a large-scale, multi-site river restoration project. The goal of the tour is to communicate the main insights, challenges, and solutions found in the Dordogne valley, and facilitate an exchange in the knowledge community.

For whom ?

Anyone interested in, passionate about, or working in river restoration.

Capacity

We have space for 40 participants, so register soon through the link below!

Duration

~17h of programme (+3h canoeing, optional).

The learning goals

After finishing the course, participants will have learned:

• What was done in the Dordogne valley and why: the story of how a large river restoration programme started, grew, and was shaped by policy and earlier projects.
• How to connect problems to measures: how sediment-related pressures translate into concrete restoration interventions (and what each intervention is meant to achieve).
• What “success” can look like in practice: the kinds of ecological and socio-economic outcomes you can realistically expect, and what you can take from Dordogne for other rivers.
• What it takes to keep restoration going long-term: the governance side – stakeholders, social acceptance, policy fit, and land acquisition realities.
• Who is working on similar challenges: increased awareness of other European projects and new professional contacts.

What this tour is NOT designed to teach:

• Full technical design skills to engineer or dimension measures (e.g., detailed calculations, design standards, permitting-ready plans).
• A complete monitoring training (e.g., how to set up and run monitoring programmes, methods, statistics, QA/QC).
• A “copy-paste” recipe for applying the Dordogne approach everywhere; participants will understand principles and trade-offs, but site-specific analysis remains necessary.
• Certification-level competence proving professional qualification.

This is an insight and exchange-focused study tour rather than an accredited training.

A three-day field-based to learn about the LIFE Dordogne River Project’s actions carried out to restore the sedimental natural processes of the river.

Former gravel pit sites after being ecologically restored. Photos : #1. Veyrignac in 2022 | #2. & #3. Gaule in 2024

Former gravel pit of Maison-Neuve in Saint-Chamassy. Photos : #1. Guided tour of the site for a Unesco Biosphere Reserve event  | #2. The site during the ecological works | #3. Pedagogical activities with children

The sites restored within the framework of the LIFE Dordogne River project are used as experimental sites for pedagogical programmes with schools, training sessions for river managers or scientists. Photos : #1. A pedagogical sign has been installed on the former gravel pit of Maison-Neuve | #2. The children from a local primary school discover the oxbows restored in Pontou | #3. Participants of the technical training session about riparian vegetation organised on the former gravel pit of Gaule

Registration costs

There is a small participation fee of 50€, to be paid after successful registration.

What we take care of

• Bus transport to and from activities during the study tour.
• Dinner on the 28th and 29th of September.
• Lunch on the 28th, 29th, and 30th of September.

What you will have to organise for yourself and on your own costs

• Your travels for your timely arrival to and departure from Sarlat for the study tour.
• Your accommodation in Sarlat.
• Your breakfasts.

Contact course communication and registration

The course organisation is a cooperation between the LIFE Dordogne Project and the European Centre for River Restoration.

Charlotte Buergers : c.buergers@posteo.de | +31.6.4376.3791
Bart Fokkens : secretariat@ecrr.org | +31.6.5121.6467

Contact LIFE Dordogne Project and course organisation

life-dordogne@eptb-dordogne.fr

Baptiste Potet : b.potet@eptb-dordogne.fr | +33.7.88.00.28.82
Justine Quetier : j.quetier@eptb-dordogne.fr | +33.6.80.30.94.33
Olivier Guerri : o.guerri@eptb-dordogne.fr | +33.6.85.57.65.38

This international open study tour on river restoration is organized by