Recent Evolution of Natural Hazard Management Policy in France, the Example of Serre-Chevalier (French Alps)

Abstract

Since the 1960s, the development of the Serre-Chevalier winter and summer resort has led to a rapid extension of the urban fabric on the territory of the village of St-Chaffrey. On July 9, 1981, the new neighborhoods built on the alluvial fan of the Verdarel torrent were partly devastated by a channeled debris flow. This disaster prompted the civil authorities to set up an extensive fluvial regulation system, which rapidly contributed to recreating a climate of confidence and security favorable to continuing urban expansion. The combination of catastrophic floods in July 1995, and a new security-oriented national policy on natural hazards, nevertheless led to a return to precautionary measures. The St-Chaffrey town council has therefore been forced by the State to accept a building-free zone on the land-use plan. This measure is perceived as a real denial of the local efficacy of the flood and landslide risk management policy as carried out by the council of St-Chaffrey during the previous 20 years.

Assessment of land cover changes and spatial drivers behind loss of permanent meadows in the lowlands of Italian Alps

“…Loss of grasslands due to alterations in land use/land cover (LUCC) affected the status of this ecosystems worldwide, resulting in loss of biodiversity (Niedrist et al, 2008), encroachment of shrubs and forest (Tasser et al, 2007), decrease of the forage production (Liu et al, 2006), altered water cycle (Mingliang et al, 2008), soil degradation (Snyman and du Preez, 2005), flood events (Flez and Lahousse, 2004) and desertification (Yong-Zhong et al, 2005). In the European Alps, loss of grasslands is a major multidimensional issue (e.g.…”

Re-scaling risk governance using local appraisal and community involvement

“…Several studies stress the importance of the local administration in assessing risk, and conflicting interests and focuses (Flez and Lahousse 2004;Henstra 2010;Liu et al 2011;Measham et al 2011;Sapountzaki et al 2011). Local administrators, who are generally responsible for planning, must have an integrated vision of risk management rather than focusing on emergency management since, for citizens and professional bodies, balanced commitment is the key to reducing tensions between different interests.…”

Towards a better understanding of the today French torrents management policy through a historical perspective

“…In other mountain valleys, such as in the northern Alps, the development of winter, as well as summer tourism industry, induced a high economic and urban development. Newcomers, including retired people, thus came to live in peri-urban locations [18]. With a decreasing natural hazard awareness, dwellings and industries were set up right on the alluvial fans of torrents [18,19].…”

“…Newcomers, including retired people, thus came to live in peri-urban locations [18]. With a decreasing natural hazard awareness, dwellings and industries were set up right on the alluvial fans of torrents [18,19]. Combined with a greater vulnerability of these new populations, potential damage increased in many mountain valleys [10].…”