01/2008
Deeply rooted in the territory of Thau, CPIE Bassin de Thau is a local member of the French CPIE associative network, which aims to develop and promote concerted initiatives in the field of environment and sustainable development, approached in a comprehensive way. The CPIE network was initiated at the beginning of the 1970s. CPIE Bassin de Thau was founded in 2008 and labelled for 10 years.
Contact details
E-mail : e.varraud@cpiebassindethau.fr
Facebook : https://fr-fr.facebook.com/CpieBassinDeThau/
Site web : http://www.cpiebassindethau.fr
34140, Mèze, France
Stakeholders
∙ Local farmers and consumers of the 4 villages organised in buying groups
∙ Environmental associations: ARDAM, Nicolas Hulot Foundation, LPO Hérault, Garrigues de Thau association, ADENA, 1% for the Planet
∙ Professional bodies: shellfish aquaculture professionals, joint association of coastal ponds (SIEL), local farmers’ network CIVAM Racine, 5 ports’ cooperative
∙ Research and education institutions: CIRAD, Bosquet Maritime High School, Sète Cruising School
∙ Public authorities: Occitanie Region, Hérault Department, Prefecture of Occitanie Region, Mèze and Bouzigues municipalities, etc.
Objectives
∙ Raising awareness of the general public on environmental issues, especially children, youth and vulnerable social groups
∙ Accompanying local authorities in setting up short marketing channels
∙ Coordinating environmental studies in participatory sciences and disseminating results via pedagogical tools
∙ Designing, capitalising and sharing resources and knowledge through skills training, teaching materials, exhibitions, publications and communication expertise
Legal framework & Budget
CPIE Bassin de Thau is a non-profit association with a governing body composed of 14 persons with different responsibilities in other associations or local administrations. The association has 2,210 subscribed members. Its staff is composed of 52 salaried workers, including a Director, a Deputy Director 9 project managers. The association’s annual revenue is around € 600,000, of which 3/4 come from project-based EU and French funds.Activities
CPIE Bassin de Thau supports local authorities in their sustainable development actions by drafting with them local assessments and action plans, animating workshops and designing awareness, communication and facilitation tools. It also acts directly with consumers through the “Thau baskets”, a local network of 4 villages organised in buying groups. The network involves 44 suppliers of fish, seafood, fresh produce and honey and around 2,500 households. CPIE Bassin de Thau supports buying groups in the structuring stages and the provision of coordination tools. The association is also involved in projects on sustainable fish farming with CIRAD and on agritourism with Chamber of Agriculture of Hérault.>Innovation & Outcomes
It is estimated that 37,200 individuals benefited from CPIE Bassin de Thau’s actions. Its various projects have shown that direct contact between farmers and consumers based on voluntary actions increase farmers’ revenues considerably while supplying consumers with fresh local products. The main added value of the association is its joint work with local authorities, NGOs, farmers and consumers that motivates local actors to better communicate and organise short and direct marketing channels.52
37 200
Main obstacles & Next steps
Project development and management activities are crucial for receiving funds from the European Union and local authorities but they are very time-consuming. Besides, EU subsidies tend to favour “modern” agriculture to peasant and organic farming. The association is currently studying the possibility to develop organic food baskets, as well as food baskets for vulnerable population (with Secours Populaire).More on :
http://www.cpiebassindethau.fr
