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les ripisylves et les rivières

Riparian areas are the wooded strips along watercourses and constitute specific ecosystems at the interface between terrestrial and aquatic environments.

logo-deal-guadeloupelogo Parc national de la Guadeloupe

12 types of Guadeloupe's riparian areas

Phase 1 of the project " PROTEGER " has improved knowledge of the structure and functioning of ecosystems bordering watercourses.

This study was financed by the Guadeloupe Water Office, La Déal, the Guadeloupe Region and the Guadeloupe National Park. It was carried out by the group: National Forestry Office, BRGM and the TAUARI design office.

Invasive alien species

Under the pressure of numerous anthropic factors, watercourses and more particularly their riparian areas are affected by the massive invasion of alien species . During phase 1 of the project PROTEGER , 75% of Basse-Terre inventoried riverbanks are home to invasive alien species.

Some species, classified as invasive, threaten the balance of aquatic and riparian ecosystems.

Learn more about endangered flora in Guadeloupe >Learn more about endangered flora Overseas >

Break in ecological continuity

The functionality of some watercourses may be degraded due to structures across watercourses or along the banks.

These structures have harmful effects on the ecological continuity of ecosystems: bank artificialization modifies sediment transport, reduces riparian areas’ filtering functions , hinders the movement of migratory species, etc.

Pollution and water quality

Many watercourses are polluted by chemical substances, including pesticides - especially chlordecone and glyphosate. Fragmentation of riparian ecosystems and destruction or degradation of riparian areas along watercourses facilitate the transfer of chemical substances, passing directly from agricultural plots into the heart of watercourses. In addition, large amounts of waste worsen the situation: household waste, tires, domestic pollution, etc., clearly hampering the reconstitution of riparian areas and the good state of water environments.

More about water quality in Guadeloupe >

Guadeloupe watercourses

Guadeloupe has a dense hydrographic network: 55 perennial watercourses, 4 canals, more than 350 gullies, 3,000 waterholes and a dozen ponds!

The vegetation along watercourses, or riparian area, enjoys remarkable biodiversity, and is home to more than 1,700 native species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that play an essential role in maintaining the banks.

Learn more about Guadeloupe's aquatic environments >

The proper functioning of a watercourse depends in part on the good ecological condition of its riparian area. Unfortunately, Guadeloupe watercourses and their low-lying riparian areas are sometimes in an alarming state of degradation. Many species are threatened with extinction, for various reasons.

Sections of watercourses
below 125 m in altitude

Type 1

Mangrove

Altitude: <5 m
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : Variable
Gradient: No or low gradient (0 to 1%)
Current:  Usually slow
Salinité : (>1g/L)

See document

Type 2

Rivière en zone inondable

Forêt marécageuse ou zone inondable défrichée
Altitude: <50 m (ici 1-28 m)
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : <10 m
Gradient: Faible : 1% (0-6%)
Current:  Usually slow
Salinité : (<1 g/L)

See document

Type 4

Rivière ouverte

A pente large, à ripisylves non connectées et à pente faible à moyenne
Altitude: <100 m (2-72 m)
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : >20 m
Gradient: Faible à moyenne : 1,5% (0-3%)
Current:  Usually low to medium
Salinité : <1 g/L

See document

Type 5

Rivière semi-ouverte

Assez large à ripisylves en partie connectées et pente moyenne
Altitude: <100 m (ici : 50-100 m)
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : 10-20 m
Gradient: Average : 3.3% (1-11%)
Current:  Habituellement moyen à rapide
Salinité : <1 g/L

See document

Type 6

Rivière fermée à pente moyenne

Rivière étroite à ripisylve stotalement connectées
Altitude: <100 m (ici : 32-120 m)
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : <5 m
Gradient: Moyenne : 4,9% (1-17%)
Current:  Habituellement lent à moyen
Salinité : <1 g/L

See document

Type 7

Rivière fermée à pente forte

Ricière étroite, à ripisylves totalement connectées ; type ravie
Altitude: <100 m (ici : 10-116 m)
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : <10 m
Gradient: Forte : 7,9% (1-20%)
Current:  Habituellement rapide (mais très intermittent)
Salinité : <1 g/L

See document

High altitude watercourse sections
between 125m and 300m of altitude

Type 8

Rivière ouverte à pente moyenne

Rivière large, à ripisylves partiellement ou non connectées
Altitude: 125-300 m (ici : 230-235 m)
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : >20 m
Gradient: Moyenne : 4% (1-8%)
Current:  Usually fast
Salinité : <1 g/L

See document

Type 10

Rivière fermée à pente forte

Rivière étroite, à ripisylves totalement connectées ; type ravine
Altitude: 125-300 m (ici 116-245 m)
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : <10 m
Gradient: Steep: 15% (8-21%)
Current:  Très variable
Salinité : <1 g/L

See document

Watercourse sections
between altitude 300 m to 500 m

Type 12

Rivière fermée à pente forte

Rivière étroite, à ripisylves totalement connectées
Altitude: >300 m (ici : 292-454 m)
Largeur du cours d’eau (lame basse) : <15 m
Gradient: Forte : 7% (1-13%)
Current:  Usually fast
Salinité : <1 g/L

See document

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