Dykes and ‘nature’. Results of a survey on the perception of dykes and their evolution in 21st century France

Abstract

The traditional paradigm of dyke management focuses on water defense. This article analyzes the perception and representation of coastal and river dikes among a sample of 828 residents and users. Five scenarios for the evolution of dikes were proposed to the respondents. Among these scenarios, maintaining the dikes in their current state is the most desired, while vegetation is the least rejected. In contrast, the scenarios of reinforcement and opening/lowering the dikes encounter notable rejection. This surprising refusal of reinforcement could indicate a shift in the perception of dike management in France, while the rejection of their opening remains consistent with the limited development of soft coastal and river defenses. Furthermore, the respondents' choices are strongly influenced by their relationship with nature, even though they refer to a nature that is anthropized and tamed. These results are important for developing scenarios for the evolution of dikes in the face of climate change challenges and for better communicating with audiences that are often unreceptive to innovations.