In Lavandou, the beaches are in addition to being stretches of sand bathed by the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean, natural sanctuaries, preserved spaces where the sun, wind and waves dance in harmony with a commitment to the preservation of the environment.
Discover the beaches, as places of relaxation, but also as fragile ecosystems that Le Lavandou is keen to cherish and protect. This page is an invitation to discover how Le Lavandou preserves the natural beauty of the 12 beaches.
Le Lavandou in reasoned sand management
Le Lavandou is committed to preserving the posidonia beds in all seasons for several reasons:
- Protecting the coastline from coastal erosion
- Promote the natural and vibrant functioning of beaches,
Implementing a reinforced sand management strategy involves adapting cleaning. Thus, manual cleaning is favored on all the Posidonia beds on the coast and in the coves. The waste is therefore removed manually (plastics, papers, egots, etc.) without touching the posidonia.
On the large beaches, mechanical cleaning is carried out several times a week, while taking care, here too, not to touch the “sea lines” located on the shore and made up of Posidonia leaves and natural and polished driftwood. the sea.
What is a Posidonia bench?
Posidonia beds are a still little-known marine treasure. These are formations composed of dead Posidonia leaves and sand. The Posidonia bench, often neglected but essential and has an important role in preserving the coastline. In the fall, you notice that the leaves of the plant wash up on the beaches of Lavandou. They gradually trap the sand to form real natural buildings, which we call Posidonia benches. Before the summer season, some of the benches naturally return to the sea. Only a small quantity remains on the beaches.
The role of Posidonia beds on beaches is essential, in winter as in summer, for two reasons:
- It is an essential tool in the fight against beach erosion. In fact, by retaining the sand, the Posidonia benches stabilize the beaches.
- It is an element which contributes to the biological richness of the beaches. As they decompose, posidonia become a food source for many species. Certain plants, such as sea samphire, grow on posidonia. In addition, in the long term, the degraded Posidonia leaves themselves become sediments, which, like sand, enrich the beach.
What is Posidonia?
Posidonia – commonly called Posidonia herbarium – is a marine flowering plant. It is often confused with algae. However, it is indeed a plant that flowers and has leaves and roots, unlike algae. Posidonia is made up of long leaves, roots and underground stems called rhizomes. The latter, with the roots, form tangles called mats, which enclose the sand. These mattes grow very slowly, both horizontally and vertically. In the fall, Posidonia loses some of its leaves which can be found on the beaches.
Posidonia, an essential ecosystem at sea
The Posidonia herbarium plays a very important role on the beaches. But above all it is irreplaceable at sea. Indeed, at sea, posidonia absorbs CO2 and produces oxygen. It is therefore the lung of the Mediterranean! It is also a place for fish to live. They can feed there, lay eggs and grow. By fixing the sediment, Posidonia makes the water clearer. It is therefore also an excellent indicator of water quality.
Note: Posidonia is very vulnerable to boat anchors. The Donia app helps boaters to identify areas devoid of Posidonia seagrass to avoid destroying it. To better understand the issues, you can watch this fun video.
By discovering and understanding the value of the Posidonia bench, we can all help preserve this marine treasure. Whether by practicing responsible tourism or participating in conservation initiatives. Each of us has a role to play in safeguarding this exceptional underwater ecosystem. The Posidonia bench is a little-known wonder that deserves all our attention and protection for future generations.
