Path flow of water, use of circular economy principle on water resources and biodiversity management in a port area using eDPSIR and causal network

Global change threatening water resources for both human activities and biodiversity. Mediterranean coastal area is an hotspot of biodiversity among the most vulnerable in the world due to human activities and severe impact of climate change. We propose a new methodology to assess threats on water resources, including biodiversity and human use of water, in order to identify where adaptative responses are needed in global change context. This method is based on causal network, enhance Driver Pressure State Impact Response (eDPSIR) framework and concepts from the circular economy. Port industry is mostly located in coastal areas where climate change has a major impact on water resources from sea level rise and groundwater salinization. We use the industrial port area of Fos-sur-Mer, located on the French Mediterranean coast, property of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille (GPMM) as a study case. The GPMM is both a land-use planner and economic development agent, as well as a water and biodiversity manager on its territory. First, we use technical report, scientific literature and cartographic database to identify the overall hydrological functioning of the study site and known issues and translate the results into a simple model of “path flow of water”. Second, we define and identify circularities in water path flow considered as a causal network. Third, we highlight the DPSI within the study case that allows us to find where and from who Responses are needed.