Delphine Jaymond

Databases administrator in ecological restoration at IMBE, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, Aix Marseille Université, Avignon, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INRAE, LESSEM, Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France

Scientists & Researchers

My Projects
My Focus & Approach
My Journey

My Projects

BDGeniVeg

BDGeniVeg, a French database about soil bioengineering techniques: building online map, collect data and use.

Processus et causes de défaillance du génie végétal pour la stabilisation des berges de rivière : retour d’expérience sur un large jeu de données issues de la BD GeniVeg.

BD GeniVeg : une base de données française sur les ouvrages de protection de berges en génie végétal.

BDRest

Key project facts
The BDGeniVeg database was created to describe riverbank structures using bioengineering techniques in France. The inventory of structures is based on bibliography and field work. The information is divided into six groups: the structure itself (e.g. location, bank characteristics), the watercourse (section in front of the bioengineering structure), the techniques (fascine, combs, cribwalls…), the origin of the data (institute, project), the plant species (planted, seeded or currently present) and information on field visits (current state of the techniques).

The BDRest project aims to draw up an inventory of restored areas in France, by creating and maintaining a database of land restoration operations. It has several objectives:
1. For national and international institutions: to assess the achievement of quantified objectives;
2. For practitioners: to provide information relating to the projects;
3. For researchers: to develop knowledge about restoration;
4. For teachers and trainers: to find concrete case studies.
What impact did these projects have on biodiversity, if any?
Natural riparian habitats are known for their great biodiversity, which is extremely high compared to their relative extent. To protect human activities from erosion and flooding, bioengineering techniques are being developed on riverbanks to replace environmentally damaging civil engineering techniques.
What work challenges did you face and what approach did you take to solve them?
The lack of knowledge and feedback is one of the main obstacles to the development of bioengineering techniques. A database of these techniques helps to improve communication about bioengineering structures that work well, as well as those that have not. Everyone can then benefit from the feedback of other stakeholders.
What lessons learned are transferable to other places/projects?
I invest a great deal of time talking to river managers about their expectations of the database and how it could help them. The main point was to be able to show successful examples to decision-makers to convince them that these techniques work. Communicating about their own projects was often the second benefit they saw in the BDGeniVeg database.
What is your biggest barrier and what are you trying to do about it?
Time and funding ! I have worked part-time (80%) on BDGeniVeg for 5 years, then at 10% for the last 3 years. Filling the database is very time-consuming, this is why I'm usually the only one who records data into the database.

My Focus and Approach

Lessons Learnt - Some recommendations for others?
1. What’s most important:
  Build a team that is enthusiastic and motivated by the project, and create a team spirit so that discussions are easy and exciting!
2. Do this, not that:
  
  Carry out ambitious restoration projects !
  Don’t minimise the importance of discussions between restoration experts and local river technicians who have thorough knowledge of the watercourse.
3. Always start by:
  
  Gather as much information as possible about the river and its catchment area, how it is used by local people and its history. This is a time-consuming stage, but one that should not be neglected.
4. What to do when things get difficult…:
  
  Taking the time to step back. If it's difficult, you need to think before you act. I like to write down my difficulties so that I can analyse them and find solutions. Giving yourself at least one night to calmly decide what to do is also important!
5. 5 simple steps to:
  1. Build an enthusiastic team to propose an ambitious project;
  2. Take the time to research the literature and feedback, to correctly identify the stakeholders involved in the project;
  3. Organise consultation with the stakeholders identified above;
  4. Run the project at a measured pace to save energy when faster work is needed;
  5. Communicate widely about the project, both to the general public and to experts.
6. The biggest barrier and what I am trying to do about it:
  The hardest part was getting the stakeholders involved over the long term. This is why it was so important to properly identify them, explain the project to them and tell them what they could contribute. To make sure they were involved, I kept them regularly informed of the project's progress through annual one-day meetings and I sometimes ask them to do a bit of proof-reading, but never too much!

My Journey

My journey:
I am currently working at the interface between ecological restoration and IT. I design and maintain databases for ecological restoration research, with a major focus on making these databases available to everyone. I am responsible for 2 databases: BDGeniVeg and BDRest. I’m working at both IMBE, Avignon University, and INRAE Grenoble.
Favourite part of the work I do:
It’s exciting to play the role of facilitator between ecological restoration and IT. I particularly enjoy the seasonal nature of my work: in winter, IT development, and in spring, fieldwork! I’ve learnt a lot from the variety of people I work with to design and develop the databases.

Interview

Part 1

Language: English

Part 2

Language: French

Key Topics:

Key Topics

These relate to specific topics (e.g. technical solutions; restoration activities etc.) addressed within the showcase materials.

Ecological restoration
Soil bioengineering techniques
SQL databases

Prone2Success Factors Demonstrated:

Prone2Success Factors Demonstrated

These are the Prone2Success checklist factors which are highlighted within this showcase. More information on the Prone2Success checklist can be found here.

Supports WFD, NRL and other restoration policy goals
Communicate/engage with stakeholders from the outset
Obtain sufficient finance for all project stages
Include long term monitoring

NRL Restoration Categories:

NRL Restoration Categories

These are the restoration categories (listed under Annex VII of the European Nature Restoration Law (NRL) which are relevant to this showcase.

[7] Re-naturalise river beds
[9] Establish riparian buffers
[22] Improve connectivity across habitats

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