Abstract ID: 3.12331 | Accepted as Talk | Talk | TBA | TBA

Climate change is causing significant transformations in mountain recreational and tourist areas, affecting them through reduced snow cover, fluctuations in river flows, increased wildfire risk that restricts access to many mountain ranges, as well as rising temperatures and heat waves. In response to these effects, mountain lakes and rivers are becoming increasingly attractive, providing fresh areas where swimming and bivouacking are becoming more common. These impacts raise questions about the temporal and spatial evolution of recreational practices (such as peaks in visitor numbers or shifts to higher altitudes) and their influence on fragile aquatic ecosystems.
The Cévennes National Park, which is particularly popular for its river swimming sites, is witnessing the growing anthropogenic pressure on these areas. It is therefore necessary to understand these informal and dispersed practices in order to anticipate their evolution and collectively develop strategies for managing visitor numbers while preserving these ecosystems.
The research presented here lays the groundwork for this approach. It characterizes these spaces, which both shape and are shaped by recreational practices and user perceptions. Based on a five-step methodology, the study highlights the informal and dispersed nature of swimming, influenced by the use of new technologies as a vector for informal information sharing. It proposes a site typology and identifies three key indicators of potential visitor numbers: site popularity, accessibility, and potential freshness. Biodiversity challenges are then examined in relation to these findings. The study identifies high-priority fresh sites within the Cévennes National Park where further research could be conducted to test tailored management and conservation measures.