Traditional Irrigation Systems in France

This chapter examines the safeguarding of traditional gravity-fed irrigation systems, recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) by UNESCO in December 2023. It highlights how practitioners in France mobilize local knowledge to preserve these systems, addressing both environmental and cultural values. Through action-research, including interviews, meetings, and questionnaires, the chapter explores how the discourse on irrigation as cultural heritage is used to engage public institutions and promote climate change adaptation. It analyzes the intersection of heritage and environmental discourses in safeguarding these crucial practices. By focusing on the practices and knowledge of rural communities, the chapter situates the safeguarding of gravity-fed irrigation within the broader framework of climate justice, emphasizing how this ICH can serve as a collaborative laboratory for the co-production of knowledge on climate change adaptation.