Geography

As we have seen in the historical chapter, the geographical situation of Corsica was formerly an asset for the great Powers in order to control this part of the Mediterranean sea.

Nowadays, Corsica is not a geostrategic stake.

In this chapter, we are going to make a close-up of the present situation. First, we will just describe the geographical situation, secondly we will underline that Corsica must be protected.

A) A brief report of the geographical situation of Corsica

Internet website document 1 :

Title: "Corsica"

Source: annuaire corse website

Internet Adress: http://annuairecorse.free.fr/page13.html

Direct Access

Source analysis :

This document comes from a French website. That's why, there are sometimes a few mistakes.

Summary :

The isle of Corsica, situated in the Mediterranean, is a French region divided into two departements. South-Corsica(2A) has its county seat in Ajaccio and counts approximately 118200 inhabitants. Bastia is the County seat of High-Corsica (2B) which counts close to 131600 inhabitants. The surface of Corsica is 8680 square kilometres. This island is a mountainous one. Tourism is especially visible on the coast. Corsica is equipped with a regional natural park. The agro-food industry, the construction industry, the agricultural sector and the tertiary sector constitute the biggest employers of the active population. Insularity and the weakness of the population are the two major problems for the Corsican economy. Besides, Corsica benefits from European funds of Aid to development.

Résumé :

La Corse, île située en Méditerranée, est une région française divisée en deux départements. La Corse du Sud (2A) a pour chef lieu Ajaccio et compte à peu près 118200 habitants. Bastia est le chef lieu de la Haute Corse (2B) qui compte près de 131600 habitants. La superficie de la Corse est de 8680 kilometres carré. Cette île est montagneuse. Le tourisme est surtout présent sur les côtes. La Corse dispose d'un Parc Naturel Regional. L'agroalimentaire, le BTP, le secteur agricole et le secteur tertiaire representent la majeure partie de la population active. L'insularité et la faiblesse de la population sont deux problémes majeurs pour l'économie corse. D'ailleurs, la Corse bénéficie du fond d'aide Europeen au developpement.

B) Incredible resources to protect

The first document headed "Corsican mountain broadleaf and mixed forests" highlights Corsica's natural resources. We learn that there are a lot of endemic species in Corsica. In the second document, Jon Henley, journalist for The Guardian, raises the alarm because "Corsican autonomy could spell environmental disaster".

Internet website document 2:

Title: "Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests "

Source: National Geographic Website

Internet Adress: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1204.html

Direct Access

Source analysis :

This document comes from the National Geographic Website which is considered as the largest nonprofit scientific and educational institution in the world.

Keywords / Lexicon :
extensive = étendu	steep = raide
mountainside = flanc de montagne	to fill = remplir
endemic species = espèces endémiques	rare deer = cerf
oak forest = forêt de chênes	elevations = altitude
on south-facing slopes = sur les pentes des faces sud	fir = sapin
beech = hêtre	an array of alder = une rangée d'aulnes
juniper = genevrier	maple = érable
deep canyons = gorges profondes	steep mountain = montagne escarpée
drought = sécheresse	relics = vestiges
towering = imposant	to browse = brouter
bud = bourgeon	branch tips = bouts de branche
gentle = doux	Corsica nuthatch = sittelle corse
to flit about = papilloner, voleter	vulture = vautour
carrion = charogne	salamender = salamandre
moist leaf-litter beneath = en dessous d'une litiere de feuilles moites
orchid = orchidée	fern = fougère
logging = exploitation de bois	grazing = paturage
proper forestry management = gestion appropriée de la sylviculture	cattle = bétail

Summary :

This document give a description of the vegetation at different altitudes. It shows the diversity of the microclimates but also the diversity of flora and fauna. We learn that "half of the plant species in this ecoregion are endemic". For example, the small orchids and fern species couldn't be found outside of Corsica. Furthermore many tree species are relics of past climatic conditions. There are a lot of endemic animals like the Corsican nuthatch, the Corsican salamander or a species of wild sheep. In the last paragraph of this document, the author explains the situation and the problems encountered by Corsica in order to protect its ecosystem. Logging and grazing have created serious threats to the forest. The most important problems are the lack of proper forestry management and the inadequate management of grazing.

Résumé :

Ce document la végétation aux différentes altitudes. Il montre la diversité des micro-climats mais aussi la diversité de la flore et de la faune. Nous apprenons que la moitié des especes de plantes de cette ecorégion sont des plantes endémiques. Par exemple, les espèces de petites orchidées et de fougéres ne se trouvent qu'en Corse. De plus de nombreuses espèces d'arbres sont des reliques de conditions climatiques passées. Il y a beaucoup d'espèces d'animaux endémiques comme la sitelle ou la salamandre corse ou encore une espèces de cerf sauvage. Dans le dernier paragraphe de ce document, l'auteur explique la situation et les problemes rencontrés par la Corse pour protéger cet ecosystème. L'exploitation du bois et le paturage ont causé de serieux dommages à la forêt. Les principales difficultées sont l'absence d'une gestion approprié de la sylviculture et les mauvaises pratiques de paturage.

Internet website document 3:

Title: "Corsican autonomy could spell environmental disaster "

Source: The Guardian website

Internet Adress: http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,,495397,00.html

Direct Access

Source analysis :

Jon Henley, who has been several times to Corsica, knows the current situation well. He expresses his point of view in this article published in The Guardian newspaper.

Keywords / Lexicon :
to spell = signifier	environmentalist = écologiste
package of laws = série de lois	over-centralised = sur-centralisée
unspoiled coastline = littoral intact	school's curriculum = programme scolaire
overdue acknowledgement = reconnaissance tardive	diehard = tenace
Brittany = Bretagne	so-called = soi-disant
property developpers = promoteurs immobiliers	outstanding natural beauty = beauté naturelle remarquable
to outlaw = mettre hors la loi, proscrire	hamlet = hameau
to flout = bafouer, faire fi	straightforward = simple
cove = crique	breathtaking cliffs = falaises vertigineuses
pristine beaches = plages vierges	endearing habit = habitude touchante
bombing = plasticage	to deem = estimer, juger
the constituttional council = le Conseil Constitutionnel	the statute books = le registre des statuts
to fulfill = accomplir	to hamper = empêtrer, gêner
a shortage of suitable accomodation = un deficit de logement approprié
the goose that lays the golden eggs = la poule aux oeufs d'or
recipe for utter disaster = recette pour un desastre complet
leisure = loisir	devolution = decentralisation

Summary :

This article discusses laws grating the island a greater control of its own affairs. That means the end of the "indivisibility of the Republic". But Jon Henley shows that it could also be the beginning of an ecological disaster. Indeed the new regime will transfer to Corsica's elected island assembly lots of responsabilities. On the one hand it could be a good solution in order to solve Corsican problems but on the other hand, the author wonders if the island's parliament is able to guarantee the strict application of the "lois littoral et montagne". These laws aim at protecting sites of particular fragility or outstanding natural beauty. They outlaw any construction within 100 metres of the shore. If these laws are regularly flouted, it's on a small scale. The role of the separatists is underlined by Jon Henley, because they used to carry out bombing in order to destroy any bad project in its early stages . Nevertheless, the question is to know if the island's elected representatives will be able to resist the developers. If Corsican leaders are confident, the local environmental groups are skeptical. The author conclude his article by saying that the devolution project "may also end up ruining the island's best and most beautiful asset".

Résumé :

Cet article nous renseigne sur les lois donnant à la Corse le controle des affaraires la concernant. C'est la fin de "la République indivisible". Mais Jon Henley montre que ces lois peuvent aussi signifier le début d'un desastre écologique. En effet, le nouveau régime prévoit de transferer à l'Assemblée de Corse beaucoup de responsabilitées. D'un coté, il s'agit peut etre de la bonne solution pour résoudre les problémes de la Corse mais d'un autre coté, l'auteur se demande si le parlement corse est capable de garantir l'application de la loi littoral. Cette loi vise à protéger les sites les plus fragiles et ceux dont la beauté naturelle est exceptionnelle. Elle interdit toute construction à moins de 100 metres du rivage. Si cette loi est régulierement bafouée, ce phémomene se produit à une petite echelle. Jon Henley souligne le role des nationalistes car ils plastiquent afin de détruire dés les premiers travaux les constructions nuisibles. Cependant, la question est de savoir si les elus corses seront capables de resister aux promoteurs. Si les leaders corses sont confiants, les associations locales luttant pour la protection de l'environnement sont scetiques. L'auteur conclut son article en déclarant que le projet de décentralisation pourrait signifier la fin et la ruine d'une île ayant les meilleurs et les plus beaux atouts.

Conclusion :

Nowadays, Corsica is still an island with sites of particular beauty and fragility.

The wealth of its fauna and its flora is astonishing.

In shorts, Corsica owns marvellous scenery and a lot of endemic species. For all these reasons, everybody has to make an effort in order to protect this part of the world patrimony.

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