Territorial development seeks to enhance the management and optimisation of local resources. This approach contributes to the objectives local land use planning and development: geographically administrated units, watersheds natural parks and regions. Global environmental issues have to be addressed at these levels in terms of analysis, mobilisation and actions.
AETS’ activities incorporate international and national sustainable development objectives through the evaluation and elaboration of territorial projects:

• Fight against climate change
• Preservation of biodiversity
• Environmental management and socio-economic development activities
• Sustainable modes of production and consumption
• Human development and optimal living conditions
• Social cohesion and solidarity between generations
• Cooperation between territories.

Providing support to public and private actors, AETS engineers and specialists bring their technical fields of expertise together with a detailed analysis of territorial socio-economic contexts. AETS interventions also raise awareness of national and international regulatory and policy frameworks (European Water Framework Directive, Natura 2000, risk management and national regulatory applications).
AETS offers a wider range of services, including:

• The design and undertaking of studies
• The provision of technical and socio-economic advice
• Assistance at all stages of the project cycle (from identification through to evaluation)
• Environmental and social impact studies and management plans
• Capacity building, strengthening national and local institutions
• Stakeholder participation and consultation.

WATER: The economy and rational management of this resource are unavoidable. AETS favours a holistic watershed approach through the integrated management of water (groundwater and surface) and by interacting with a basin’s constitutive components. Supporting local authorities and user groups, AETS is involved in the analysis and optimisation of drinking water and sanitation systems. AETS applies a multi-actor analysis approach to the various uses of water in its undertakings. This involves the use of analytical techniques to address stakeholder standpoints, conflict management and consultation.

TERRITORY: AETS assists its clients in the elaboration of land planning and sustainable development projects during their successive phases: inventory and territorial diagnosis from a sustainable development perspective, challenges and development scenarios, action plans, evaluation and monitoring systems. Knowledge about the management of natural areas together with the analysis of exploitation systems (farming, forestry, agroforestry) are key elements in the economic and touristic promotion of heritage (natural, socio-cultural and historic). In decision-making, the leadership and piloting of projects, the participation of all stakeholders and public-private synergies are sought.

FOOD SECURITY: In today’s world, the improvement of food security and rural development are key to the reduction of poverty. The degradation of natural resources, climate change, natural disasters and certain models of agricultural development contribute to the accentuation of such poverty. In light of food security issues, AETS contributes to the articulation of sector approaches, by supporting the organisation of cycles between production, processing, marketing and consumption and in the synergies between the quality of food and its availability on local, regional and national markets.

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References & Clients
AETS’ activities in the environment sector are aimed at supporting industries, local authorities and other clients from the public and private sectors (water basin management authorities, Ministries of Environment, etc.).