Corsica: Island Ecology and Autonomy

Fire, Development, and Resistance

Corsica's environmental struggles intertwine with political autonomy movements. Opposition to tourism mega-projects and second homes often takes violent form, with mysterious fires destroying controversial developments. Environmental protection becomes assertion of Corsican identity against outside exploitation.

Devastating wildfires, worsened by rural abandonment and climate change, threaten unique ecosystems. The maquis shrubland, evolved with fire, now burns too frequently and intensely. Traditional pastoral burning practices clash with modern fire suppression approaches. Finding balance requires respecting both ecological science and cultural practices.

"This land is our mother," states Petru Antoniotti of Corsica Libera. "When French developers concrete our coasts for tourist profits, they colonize our future. Environmental defense is national liberation." This framing mobilizes support but also complicates alliances with metropolitan environmental movements.

Marine Protection and Fishing Rights

Corsica's marine reserves, particularly the Scandola Nature Reserve, achieve conservation success but generate conflicts with traditional fishers. Small-scale fishing families, practicing sustainable methods for generations, resent exclusion from waters by regulations designed for industrial fleets.

The emergence of luxury yacht tourism in protected areas highlights environmental justice issues. Wealthy boaters anchor in pristine coves while local fishers face restrictions. These contradictions fuel resentment of environmental regulations perceived as serving elite interests.