The Community of Communes of Île de Ré brings together the island’s ten municipalities (Saint-Martin-de-Ré, La Flotte, Ars-en-Ré, etc.).
It coordinates a wide range of responsibilities: urban planning (intermunicipal land use plan, regulation of vacation rentals, renovation subsidies), waste management (collection, individual and collective composting, recycling centers), transportation (shuttle buses, bike paths, organized hitchhiking), coastal protection (flood prevention programs, natural risk plans), environmental stewardship (eco-wardens, rainwater collectors), and economic, social, and cultural development.
On the ground, the CDC initiates and supports practical local actions such as participatory work sites (e.g. invasive tree removal), nature workshops, and shared composting systems. It also publishes practical tools and guides (e.g. flood prevention manual, tourist tax guide, the magazine Îliens), organizes events (outdoor watercolor sessions, eco-warden nature walks, housing consultations), and rehabilitates brownfield sites (e.g. transforming the former fish market in Ars-en-Ré into a health and culture hub).
Additionally, it implements major development projects (craft zones, local tourism agency).
Its goal is to strengthen the island’s climate, social, and ecological resilience, while ensuring cohesion and a high quality of life for both residents and visitors.