COUNTDOWN 2010 READINESS ASSESSMENT FRANCE ...

COUNTDOWN 2010 READINESS ASSESSMENT
FRANCE
preliminary desk study
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COUNTDOWN 2010 READINESS ASSESSMENT
FRANCE
preliminary desk study
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................3
Existing national environmental policy and legislation .......................................................................................................3
National targets for the conservation of genetic biodiversity........................................................................................................3
Information on bathing water quality..........................................................................................................................................4
Restoration programmes .........................................................................................................................................................4
Action Plans and conservation status of marine species and habitats.........................................................................................4
Invasive Alien Species legislation in place .................................................................................................................................4
Bio-safety measures to reduce impacts from alien genotypes....................................................................................................4
Trade in CITES species............................................................................................................................................................4
Plans and follow up of the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.............................................................................................5
Integration of biodiversity into cross-sector policies .........................................................................................................5
Integration of biodiversity considerations into development programmes, and projects’ impact on biodiversity...............................5
Implementation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management concept ........................................................................................5
Application of the Ecosystem approach to the management of fisheries .....................................................................................5
Biodiversity considerations in aquaculture .................................................................................................................................5
Adaptation measures to increase biodiversity resilience to climate change..................................................................................5
Stakeholder awareness and participation .......................................................................................................................6
Integration of biodiversity into public policy/wider decision making..............................................................................................6
National partnerships for biodiversity (including private sector involvement)..................................................................................6
National/sub-national public awareness campaigns/initiatives ....................................................................................................6
Implementation of Multilateral agreements relevant to biodiversity conservation ..................................................................6
Ratified Biodiversity-related agreements (year) ...........................................................................................................................6
Paid contributions....................................................................................................................................................................7
Financial and technical resources for achieving the 2010 target .......................................................................................7
Proportion of its Rural Development budget allocated to biodiversity...........................................................................................7
Funding for biodiversity under the national research programmes...............................................................................................7
Annual funding for biodiversity..................................................................................................................................................7
Funds provided for biodiversity activities in developing countries ................................................................................................7
Existence of a national set of biodiversity indicators ...................................................................................................................8
Sources......................................................................................................................................................................8
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Competent authorities for nature &
biodiversity:
Ministère de l’Ecologie, de l’Énergie, du
Développement durable et de l’Aménagement
du territoire (MEDAD)
http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/
Most recent national/sub-national
biodiversity strategy/action plan:
Stratégie Française pour la Biodiversité (2004)
http://www.environnement.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/s
nb.pdf
Latest review of the implementation of
the biodiversity strategy/action plan:
Stratégie nationale pour la biodiversité : rapport
d’activité 2006
http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/SNBrapport-activite-2006.pdf
Introduction
France is located in Western Europe, although its territory also
comprises various overseas islands and territories located in
other continents. Its total land area, with its overseas
departments and territories (excluding Adélie Land), is
674,843 square kilometres (260,558 sq mi), or 0.45% of the
total land area on Earth. With an estimated population of 64.5
million people, France is the 19th most populous country in the
world.
France (excluding its overseas territories) comprises 40% of
Europe’s flora. This flora is characterized by a high rate of
endemism, especially in the Mediterranean and Pyrenees
mountains. Threatened species in France’s fauna account for
39% of reptiles, 36% of mammals, and 22% of freshwater fish
species. In addition, the country comprises 276 species of
birds, of which 18% are threatened.
Overseas, the territories, although considerably smaller in area,
are home to 100 times more freshwater fish species, 60 times
more endemic birds, 26 times more endemic plants, and 3.5
times more endemic molluscs. Some examples of this lush
biodiversity can be found in French Guyana, with a vast track of
untouched primary Amazonian forest, over 5350 species of
vascular plants, and 183 terrestrial mammals; and New
Caledonia, an overseas territory with its own government
responsible for the protection of biodiversity, an 85% endemic
flora, with several families and genus found no where else in
the world, as well as half of the species of coniferous plants
found in the southern hemisphere.
In 2005, zones that were dedicated to the conservation of
biodiversity accounted for 12.6% of all of the French territory.
Today, the destruction, fragmentation and alteration of habitats
constitute the most important direct cause of the decline of
biodiversity in the country.
Existing national environmental policy and legislation
The French National Strategy for Biodiversity was developed in
2004. It has 3 main objectives, namely:
• To protect habitats and ecosystem diversity, species and
genetic diversity,
• To maintain and develop a web of natural areas over the
territory, and
• To ensure the maintenance of ecosystem health and
functions.
National targets for the conservation of genetic biodiversity
Since the 1990s France has taken actions to maintain
threatened plant varieties and breeds of domestic animals. Its
national targets for the conservation of genetic diversity are in
accordance with those of the CBD, and include the promotion
of quality products (which often use local varieties) such as
through the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée and Indication
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géographique d’origine certification schemes.
Furthermore, France has incorporated a number of Good
Agricultural Environmental Conditions (GAEC) that may provide
significant biodiversity conservation benefits. These include
rules for the maintenance of pasture, with locally defined criteria
based on stocking densities, or an obligation to graze or mow.
There are also measures to maintain cultivated crop diversity,
but there are no measures to maintain important landscape
features.
where practicable, marine areas which have been adversely
affected, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
France is also a contracting party to the Barcelona Convention
and therefore has responsibilities under the Mediterranean
Action Plan and the Strategic Action Plan for Protection of
Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean Region.
Invasive Alien Species legislation in place
Information on bathing water quality
France has a specific website dedicated to bathing waters:
http://baignades.sante.gouv.fr/ where the public can access
reports and real-time information on bathing water.
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are partly covered under the
Natural Heritage Plan of the French Strategy for biodiversity and
within hunting and wild-fauna programmes. Present-day France
does not count with an overarching IAS legislation in place,
although regulations exist for IAS trade-related issues and
intentional introduction.
Restoration programmes
The French Marine Action Plan indicates that it is necessary to
develop restoration plans for threatened species such as
turtles, cetaceans and sturgeons (some of which are currently
being launched). Furthermore, there is a conservation plan
approved by the French National Nature Conservation Council
(CNPN) for Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus).
The French ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and
Spatial Planning (MEDAD) is currently working on measures to
address IAS within biodiversity action plans, and the French
government recently launched a biodiversity programme
dealing with IAS.
Bio-safety measures to reduce impacts from alien
genotypes
Within the Context of the Mediterranean Action Plan of the
Barcelona Convention, France has adopted Action Plans for
Mediterranean species of marine turtles, monk seal, cetaceans
(especially bottle-nose dolphin), sea birds (such as Audouin’s
gull), cartilaginous fishes (such as the great white shark), and
marine plants. These Action Plans contain objectives relating to
the elaboration and setting up monitoring programmes and
monitoring networks for the species in question.
Action Plans and conservation status of marine species and
habitats
Several regulations are in place in relation to the deliberate
release of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the
framework of France's Environmental Code, including plants,
animals and phyto-pharmaceutical products.
France is also an implementing Party to the Cartagena Protocol
on Biosafety. Furthermore, it must implement relevant legislation
based on European Union's provisions for GMOs. However, in
2004 and 2007 the European Court of Justice ruled that
France did not comply to transpose the EU directive on the
deliberate release into the environment of GMOs 1 .
Developed in 2005, the French Marine Action Plan for
Biodiversity incorporates an strategy for ICZM and actions to
incorporate biodiversity issues into national, European and
international policies and plans.
Trade in CITES species
France is a party to the Convention on the International Trade of
Endangered Species (CITES), and as such must report on the
As a contracting party of the OSPAR convention, France
implements the ‘Biological Diversity and Ecosystems’ strategy,
with the objective to protect and conserve the ecosystems and
the biological diversity of the maritime area which are, or could
be, affected as a result of human activities, and to restore,
1
2001/18 EEC
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amount of trade in CITES species. France is a major player in
the international trade of CITES species, mirrored in the large
number of CITES certificates issued and the number of seized
items.
The information available did not contain data on denied permit
applications or total figure for seizures, although details on the
seizures are presented, varying substantially between years.
National capacity building for CITES implementation focuses on
improving networks, hiring of staff, computerisation, as well as
advice, assistance and training provided for the Management
Authority, the Scientific Authority, the Enforcement Authorities
and traders.
Plans and follow up of the UN Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment
questions that determine the need to conduct a detailed
assessment study. The study is financed by the French
Development Fund, or by other donors in co-funded projects,
with the participation of qualified local consultants in recipient
countries. At the time of this study, it was unclear to what
extend these assessments are mandatory and biodiversity
considerations integrated.
Implementation of the Integrated Coastal Zone
Management concept
An overall strategy for Integrated Coastal Zone Management
(ICZM) is included within the French Marine Plan of Action.
Under this strategy France aims to develop ICZM actions, new
coastal policies based on ICZM principles and indicators in line
with marine and coastal biodiversity indicators. France has
provided good examples of new coordination mechanisms
involving various stakeholders horizontally and vertically in the
implementation of ICZM strategies at the European level.
France is currently developing a plan to follow up the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, in which a number of
different systems and ecosystems services will be included.
Such a plan will be focused at the national level, with some
elements of specific interest addressed at the sub-national
level.
The planning process is in its initial phase, were systems,
sources, and valuation methods are still being specified. This
Plan is expected to continue until mid-2009.
Integration of biodiversity into cross-sector policies
Integration of biodiversity considerations into development
programmes, and projects’ impact on biodiversity
Although there are relevant guidance documents available for
public forests, afforestation schemes and projects in France,
these are not subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment
(SEA) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures.
Planning regulations and EIAs are required however for
deforestation proposals of more than 10 ha.
In 2006 France intended to start implementing ICZM activities
by establishing a National Council for the Coast with the
responsibility for integrated coastal management.
Application of the Ecosystem approach to the management
of fisheries
France published a plan for fisheries in 2006, in which an
integrated approach combining objectives related to resources,
energy and value-added, although it does not specifically
mention the ecosystem based approach to management.
Furthermore, the French Marine Action plan recognises the
need to integrate the protection of biodiversity into the
objectives of the Regional Fisheries Organisations.
Biodiversity considerations in aquaculture
The French Fisheries Operational programme includes in one of
its axis an objective to develop methods of aquaculture that
maintain water quality and promote the protection of
biodiversity.
Furthermore, France applies an environmental assessment
process at an early stage in development co-operation projects
and at a level appropriate to the type of project, the significance
of the potential environmental impacts and the socio-cultural
and biophysical sensitivity of the environment.
Impact significance is assessed through a series of test
Adaptation measures to increase biodiversity resilience to
climate change
The French National Biodiversity Strategy notes the impacts of
climate change on biodiversity and promotes the maintenance
of connectivity (e.g. through corridors). Furthermore, France
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has produced a climate change adaptation strategy, although it
has not defined targets for increasing the resilience of
biodiversity to climate change in accordance with CBD goals.
From the information available at the time of this study, it is not
clear if a strategy or programme of defined actions to facilitate
biodiversity adaptation exists.
Stakeholder awareness and participation
Integration of biodiversity into public policy/wider decision
making
The integration of biodiversity into public policy is one of the
objectives in France’s National Biodiversity Strategy. This is also
one of the major objectives of the European Union Biodiversity
Action Plan. By the time of this study, no information on
concrete examples of such a practice was found.
National partnerships for biodiversity (including private
sector involvement)
France has in place national initiatives to promote partnerships
for biodiversity in a series of sectors, including: Tourism, Mining,
Farming/Forestry, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),
Energy and Infrastructure. Furthermore, there are also guidance
documents for partnerships between businesses and Natura
2000 sites.
National/sub-national public awareness
campaigns/initiatives
The information available hints to the fact that a large share of
public biodiversity awareness campaigns focus on the Natura
2000 Network. Since 1993 a number of documents have been
published to increase public awareness of the Natura 2000
network. These includes leaflets, brochures, newsletters,
guidance documents (covering forests, coasts, wetlands, agropastoral
habitats, rocky habitats, plant species and animal
species). Furthermore, a dedicated Natura 2000 website was
launched in December 2000 (http://www.natura2000.fr/.
Implementation of Multilateral agreements relevant to biodiversity conservation
The achievement of the 2010 Biodiversity target is partly dependent on the effective implementation of biodiversity commitments. The
2006 Global Biodiversity Outlook report reveals that while much progress has been made in developing policy and tools for
implementing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), national-level implementation has been limited and lacks behind.
Ratified Biodiversity-related agreements (year)
CBD CITES RAMSAR CMS WHC ITPGR UNFCCC UNCCD
1994 1978 1986 1990 1987 2005 1994 1997
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Paid contributions
UNEP Environment Fund CBD CITES RAMSAR CMS WHC
$4,340,000.0 (2007) $663,515
(2008)
$294,287 (2008) CHF 360,458
(2008)
€331,954
(2008)
$198,828* (2008)
• this is the expected contribution for 2008, although it had not been received by the time this study was completed
Financial and technical resources for achieving the
2010 target
Funds provided for biodiversity activities in developing
countries
Proportion of its Rural Development budget allocated to
biodiversity
A relatively small proportion of the budget of the French
Regional Development Programme is allocated to biodiversity.
According to its Rural Development Programme for 2007-2013
only 15.1% of the French RDP budget is allocated to
biodiversity-related measures, amounting to 1,641.6 million
Euro (excluding additional private & national contributions.).
Funding for biodiversity under the national research
programmes
Funding for biodiversity from the French National Research
Agency (ANR) has been estimated approximately to EUR 10
million per year since 2005.. In 2008, the total allocation
(MEDAD) towards environmental research was EUR 1,335
millions, of which approximately 0.75% were dedicated to
biodiversity.
However, this represents only a very small part of the total
environmental research budget for the whole of France, as
these values do not include funds allocated by the French
Ministry of Research as well as from various research
organisations.
Funds provided by France for biodiversity activities in
developing countries are jointly managed by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MAE) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs,
Finance and Industry (MINEFI), whi have joint responsibility of
the management ODA. The French Development Agency (AFD)
acts as the principal operator.
Annual spending on biodiversity-related bilateral aid 2 in 2005
was EUR 12 million, amounting to 0.2% of the total bilateral aid
budget.
Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) have a special
status and benefit from thematic programmes financed by the
Development Cooperation Financing Instrument (DCFI). In the
case of France, biodiversity-related aid to OCTs is mainly
channeled via the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, and provided by
ministerial credits, the AFD and public funds, with a strong
focus on economic and social development of those territories.
The overall amount of annual spending on biodiversity-related
bilateral external assistance for France's OCTs could not be
estimated.
Annual funding for biodiversity
Annual national funding for biodiversity activities amounted to
EUR 900 million in 2002.
2
Biodiversity-related aid is defined as activities that promote
at least one of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological
Diversity: the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its
components (ecosystems, species or genetic resources), and the fair
and equitable distribution of the benefits of the utilization of genetic
resources.
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Existence of a national set of biodiversity indicators
France has developed a detailed set of biodiversity indicators
for Metropolitan and Overseas France, closely related aspects
of the set of CBD focal areas and the corresponding European
Union's headline indicators.
These indicators cover, amongst others, features such as
genetic diversity, bird's diversity, diversity/richness of fisheries,
status of Red-list species, habitat's diversity, and ecological
zones.
Sources
CBD website http://www.cbd.int/countries/country=fr
CBD National Reports
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France
CITES
http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/reports/biennial.shtml
http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/14/doc/E14-07-1.pdf
French National Biodiversity Strategy
http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Biodiversite_complet-
2.pdf.
Third National Report to the CBD
http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/fr/fr-nr-03-fr.doc
French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
http://agriculture.gouv.fr/
GMO information site http://www.ogm.gouv.fr/
Case C-121/07 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/
National Report on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
http://www.cbd.int/biosafety/parties/reports.shtmlreport=NR-
CPB-01
OECD
http://www.oecd.org/document/11/0,3343,en_2649_34603_
32070731_1_1_1_1,00&&en-USS_01DBC.html
Environmental Assessment Summary Sheets: Bilateral and
Multilateral Development Agencies http://www.acdicida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/REN-218131217-PEH
Biennial Reports of CITES Parties
http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/reports/biennial.shtml
ANR http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/
Global Biodiversity Outlook http://www.cbd.int/gbo2/
The publication was produced with the financial support of the
European Commission.
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