Green Corridor Contracts

Transcription

1 Regiostars ( ) In order to mitigate biodiversity loss, Rhône-Alpes Region is currently leading a strategy of preservation and restoration of green corridors, thus contributing to national and international orientations. Introduction Historically, the Rhône-Alpes Region has been involved with Europe Union co-financing in the Econnect project. Because of its unique location, Rhône-Alpes Region is contributing to the project which aims to enhance ecological connectivity across the Alpine range. At the point where Continental Alpine and Mediterranean influences meet, Rhône-Alpes has a large variety of biotopes and a remarkable number of plants and animal species : 30 of the 33 species of bats present in France, 228 of the 273 species of its breeding birds and 83 of the 84 dragonfly species. This wealth has given us, more than elsewhere, an awareness of the importance of preserving this heritage.

2 However, this heritage is threatened today by increased human activity which is the main cause of environmental degradation and potential species extinction. In our region, urban growth is inducing infrastructure development that has accelerated the fragmentation and artificialisation of the natural environment. Why do we need to restore and preserve green corridors? The fragmentation of natural areas due to human activities is indeed one of the first causes of biodiversity loss in industrialized countries. Ecological corridors play a key role in the preservation of biodiversity by allowing the circulation of species and the preservation of the rich biological network of the Rhône-Alpes region. Between 1955 and 2005, the population of the urban area of Lyon rose from Today more than 60 percent of the area is urbanized.

3 Strategic context In 1992, the signature of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity made the protection and restoration of biodiversity an international and European priority. The concept of ecological networks was clearly defined for the first time in 1995 in the Pan- European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, which planned the implementation of a Pan-European Ecological network. More recently, the European Commission communication COM(2011)244 on the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 listed among its 6 main objectives the preservation and development of ecosystems and their services through the establishment of green infrastructures. Among the concrete implementation actions proposed by the communication, the Commission underlined the role of integrating biodiversity in agricultural policies, improving the knowledge of ecosystems and fostering the development of green infrastructures. On a national and regional level, the protection of biodiversity through green infrastructures has been an essential issue for several years. In 2006, Rhône-Alpes voted a motion on natural heritage in order to set up the methodological and financial framework of the Green Corridor Contracts. A special focus has been put on dialogue, transversal approaches and complementary partnerships. This initiative was a precursor of the Grenelle de l Environnement (a national initiative gathering all stakeholders in order to define a roadmap for ecology and sustainable development), in 2007, which defined Green and Blue Infrastructures as key measures to protect biodiversity. Two main issues were identified: the reduction of habitat fragmentation and the valorisation of the socio-economic services supplied by the natural environment. This issue was later underlined by France s new national Strategy for biodiversity in 2011, whose main objective was the reduction of the fragmentation of natural habitats. Regiostars ahead of regional scale local scale

4 Objectives This new operational and financial tool is meant to connect or re-connect different natural core areas in order to preserve the ecological continuity of the region. The key objectives are : 1. Contributing to the preservation of biodiversity Restoring corridors and ensuring their sustainability Improving knowledge of species and their habitats in order to ensure their protection Fostering green agricultural practices aiming at protecting biodiversity Overcoming the obstacles to inter-connectivity 2. Taking into account the services rendered by ecosystems in the fields of job creation, economic activities, leisure activities and environmental education. 3. Improving the quality of life of local habitants, especially in the areas of public health (reduction of pesticides in soils, water and agricultural products) and road safety (fewer collisions with wild animals) Moreover, the way these contracts are conceived is meant to reflect in reality the needs of local stakeholders (farmers, local authorities, equipment providers, NGOs, water boards, etc). Contracts are indeed drawn up through a permanent dialogue between the services of the State, the towns involved, associations and local stakeholders. This approach contributes to underlining the role of local governance in fostering dialogue and cooperation. Besides, the large number of stakeholders involved in this process enables the development of interregional and supra-regional partnerships. Method Each contract is based on a detailed action program, developed over a 5-year period and identifying a leading partner and a provisional budget for each action. The Region is setting up its overall financial participation and its application to each objective of the contract.

5 This is an essential aspect of the project, as it provides a medium-term definite vision for biodiversity preservation. In order to better streamline biodiversity actions in local policies, the contracts also take into account other actions favouring the preservation of biodiversity but developed within the framework of other policies. The project is organized around 4 main types of actions : 4. Inclusion in regulatory documents The urban dimension of the project relies on inventing sustainable way of land use based on a responsible and resource-saving land management. Associating land use with the preservation of the functionality of ecosystems is a cross-sector, innovative and complex approach necessary for the sustainable development of the Rhône-Alpes Region. 5. Restoration work In concrete terms, the contracts lead to the construction of wildlife passageways, the planting of hedges, the implementation of agro-environmental measures ( of grants are planned for farmers within the framework of the green corridor for the city of St-Etienne Contract), the restoration of riverbanks ( for the Chartreuse-Belledone Contract), awareness-raising actions, the management of wetlands and the acquisition of land by the Region. For instance, the Bauges-Chartreuse green corridor has enabled the building of wildlife passageways under a motorway. The total cost of the operation was (funding by : Europe - 50%, the Region - 30% and the departmental council of Savoie - 20%) Numerous actions are targeting agriculture: for instance, the Green Corridors of the Grésivaudan Contract involves 54 farmers in a project that allows the implementation of study visits to agro forestry and a study in changes in agricultural practices in order to propose ways of modifying them. Meetings are organized with farmers in order to help them to reduce the use of pesticides, enlarge the size of grass margins protecting watercourses, plant hedges and implement agro forestry principles. 6. Scientific monitoring Scientific monitoring throughout the duration of the contract is essential to check the viability of the ecological corridors. For example, following accident black spots on main roads can provide priority areas for restoration. 7. Local governance As an European precursor and leader in the field of Green infrastructures, Rhône-Alpes aims at laying the basis of a new sustainable policy based on new governance principles and a better integration and coordination of decision-making (partnerships, citizen participation ). The partnership has allowed the stakeholders to develop a real sense of the issues linked to biodiversity preservation in their region. Thanks to this approach, all stakeholders of the region are at the same time actors and beneficiaries of the project.

6 Results Today, 5 Contracts have already been approved in the region (among them one is interregional as it is co-directed with the Central Massif) and 4 others are in preparation. The cooperation project with Switzerland reflects our political will to overcome borders. Moreover, the mapping of ecological networks in Rhône-Alpes has enabled considerable progress in the understanding and taking into account of biodiversity. For example, it has identified : 650 areas of conflict between nature and man-made infrastructures 350 obstacles to ecological connectivity weirs

7 As of today, the Rhône-Alpes Region has spent 35% of the available funds for the period. The 5 current corridors contracts now cover an area of 2 193, 63 km², in other words 5% of the Rhône-Alpes region. Green corridor contracts area (hectares) Total contract amount ( ) EU participation ( ) Bauges-Chartreuse Chartreuse-Belledonne Grésivaudan Saint-Etienne Métropole Pilat

8 As far as finances are concerned, one of the main roles of European funding is to support large-scale infrastructure works at the beginning of the Contracts. The everyday running of the infrastructures will be considerably reduced and can be assured by local and regional authorities alone, in the context of sustainability. Moreover, if the mapping of the territory and the definition of ecological continuity are quite costly, these costs are no longer necessary once the data are incorporated in urban-planning documents. European funds simply give the necessary financial impulse to a long-term approach aiming not only at changing the infrastructures of the region, but also at fostering the raising of awareness and the mainstreaming of biodiversity issues in all policies. Conclusion Green Corridor Contracts propose an original way to mobilize and coordinate the tools and skills present in the region in the fields of biodiversity protection and land use planning. They are based on a real and innovative effort to perform different biodiversity actions in a region, and to raise awareness of these issues. Nature conservation strategies are no longer based on the protection and isolation of defined spaces without human activity, but are increasingly focusing on the integration of biodiversity issues in territorial development (integrated conservation). This change of perspective means that nature s complexity must be managed by all stakeholders. The programs are thus jointly led by local associations, companies in charge of road maintenance, users infrastructures, land owners, farmers and local authorities. A total of 71 local authorities, 19 associations and 8 private companies are involved in this elaborate multidisciplinary approach. To conclude, contracts are drawn up through a permanent dialogue between state authorities, associations and local stakeholders. This approach contributes to stressing the role of local governance in fostering dialogue and cooperation.