UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders visited the ZAD of Saïx, in Tarn, on February 22. He asked France to take “immediate measures” to protect “squirrels” against law enforcement.
Michel Forst's role is to ensure that the rights of "environmental defenders" are respected. His remonstrances towards France or other states have no binding scope, but they nevertheless have a certain coercive force to the extent that States are publicly challenged.