A national strategy aiming to protect 30% of French territory by 2022, including a third strongly, was presented Tuesday by the Secretary of State for Biodiversity.
It provides for the extension of the network of protected areas in metropolitan France and overseas, both in the maritime and terrestrial areas, as well as an improvement in its consistency.
France is home to 10% of the 1.8 million known species on the planet - most of them in Overseas Territories, thanks to which it watches over the world's second largest maritime space.
Read also: Marine protected areas are effective, but ...
"The objective of 30% will be reached, or even exceeded, from next year since we are already at 23% today,"
said Secretary of State for biodiversity, Bérangère Abba.
The ambition of 10% of areas "under strong protection", against less than 2% currently, will be more difficult to achieve.
Without promising a return to the wild, this legal status brings together reserves and natural parks where a part of human intervention remains tolerated, with a reduction in uses that harm the environment.
In particular, hunting, fishing or grazing may be authorized.
Remarkable ecosystems rich in biodiversity, or particularly vulnerable to climate change, will be targeted as a priority.
In particular: wetlands, the coast (savannas and mangroves in Guyana), sensitive marine habitats (coral reefs and seagrass beds), island environments, mountain and forest areas.
Twenty national nature reserves, under strong protection, will thus be extended or created.
Four regional natural parks will be based on Mont Ventoux, in the Bay of Somme (Picardy), in the Doubs and in Corbières-Fenouillèdes.
The strategy also provides for a strengthening of the protection of the Scattered Islands, located around Madagascar in the French Southern Territories.
A twelfth national park could finally emerge around a wetland, according to the Secretary of State.
Read also: France calls for a marine reserve in Antarctica
While 53 other States have committed to protecting 30% of their territory, Bérangère Abba specifies that she wishes to promote
"a balanced protection of these natural spaces which must remain places of life and activity, but with a high environmental ambition. and support for those who bring them to life ”
.
The plan insists on the establishment of effective management of the areas, with appropriate monitoring and control.
The strategy, which will be developed into three-year action plans, will be endowed in 2021, in addition to the usual budget, with 60 million euros from the recovery plan, in addition to the 11 million provided for by the budget bill. .
"By contributing to the reconquest of biodiversity and of all the services provided by the proper functioning of ecosystems"
, protected areas indirectly participate in the mitigation and adaptation to climate change, notes the government's press kit.
They can also be the place of a better connection of the French with nature, at a time when their awareness of environmental issues is essential.