Biodiversity in France, as elsewhere in the world, is collapsing under the influence of human activities, mainly the change in land use, the direct exploitation of resources (hunting, fishing, etc.), climate change, pollution and invasive alien species.
The government is working on a national biodiversity strategy for 2030, the development of which has been delayed due to the Covid-19 crisis.
It was finally decided to publish it in two stages to take into account the decisions of COP15 biodiversity, which must adopt international objectives to better protect nature, but which has been postponed several times.
New dates have not yet been set.
The national biodiversity strategy will be based on "the principle of sobriety", explained Bérangère Abba during a press conference, arguing that "we are depleting the resources of the planet in a completely unreasonable way".
It is also necessary "to be concrete, to be operational", whereas the previous commitments of the States to better protect biodiversity have often remained pious hopes.
The plan to fight against invasive alien species also covers the period 2022-2030, indicates the Ministry of Ecological Transition in a press release.
"In France, this threat is particularly strong in the islands and overseas" and is increasing with climate change, continues the ministry.
These animal and plant species, introduced by humans outside their usual environment, threaten biodiversity, can carry pathogens and are difficult to eradicate once established.
The government plan relies on “prevention and upstream action”, by raising awareness among individuals and structures with invasive alien species, with the development of practical guides on these species, strengthening controls and ensuring “ the proper application of laws and regulations".
An exceptional program of 500 "punch" operations will be set up from 2022 to 2025. It will be endowed with 1.5 million euros the first year from the ministry to fight against species likely to settle.
A decree will be put out for consultation "in order to impose restrictions on the trade, possession and transport of species such as the blue crab, the Helms crassule, the Quagga mussel or the oriental hornet", specifies the ministry.
A French fisherman holds in his hands an Atlantic blue crab, an invasive species, caught off Canet-en-Roussillon, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, on August 18, 2021 RAYMOND ROIG AFP / Archives
The 2019 UN Expert Report on Biodiversity (IPBES) ranks invasive alien species among the top five culprits of nature destruction, behind land use, direct resource exploitation, climate change and pollution.
© 2022 AFP