Effectiveness of the Natura 2000 terrestrial network in France

Abstract

The French Natura 2000 network has been built in order to maintain or restore the good conservation status of habitats and species of community interest throughout the whole territory. The evaluation presented here is based on a territorial diagnosis of the results in relation to the issues at stake : is the terrestrial Natura 2000 network and the corresponding management measures effective with regard to all the factors influencing the conservation status of the targeted species and habitats ? Result indicators are also used to compare the evolution of biodiversity within and outside the network. Finally, the measures implemented by the policy are also analysed at the scale of the targeted territories and environments. The analyses show that the policy has had a measurable effect on the sites : il significantly improved the conservation status of some of the targeted species and habitats. Nevertheless, the policy action is far from covering all the issues at stake. Moreover, given the stated ambition to maintain the good conservation status of environments throughout the whole territory, the limitation of management actions within the network is a major handicap to achieve the stated objectives.