PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The calcareous grasslands and scree on the slopes of the Seine valley are home to a flora which forms a very valuable part of the environmental heritage and they are often on the verge of its distribution area. The region comprises six types of priority habitats and two priority endemic vegetation types according to the Habitats Directive, namely Viola hispida and Biscutella neustriaca. The grasslands are open habitats, usually the result of ancient clearings and traditional grazing practices which carried on until the 60's. Since then, the modernisation of crop-growing practices and the preferred agricultural approaches have led to the exclusion of these areas from the conventional systems of farming, to the point of their abandonment. Unfortunately this has led to the gradual closure of open spaces by woody species and hence the disappearance of the outstanding flora associated with them.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this inter-regional project was to carry out urgent measures to conserve the calcareous grasslands and scree in the lower Seine basin. The main aim was to reintroduce compatible, viable agro-grazing practices in sections of grassland which are still in good condition or which have been restored, and in doing so, to involve local farmers as much as possible. Special measures - some on a one-off basis - were planned in order to conserve or increase the extremely reduced populations of the above-mentioned outstanding species. Given their critical situation, their conservation ex-situ were also to be attempted with the help of the botanical conservatories concerned, and their reintroduction in former sites was also being sought. The project also foresaw the drafting of the objective documents (management plans in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive) for the Natura 2000 sites concerned in Upper Normandy, awareness-raising measures designed in particular for farmers and the equipment of the most suitable sites with information facilities to ensure that visitors behave appropriately and are properly informed.
RESULTS
Among the mains project results, it is essential to stress the significant improvement of the knowledge of dry grassland habitats in this region. About 3000 ha of land were inventoried in the lower Seine and Eure valleys. With such, the project provided precise and useful data to managers and competent authorities. As a result, a further 800 ha of grassland were added to the Natura 2000 network. Management plans (called "Documents d’objectifs" in French) were finalised for two Natura 2000 sites "coteaux d’Orival" and "coteaux de Saint Adrien" and are being finalised for the five other sites. In Normandy, the project succeeded in purchasing 167.5 ha of dry grassland, and has established management agreements for a further 334 ha. The biodiversity "hot spots" for these habitat types (orchid rich sites) are now under active management. At first, the technical team cut off scrub and tree species to restore the site and for grazing to be introduced (297 ha are now grazed). In most cases, the beneficiary used his own flocks of sheeps (one of them was purchased by the project). However in cases where local stockbreeders were still in place, agreements were concluded. On the Ile-de-France site, the project partner (the Vexin regional park) purchased a rotary shredder to remove dense vegetation. Concerning the two priority endemic species listed in the Habitats Directive, namely Viola hispida and Biscutella neustriaca, the project has developed a close partnership with a botanical conservatory to carry out urgent ex-situ and in situ measures. The populations in all existing sites were closely monitored each year and the tendencies were assessed. Each species' biology was studied to adapt an adequate conservation strategy. In doing so, the project discovered that Viola hispida seeds have a good germination power even after a long time. Stripping scree to recreate favourable conditions for the viola was tested successfully in one old site, adn will be extended to other sites corresponding to the species' historical range. On the other hand, seeds of biscutella do not last, so it is not possible to restore populations on old sites through the use of the seed bank remaining in the soil. The longer-term management of these sites is now being financed by different sources(FEDER, crédits Etat-Région, Ministry of the Environment). Among the mains project results, it is essential to stress the significant improvement of the knowledge of dry grassland habitats in this region. About 3000 ha of land were inventoried in the lower Seine and Eure valleys. With such, the project provided precise and useful data to managers and competent authorities. As a result, a further 800 ha of grassland were added to the Natura 2000 network. Management plans (called "Documents d’objectifs" in French) were finalised for two Natura 2000 sites "coteaux d’Orival" and "coteaux de Saint Adrien" and are being finalised for the five other sites. In Normandy, the project succeeded in purchasing 167.5 ha of dry grassland, and has established management agreements for a further 334 ha. The biodiversity "hot spots" for these habitat types (orchid rich sites) are now under active management. At first, the technical team cut off scrub and tree species to restore the site and for grazing to be introduced (297 ha are now grazed). In most cases, the beneficiary used his own flocks of sheeps (one of them was purchased by the project). However in cases where local stockbreeders were still in place, agreements were concluded. On the Ile-de-France site, the project partner (the Vexin regional park) purchased a rotary shredder to remove dense vegetation. Concerning the two priority endemic species listed in the Habitats Directive, namely Viola hispida and Biscutella neustriaca, the project has developed a close partnership with a botanical conservatory to carry out urgent ex-situ and in situ measures. The populations in all existing sites were closely monitored each year and the tendencies were assessed. Each species' biology was studied to adapt an adequate conservation strategy. In doing so, the project discovered that Viola hispida seeds have a good germination power even after a long time. Stripping scree to recreate favourable conditions for the viola was tested successfully in one old site, adn will be extended to other sites corresponding to the species' historical range. On the other hand, seeds of biscutella do not last, so it is not possible to restore populations on old sites through the use of the seed bank remaining in the soil. The longer-term management of these sites is now being financed by different sources(FEDER, crédits Etat-Région, Ministry of the Environment).
