PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Protected from urbanisation and intensive agriculture, Europe's military sites are home to a wider variety and often rarer biodiversity than civilian areas. In France, 329 Natura 2000 sites include a military location, covering 44 486 hectares. These sites are home to almost all species and habitats of community interest in France. However, the current organisation and resources of MINARM are not adapted to themanagement needs of these sites. Commitment is also limited at the European level, with little relevant networking. There is therefore a discrepancy between the exceptional natural value of areas set aside for military use, and the level of commitment from the army to manage these sites, compounded by lack of cooperation on their management. This leads to a risk of destruction of species and priority habitats.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE NATURARMY project's primary goal is to preserve the exceptional natural heritage of sites used for military purposes and even to improve the conservation status of their species and habitats. The goal will be achieved through the implementation of a biodiversity strategy dedicated to military land and experience-sharing at European level.
Operational objectives include:
integration of biodiversity management into the management of land dedicated to military use; these processes should be transferable throughout MINARM;the definition of a biodiversity strategy for MINARM Natura 2000 sites;the creation of a network to implement the management policy for Natura 2000 sites on military land: at thenational level, this network will help clarify the role of MINARM and its partners in the governance of Natura 2000 sites; at European level, it will be used to share experience and good practice;the assessment of socio-economic benefits arising from environmental management of military land;promotion of active biodiversity management on military land and highlighting to national and European decision-makers the role of the military in the management of Natura 2000 sites, in order to secure future funding and ensure greater coherence between defence and biodiversity policies at national and European levels;promotion of greater awareness and support for the biodiversity strategy within MINARM.
RESULTS
Expected results:
integration of biodiversity into each link of the MINARM management chain;underpinning of a ministerial directive on the implementation of Frances National Biodiversity Plan on military land;establishment of a partnership network that will: - in France: assess all existing cooperation agreements between MINARM and Frances Conservatories of Natural Areas (CENs, Conservatoires des espaces naturels regional or departmental nature conservation non-profit associations) and put in place 10 new cooperation agreements; institute regular meetings between the military and biodiversity stakeholders at regional and national levels at least once a year; - in Europe: develop communication tools targeting all European armies, the European Commission and all EU Member State environment ministries; establish a biodiversity group within the EU Defence Environment Network (DEFNET an informal group of environment experts from EU defence ministries), which meets once a year; establish a European strategy based on the work of FCEN (Fdration des conservatoires des espaces naturels) and MINARM; and organise three key events reaching 450 people involved in the management of natural areas on military land;creation of 11 000 new hectares of military Natura 2000 sites; overall 30 000 hectares of these Natura 2000 habitats will be covered by new agreements with CENs;familiarisation with at least 100 000 MINARM officials, and all French institutions working on biodiversity issues, with nature conservation measures on military land;improvement of the knowledge of MINARM staff about Natura 2000: all executive staff will know about Natura 2000 by the end of the project via an e-learning programme and modules introduced in two MINARM training schools.
