Management of the Marine Biodiversity in Coastal Areas through the French ZNIEFF network

Francour, Patrice; Bellan-santini, Denise

PELAGOS
Volume 9, Numéro 1, Pages 17-25
2007-01-01

Management Of The Marine Biodiversity In Coastal Areas Through The French Znieff Network

Auteurs : Francour Patrice . Bellan-santini Denise .

Résumé

The first ZNIEFF program (Natural Zones of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest) was launched in the 80’s along the French Mediterranean coast in the provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur region (PACA and in Corsica. This first program proposed a bibliographical inventory of the area of special interest, according to fauna and flora. In 1996, these inventories were updated following a new methodology. An in situ inventory of species and habitat was carried both in and out of the first-generation ZNIEFF areas. The inventory was not complete but species have been selected according to 7 criterions: (i) legislative protection (French and European laws), the known degree of (ii) rarity, (iii) endemism, (iv) dynamic, (v) abundance, (vi) patrimonial interest, and (vii) functional interest. According to the value of these criterions, the species were considered as: determinant or remarkable. For the habitat, the same procedure was followed using 6 criterions: (i) vulnerability, (ii) heritage value, (iii) rarity, (iv) aesthetic value, (v) economic value, and (vi) speed of regeneration. A ZNIEFF area is proposed if at least one determinant species and one determinant habitat are observed. The usefulness of this database is discussed and compared to Natura 2000 network.