The french economicinterest in investing in the environment

France is a top net payer country in theEU, contributing (net) EUR 6.4 billion in2010.1 Its net paying position plays a keyrole in the EU budget debate, especiallywith regards to France’s position towardsfinancing agriculture sectors.

France is the largest recipient ofagriculture spending in Europe (EUR 9.85billion in 2010) covering 17.35% of thetotal annual EU agricultural spending.2

EU payments have mainly focused onincome support for French farmers andhave had very little benefit toenvironmental upkeep.

The environment plays a key role in theFrench economy, especially within theagriculture sector. For example, theenvironment in rural areas providesservices such as food for livestock, clean

water, climate regulation, erosion andpest regulation as well as culturalheritage values. By 2050, it is estimatedthat the loss of biological diversity in theEU will cost the European society EUR1.1 trillion per year.3

The French government has recentlysought to form coalitions with otherlarge influential Member States, duringEU Budget discussions; notably withother net-paying countries where theawareness for environmental issues isrelatively high.

The current public debt crisis in the EUand France’s role in it will clearly limit theavailability of French public funds for theenvironment. At the same time, it is anopportunity for a debate on the mostefficient and wise use of taxpayers’money and for the phasing out ofenvironmentally harmful subsidies.

facts

1 The Natura 2000 network covers12.5%4 of the total area of France andits marine protected areas make up21.3%5 of its total territorial waters.

2 The total economic value of wetlandsservices provided in the Parc NaturelRegionale des Marais du Cotentin isestimated to be EUR 117-218 millionper year for an area of 493 Km2 (fivetimes the land surface area of Paris).6

3 Parc de Mercantour in France wasestimated to support a total of 138fulltime jobs in 1998 and in the site Plaine de la Crau it was estimatedthat the net benefits associated withkey management activities were netEUR 142/ha per year, seven timeshigher than the costs associated withits management.7

member state funding sheetFRANCE | 2012

ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY? BIRDLIFE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS

ON THE EU 2020 BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY

FRANCE

Natura 2000 coverage in France

Comparison of costs andbenefits of investing in natureconservation in France and available EU funding for Natura 20008,9, 10

1

2

4

3

Parc de Mercantour1

Parc Naturel Regionale des Marais du Cotentin2

Plaine de la Crau3

Successful project in the Midi-Pyrénées4

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Million EUR/year

Available EU

funding

for N

atura

2000

in France

(200

7-20

13)

Financia

l needs

of French

Natura 200

0

Total economic

value

of French

marine

ecosystems

34

474

2,281

HOW EU FUNDS CAN BE INVESTEDINTO FUTURE BENEFITS

Positive experiences should be promotedin France, where, for example, a very smallamount of funding in 2005, led to asuccessful partnership between an NGO(LPO/BirdLife in France) and local farmersin the Midi-Pyrénées and the pooling ofimportant ecological and agriculturalknowledge that was crucial for identifyingappropriate management measures forthe site. The cooperation also facilitatedan access to various different funds. Theproject cost a total of EUR 53,200 andwas 35% co-financed by the EuropeanRegional Development Fund (ERDF). Byavoiding to spray field margins withherbicide, allowing wild flowers to growalongside arable crops, not draining bog

habitats while grazing these areas duringthe dry season, the need of buying haywas reduced. In 2005 this delivered anestimated benefit of EUR 150/ha.11

THE SPECIAL CASE OF THEFRENCH OUTERMOST REGIONS

The Outermost Regions (ORs) (Guadeloupe,French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, andSaint Martin, soon to be joined byMayotte12) are, or will be eligible for EUStructural and Cohesion funding,agricultural and fisheries funds. However,France requested that the EU Birds andHabitats Directives (including the Natura2000 network) would not apply in theFrench ORs. Several projects financed withinthese regions (either EU or national funds)have had a negative impact on theenvironment. The lack of strategic planningand inadequate assessment of theecological impacts has led to seriousecological impacts of EU funded projects inthese ORs. On Reunion Island, the majorirrigation project (Basculement des eaux) totake water from the rainy east side to thedry west side of the island as means of

intensifying agriculture on the west side isnot only ecologically questionable in itself,but during drilling, it accidently hit anaquifer which consequently had majorecological impacts.13 The lack of EU levelsafeguards for biodiversity in the FrenchORs has meant that the evaluation ofdevelopment in these regions is not underthe same control as on the Europeancontinent and the other EU OutermostRegions of the Macronesian region. This is aunique situation within the EU, in which theEU finances infrastructures anddevelopment on one hand, without the legalconstraints at the European level to identifyand preserve key species and habitats onthe other hand. France and the EU havebeen taking slow steps towards ensuring theconservation and economic potential of thebiodiversity in the French ORs. In 2007,they finally became eligible for funding fromthe LIFE+ biodiversity fund that specificallysupports nature conservation projectswithin the EU. The EU has funded a project,with the cooperation of several partnersincluding LPO/BirdLife in France, SEOR (localNGO) and Parc National de l’Ile de laRéunion, that will run from 2010- 2015 toincrease the current knowledge,management and protection of endangeredbird species and habitats in Réunion, FrenchGuiana and Martinique.14

Download the report at: www.birdlife.org/eubiodiversityreport2012

ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY? BIRDLIFE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS

ON THE EU 2020 BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY

FRANCE

1 In 2010, FR contributed a total of EUR 19.6 billion (includingcustoms and farm trade duties collected on behalf of the EU ofwhich 25% was retained by FR) and received EUR 13.05 billion.European Commission (2011). EU budget 2010-Financial Report.

2 European Commission (2011). EU budget 2010-Financial Report.3 European Commission (2008). The Cost of Policy Inaction (COPI):

The case of not meeting the 2010 biodiversity targets.4 European Commission (2011). Natura 2000 Barometer.5 IUCN and UNEP-WCMC (2011) The World Database on Protected

Areas (WDPA): January 2011. Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC.6 Maurel et al. (2011). Evaluation économique des services rendus par les

zones humides – Enseignements méthodologiques de monétarisation.Commissariat Général au Développement Durable (CGDD). N.49.

7 Gantioler, S., et al. Costs and Socio-Economic Benefits associatedwith the Natura 2000 Network. Final report to the EuropeanCommission. Institute for European Environmental Policy / GHK /Ecologic, Brussels 2010.

8 Kettunen, M., et al. (2011). Assessment of the Natura 2000co‐financing arrangements of the EU financing instrument. Aproject for the European Commission – final report. Institute forEuropean Environmental Policy (IEEP), Brussels, Belgium.

9 Gantioler, S., et al. Costs and Socio-Economic Benefits associatedwith the Natura 2000 Network. Final report to the EuropeanCommission. Institute for European Environmental Policy / GHK /Ecologic, Brussels 2010.

10 Mangos, A., et al. (2010). Plan Bleu. The Economic Value of SustainableBenefits Rendered by the Mediterranean Marine Ecosystems.

11 WWF & IEEP (2009). Innovative use of EU funds to financemanagement measures and activities in Natura 2000 sites.Output of the project Financing Natura 2000: Cost estimate andbenefits of Natura 2000. WWF, Brussels, Belgium.

12 Mayotte’s status will change from an Overseas Country andTerritory to an Outermost Region in 2014

13 UICN France (2006). Financements publics et biodiversité enoutre-mer. Collection Planète Nature.

14 LIFE+ Cap DOM. Oiseaux d’outre mer, notre nature.http://www.lifecapdom.org/the-project/

BIRDLIFE RECOMMENDATIONS - HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

> The EU Budget should redirect funds towards rewarding the delivery of publicgoods. EU funds can be used to support local products and handicrafts thatare linked to French cultural heritage and natural landscape.

> EU investment should be adequately channeled to energy efficiency andimproved water management.

> Sustainable tourism, that respects the natural environment promotestraditional activities, including traditional products, increases productivityand all together preserve the environment and landscape.

> France should ensure that EU funding is spent in a quality way that leads toa sustainable economy that benefits French society.

EU policy

1 Increase the total budget of the EU’senvironmental fund “LIFE” from 0,23%to 1% of the total EU Budget (circa 1.5billion EUR per year);

2 Balance the two pillars of the CommonAgricultural Policy (CAP) and ensure50% of its total budget delivers towardsthe Rural Development Programme;

3 Ensure the EU Budget delivers 20% ofclimate action, especially throughclimate mitigation under cohesion policy;

4 Establish a tracking system that documentsspecific positive and negative effects of EUfunds for climate and biodiversity.

5 Support the establishment and financingof the Voluntary scheme for Biodiversityand Ecosystem Services in Territories ofthe EU Outermost Regions and OverseasCountries and Territories (BEST).

National planning & programming

1 Establish clear earmarking of EU fundsfor the financing of the Natura 2000network, based on national or regionalpriority action frameworks;

2 Ensure sufficient funding is available for welltargeted and well designed agri-environmentschemes and other environmentalmeasures under rural development;

3 Finance Green Infrastructure andprojects on energy efficiency underregional development;

4 Involve all relevant actors, includingenvironmental NGOs, during nationalplanning and implementation of Europeanfunds (including partnership contracts).

Stichting BirdLife Europe Avenue de la Toison d’Or 67 | B-1060 Brussels | BelgiumT: +32 (0)2 280 08 30 F: +32 (0)2 230 38 02 E: europe@birdlife.orghttp://europe.birdlife.org

Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO)www.lpo.fr

ContactBruna Campos -bruna.campos@birdlife.org