Download the programme leaflet (pdf)


 Protecting a natural heritage that became extaordinary …

European headwater streams are the last shelters of species once widespread, such as White-Clawed Crayfish and Pearl Mussel.
Owing to their small size and the lack of knowledge on their social, economical and ecological roles, these habitats are often disregarded in planning decisions. Moreover, impacts of human activities (agriculture, forestry, urbanization...) are often underestimated and still not well known.

How can we conciliate human activities in rural areas with the preservation of these natural habitats in long term? What means and techniques are the more
efficient?

These are the stakes of this programme concerning about fifty kilometres of brooks spread over 10 Natura 2000* sites in Burgundy and Franche-Comté districts in France.

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 Testing practices of sustainable development on streams and surrounding habitats

The aim is to acquire tested devices of preservation and restoration of the water quality and of habitats linked to brooks, in partnership with land-owners, managers and users of the sites.
The actions will have to improve the living conditions of the four main species of Community interest linked to these habitats: White-Clawed Crayfish, Pearl Mussel, Brook Lamprey and Bullhead. Indeed, those species which are in decline in Europe are relevant indicators of stream quality.
The experience established thanks to this programme can be used again in the future by French and European managers who conduct preservation projects and actions for aquatic systems, especially on the Natura 2000* network.

 To protect, improve, manage and inform. Four means to reach those objectives:

Protecting and physically restoring the habitats
_ Considering streams in forestry operations and in farming practices
_ Buying grounds in order to restore them and establish a long-lasting management
_ Rehabilitating the free movement of the aquatic fauna

Maintaining and improving water quality
_ Setting-up waste water treatment adapted to the fragility of these habitats
_ Controlling impacts of reservoirs and ponds

Managing crayfishes populations
_ Increasing knowledge about the ecology of these populations
_ Attempting to reintroduce White-Clawed Crayfish
_ Controlling alien species of crayfishes
_ Monitoring the colonization by crayfishes populations

Evaluating and communicating the outcomes
_ Monitoring the return of species and the evolution of aquatic habitats
_ Informing and increasing the awareness of the general public, land owners, farmers, political representatives and local actors
_ Training forest technicians
_Sharing the results with local technicians and European managers

* Communitary important sites (CIS) will integrate Natura 2000 network because they involve an exceptional natural heritage that European community countries commited themself to preserve through the adoption of the Habitats Directive in 1992.

 The actors of the programme

Four french organizations join their skills in order to support the programme:
Parc naturel régional du Morvan - beneficiary
Office National des Forêts (Bourgogne, Champagne-Ardenne et Franche-Comté)
Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura
Association pour le Développement et l'Animation de la Petite Montagne du Jura

With technical participation of:
Conseil Supérieur de la Pêche
Directions Régionales de l’Environnement de Bourgogne et de Franche-Comté
Fédérations Départementales des Associations de Pêche et de Protection des Milieux Aquatiques
Société d’histoire naturelle d’Autun
Reserves naturelles du Ravin de Valbois et du Lac de Remoray
Syndicat mixte de la Loue
Communauté de communes des côteaux de la Haute-Seille
Universités de Franche-Comté, de Bourgogne et Lyon I
Laboratoire Départemental d'Analyses du Jura
Centre Régional de la Propriété Forestière de Franche-Comté
Stakeholders of the ten Natura 2000 sites
Directions Départementales de l’Agriculture et de la Forêt
Chambres d’Agriculture

 Financing
An investment of 3.224.142 euros over 5 years financed by:
European Union (50%)
Ministère de l’Ecologie et du Développment Durable (10%)
Conseil Régional de Bourgogne (5,5%)
Agence de l’Eau Rhône Méditerranée et Corse (15%), Agence de l’Eau Seine Normandie (14,5%)
Parc naturel régional du Morvan, Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura, Office National des Forêts et Association pour le Développement et l'Animation de la Petite Montagne du Jura (5%)

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