The 30 regional and departmental Conservatories are gathered in network within their national federation (FCEN). They gather currently about 500 employees, 1,500 voluntary and nearly 8,500 members. Their action is founded on the land control and of use through a concerted approach, closest to the environmental, social and economic stakes of the territories. Their interventions are articulated around 4 axes: knowledge, protection, management and valorisation. Their asset: to be able to get agreements with the whole of the actors concerned (from the private owner to the Ministries) to ensure the installation of practices of durable management of the territories and so that the biodiversity is preserved and taken into account. As example, more than 800 farmers imply themselves at the sides of CEN. For this reason, CEN are actors of the development of the territories and implementation of the environmental public policies, from the field to the national level, passing to the towns, departmental and regional scales. In 2007, CEN intervene in the management of more than 120,000 hectares distributed in more than 2,000 sites. They are the main private actor of the implementation of NATURA 2000 in France and they developed privileged partnerships with the principal other managers of natural environments in France. As it is implied for a long time in the creation of ecological corridors, the network of CEN contributes to the durable management of a network of natural sites, which is coherent and functional on the territory, including overseas. It takes part thus in the creation of a ecological areas network, according to the article 10 of the fauna and flora Directive and the conclusions of the French national strategy of nature conservation. MORE DETAILS… |
| The Federation |
The Federation, named “FCEN” is located in Orléans (150km south from Paris) and also has a part of the team in Besancon (East part of France) in charge of the animation of the national mires topic Center. The FCEN is in charge of : • Implementing the Conservatories network strategy ; For any information, please contact Marc Maury, Head of network development and international affairs: marc.maury@enf-conservatoires.org, Phone : 33 (0) 2 38 24 55 00. If you need to contact any Conservatory in its region directly, please refer to the map and the electronic links just below.
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| The network of the Conservatories |
(you can active the map and access to the Conservatories) The work carried out by the Conservatories is mainly aimed at protecting sites of heritage interest. Inventories and expert evaluations are used to analyze the interest, issues and threats corresponding to each site. The information gathered is validated by a scientific committee composed of regional experts. |
| Since lasting conservation depends on controlling the land, the conservatories sign long-term (emphyteutic) and farming leases, or management agreements with the public or private owners and can, as a last resort, purchase sites. A management plan is drawn up based on the objectives and validated by the scientific committee. Actions are implemented by the Conservatories themselves or delegated. These interventions are closely monitored and evaluated.If they are open to the public, these sites provide tools and equipment for raising awareness and educating people about the environment. Consequently the image and identity of the sites, along with local development, are all reinforced. Action is carried out in cooperation with local stakeholders (elected representatives, socio-professionals, users and residents of the sites). The NGO status provides the system with an extra degree of flexibility. It makes it possible to include different institutional and technical partners in proceedings, to involve the public and to mobilize volunteers to support the salaried teams.
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| The managed sites |
| The Conservatories currently intervene in the protection of more than 2000 sites representing more than 120,000 hectares. |
Many of the sites are included in national inventories of sites of environmental interest and are part of the Natura 2000 network. They are composed of open areas (natural meadows, moors, dry grasslands, peat bogs, etc.) and a variety of different habitats, from cliffs and rocky slopes to alluvial forests and lakeside areas. Action also targets remarkable plant and animal species and takes into account specialties such as geology, the landscape approach and the conservation of genetic resources. These sites form a network that the Conservatories are striving to reinforce by developing sustainable land management practices and preserving ecological corridors. Please see the some pictures of the sites in regions: http://www.enf-conservatoires.org/home.php?num_niv_1=1&num_niv_2=2&num_niv_3=8 Please see the map with the localisation of the sites : http://www.enf-conservatoires.org/home.php?num_niv_1=1&num_niv_2=2&num_niv_3=18 |
| The programs |
The Federation is responsible for the implementation of multi-regional, national and international program as follow :
• coordination of the Loire-Nature program • French Mire Resource Center
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Coordination of the Loire-Nature program The Loire and its watershed constitute an exceptional area with high biodiversity (habitats and species), where the protection, restoration and management constitute an international priority today. The basin also presents stakes in term of landscapes, water quality, hydro geomorphic process and flood management. Through its actions, the Loire Nature programs try to maintain these Loire river ecological systems stable. For more information, http://www.loirenature.org/article.php3?id_article=508 French Mire Resource Centre Thanks to experiences gained between 1995 and 1999 at the time of the Nature Life program “ Mires of France”, the Federation of the Conservatories (FCEN) was retained by the Ministry of Environment and regional planning to set up, to animate and coordinate a pole of competences on knowledge, sustainable management and evaluation of the mires , peat bogs and fens in France.” For more information, http://www.pole-tourbieres.org or contact@pole-tourbieres.org Monitoring of nature conservation program in Hungaria French–Hungarian project « Network of Fondations for the biodiversity in Hungary »: To save remarkable ecosystems and threatened species in Hungary, by supporting the action of the 5 principal Hungarian Foundations for the nature conservation while promoting the creation of a network. |
| The federative-based activities |
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Fréquence Grenouille, the humid areas valorisation and protection activity Protecting wetlands is essential On March 1, 2008 in afternoon, on the Natural Reserve of Truchère managed by the Conservatory Bourgogne Region, the official launching of the 14th edition of "Frequence Grenouille" will take place. For the first time, this operation, which was created fourteen years ago by the network of the Conservatories (CEN), will be organized jointly with the network of Natural Reserves of France. Chantiers d'Automne During nearly two months (according to the climates!) in Autumn, the network of the Conservatories proposes several tens of conservation land management activities in the field for nature to the attention of voluntary, high-school pupils and students, businesses or associations of insertion, and specialized companies. Fête de la nature The Fête de la nature, is a national event, created in 2007, by the large panel of organisations involved in Nature conservation, and in particular the FCEN. The Conservatories are involved as co-organizers of the festival of nature. With the different networks of preserving nature and their partners, the network of the Conservatories engages one more time in the Festival of the Nature which will be held this year the weekend of May the 24 and the 25, 2008! The 30 Conservatories invite you, in your area, for living one exceptional and convivial weekend. They will accommodate you on the sites which they manage to make you discover and include/understand the richnesses of your natural heritage. |
| Other : |
To know more about - our partnerships, - how to join us, - how to get any information about the web site or about the network of Conservatories and our actions, - or how to access to publications and newsletters. Please contact Magali Boyce, network officer: magali.boyce@enf-conservatoires.org phone : 00 33 (0)2 38 24 55 00 Credits for pictures : Fondations Pro Vertes, Zold Folyoso, Bihar, Tiszataj, CEN Network |
