Protected Natural Environments

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Natura 2000 Zones

Used throughout Europe, the Natura 2000 network aims to preserve and protect the biological diversity of our land and to raise awareness about our rich natural heritage. As of 2011, Finistère has a total of 36 Natura 2000 sites . http://natura2000.ecologie.gouv.fr/regions/departements/DEPFR522.html
Find all the listings of Natura 2000 sites in Finistère including deails about the sites, the habitats and the various species concerned on www.natura2000.fr.

Sensitive natural environments

French laws passed in 1982 and 1983 granted regional councils the power to put into place schemes to protect, manage and open to the public certain sensitive natural areas. Finistère was one of the forerunners in this field, having already put such systems into place in 1969.

This is how the Finistère General Council acquired 3450 hectares of natural space spread over 169 sites in the years since 1973. these areas include dunes, woods, archaeological sites, wild panoramas and marshland - which also help us to maintain our water preservation systems. The aim is permanently to safeguard the sites, landscapes and natural environments and raise their profile in order to open them to the public in direct consultation with the communities concerned.

Partners in protection

Once an environment has been restored to its desired condition and has been publicised to the broader public, the General Council can then hand over the daily running to local groups for everyday maintenance and, where necessary, for the protection of the habitat.

The General Council is also connected to the actions and missions of its partners, being:

le Parc Naturel Régional d'Armorique (PNRA)

l'Office National des Forêts (ONF)

le Conservatoire du Littoral (CEL)

The scientific monitoring and on-site activites are assured by the National Botanical Conservatory of Brest and by various state-approved associations, acting as partners of the General Council.

How the work is put into action

Taxes on sensitive natural environments (known as TDENS) enable the General Council to finance the acquisition of such sites. This tax is gathered from building and extensions of properties, when planning applications are submitted.