Find in Library

Mires in France provide important natural habitats. Although efforts to protect individual sites began in the 1970s, the development of strategies for mire conservation at regional, national and international levels is more recent. Nowadays mires fall within the remit of the national strategic plan for wetlands as well as the international European Union Natura 2000 and LIFE programmes. On the other hand, local initiatives are particularly effective in reaching stakeholders. This article reviews the various plans, strategies, facilities, and actions that operate at different geographical scales to deliver beneficial management of mires in France. Despite these wide-ranging initiatives, there is still cause for concern about the effects on mires of water pumping, fertiliser drift and overgrazing. Care must also be taken to enable site managers to effectively implement all elements of mire protection strategies, especially by providing relevant scientific information to them in appropriate forms.