NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
2011-2020

Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................3
A vision for action
A shared mission
Working together
Biodiversity in France
The Twenty National Biodiversity Strategy Targets...........................................................14
Strategic goal A: Generate the willingness to act in favour of biodiversity......................15
Target 1: Foster, enrich and share a nature-oriented culture
Target 2: Reinforce mobilisation and citizen initiatives
Target 3: Turn biodiversity into a positive issue for decision-makers
Strategic goal B: Preserve life and its ability to evolve........................................................17
Target 4: Preserve species and their diversity
Target 5: Build a green infrastructure including a coherent network of protected areas
Target 6: Preserve and restore ecosystems and their functioning
Strategic goal C: Invest in a common good: our ecological capital ...................................19
Target 7: Include preservation of biodiversity in economic decisions
Target 8: Develop innovations for and through biodiversity
Target 9: Develop and perpetuate resources for biodiversity
Target 10: Turn biodiversity into a driver for development and for regional cooperation in
the overseas entities
Strategic goal D: Ensure sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity ...........................22
Target 11: Control pressures on biodiversity
Target 12: Safeguard sustainability of biological resource use
Target 13: Share equitably the benefits arising out of the utilisation of biodiversity on all
scalesStrategic goal E: Ensure consistency across policies and the effectiveness of action........24
Target 14: Ensure consistency across public policies on all scales
Target 15: Ensure ecological efficiency of public and private policies and projects
Target 16: Develop national and international solidarity among territories
Target 17: Reinforce green diplomacy and international governance for biodiversity
Strategic goal F: Develop, share and promote knowledge..................................................27
Target 18: Develop research, organise and perpetuate the production, analysis, sharing anddissemination of knowledge
Target 19: Improve expertise in order to build capacity to anticipate and act, mobilising all
sources of knowledge
Target 20: Develop and organise mainstreaming of biodiversity issues in all education andtraining courses
1Governance, monitoring and evaluation...............................................................................30
Monitoring and evaluation of the NBS: principles, relevant bodies and indicators.........32
Annexes....................................................................................................................................34
Annexe 1: Subscription to the NBS..........................................................................................34
Annexe 2: Results of the public consultation on the NSB........................................................35
Annexe 3: Mapping between the Aichi (CBD strategic plan) and the NBS targets.................37
Abbreviations and acronyms.....................................................................................................39
Glossary (asterisks refer to the Glossary).................................................................................402

Introduction
In 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, France embarked on the process of revising
the first National Biodiversity Strategy, NBS (Stratégie nationale de la biodiversité, SNB) 1
adopted in February 2004.

A response to international, European and French commitments
The National Biodiversity Strategy is the outcome of French commitments under theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD), ratified by France in 1994. The Minister for theEnvironment at that time was tasked with presenting a strategy which could be implemented
across all government departments with the precise aim of: “halting the loss of biodiversity by2010”, in line with the commitment made by all the other European Union members. This aim
was applied in the NBS to each of the key components of the living world: genes, species,
habitats, ecosystems and their translation into an ecological framework. The 2004-2010 NBS
was:• structured around four cross-cutting goals: “mobilising all stakeholders, recognising
the value of the living world, improving its mainstreaming into public policy, anddeveloping scientific knowledge and observation”.
• set out in ten sectoral action plans2. These were predominantly drafted in 2005 and2006, and updated in 2009 to incorporate the Grenelle Environment Forumcommitments.
The target set was ambitious. It must be acknowledged that it was not met either in France oron a European level. The scale of the actions taken was not sufficiently far-reaching to
confront the pressures being exerted on biodiversity.

A major instrument for national mobilisation
The 2004-2010 NBS, which is reinforced by the Grenelle Acts 3, nevertheless remains a key
instrument for national mobilisation to protect and enhance biodiversity in mainland France
and in overseas territories, as well as marine areas under national sovereignty. It forms thebiodiversity component of the National Sustainable Development Strategy (SNDD)4.
The challenges which the NBS attempted to address in the period 2004-2010 remain topical:- building our capacity to act together to protect biodiversity on different territorial
levels;1 "Stratégie française pour la biodiversité, enjeux, finalités, orientations" ["French strategy for biodiversity: issues, aims andapproaches"], February 2004.
2 The 2004-2010 National Biodiversity Strategy is divided into ten action plans organised and implemented by thegovernment departments concerned: Natural Heritage, Agriculture, International, Spatial Planning, Land Transport
Infrastructures, the Sea, Forestry, Overseas Territories, Research, Tourism. The Overseas Territories action plan comprises a
cross-cutting action plan and 10 local action plans, i.e. one per département and overseas collectivity.
3 The implementation of Grenelle Environment Forum legislation was based on the framework law for Grenelle commitments (known as Grenelle 1, August 2009, cf. notably articles 1 and 23) and on the law referring to the national commitment
to the environment (known as Grenelle 2, July 2010).
4 Challenge No 6 of the National Sustainable Development Strategy 2010-2013, entitled "conservation and sustainable
management of biodiversity and natural resources".

3

mobilising and using data and information relating to biodiversity to make it
accessible to as many people as possible;- addressing the emergence of new issues, especially those relating to climate change
and the services delivered by ecosystems.
The Aichi Targets of the CBD strategic plan adopted in Japan in October 2010 (set out inAnnexe 3), the objective set in 2010 by the European Union 5, as well as the proposed
framework of action for 2011-2020 by the European Commission in its Communication dated
May 2011, provide strong impetus to the National Biodiversity Strategy 2011-2020. The
Aichi Targets fed into and provided a structure for the work of the NBS Review Committee.
-

Text box 1: EU biodiversity strategy targets
The Communication from the European Commission (COM (2011) 244 – 3 May) concerning
EU biodiversity strategy to 2020, recalls the important contribution of biodiversity andecosystem services to the EU 2020 strategy for growth and jobs (A more resource efficienteconomy; A more climate-resilient, low-carbon economy; A leader in research andinnovation; New skills, jobs and business opportunities).
The EU biodiversity strategy is structured around 6 main targets (including measurable goals)
which are then set out in actions: 1/conserving and restoring nature; 2/ maintaining andenhancing ecosystems and their services; 3/ ensuring the sustainability of agriculture, forestry
and fisheries; 4/ combating invasive alien species; 5/ addressing the global biodiversity crisis;
6/ contributions from other environmental policies and initiatives).

A coherent framework for a strategy designed
for stakeholders by stakeholders
France is fully aware of its responsibilities and must demonstrate increased willingness to act
against a background of continuing degradation of biodiversity, despite commitments madeby the European Union and the international community.
In particular, most citizens and economic and social stakeholders are not aware of theobjectives of the first strategy and its action plans but also, and above all, what actuallyconstitutes biodiversity6. The aim of the 2011-2020 strategy is therefore implementation notjust at government level, but also by local authorities and various stakeholders in civil society.
The NBS is consistent with the actions undertaken by the state through a variety of strategies
and existing action plans. They will be pursued and supplemented by new commitments,
designed to improve the connections between them and give them greater efficiency.

5 The main EU objective adopted by the European Council in March 2010: "to halt the loss of biodiversity and thedegradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restore them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU
contribution to averting global biodiversity loss".
6 "La stratégie nationale pour la biodiversité: bilan et perspectives, juin 2010", ["The National Biodiversity Strategy:
assessment and perspectives, June 2010"] a joint report by the Council for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas and the Council
for the Environment and Sustainable Development.

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A vision for action
Diversity as a key feature of a changing living world
Together, living entities, including humans, form the biosphere, the living fabric of the Earth.
Individuals are relatively ephemeral and are born, reproduce and die. They succeed each otherin this way in a dynamic process which ensures the creation of bonds between species andalso between species and their environment.
The living world is diverse: diversity of individuals and of their genes within each species,
whether it be microbial, plant or animal, diversity of ecosystems and landscapes, humanbiological and cultural diversity. One word expresses this essential feature of life:“biodiversity”* or biological diversity.
A great deal of work remains to be done to achieve a better understanding of biodiversity inall its many aspects. However, life sciences have already taught us three fundamental things:- Life on Earth has endured because the living world has always been able to diversify,
since its very origins, to produce individuals, species and communities of species withdifferent abilities to adapt to changing conditions.
- During the course of the long evolutionary process of the living world, all around theearth, different species have succeeded each other, ensuring the renewal of ecologicalprocesses. In fact, bonds are established on a timely basis between living entities, between
ecosystems, between the biosphere and the non-living components of the planet. Energy
circulates, various types of organic matter are produced, decompose and are recycled, oxygen,carbon, nitrogen and many other chemical elements are exchanged and the water cycle isregulated. This ecological process, based on the interdependence of species, guarantees thefinite production of resources which are indispensable to the existence of everything.
- Humankind has recently7 become part of this dynamic, becoming involved in theecological workings of the planet while still depending on it like all other species. By
diversifying its crops, it has forged a multitude of links, both tangible and intangible with its
environments, which it has shaped with ever-increasing speed.

Humankind as an agent for change in the biosphere
Humanity today has reached a turning point in its short history: it has become a major
stakeholder in planetary change*. Our ever-increasing population takes up more and more
space, we are consuming more resources on land and at sea and we are constantly creating
new local and global interactions within the biosphere.
Local activities whose cumulative effects their agents do not always necessarily foresee, andlocal and global political and economic decisions whose consequences are sometimes
misjudged, mean that we are reducing biodiversity, increasing the vulnerability of the living
world and diminishing its ability to adapt and evolve. The speed and global reach of this7 According to the latest dating estimates, our species, Homo Sapiens, first appeared approximately 200,000 years
ago, which is very recent compared to the earliest known life forms (bacteria), which appeared 3.5 billion years ago and thefirst multicellular organisms, some 800 million years ago.

5phenomenon are perhaps unique in the history of the Earth. This is more particularly the casebecause the agent is a living species who, in its ignorance, conceit or indifference, thought it
could plunder natural resources without restraint, believing them to be limitless. However,
over several decades we have become more aware of the issues involved in biodiversity andwe must now take individual and collective responsibility.

A new international mission: to tackle the continuing loss of biodiversity
and ensure greater human well-being
On the threshold of the third millennium, the United Nations set ambitious goals for humanity
to make rapid progress towards greater well-being for all people, today and in the future. The
link between the decline in biodiversity and the increase in poverty and a deterioration in
health and well-being, sharply accentuated by a multitude of conflicts and shortcomings in theregulation of production and consumption, was advanced.
For all humans to have the best possible opportunity to live well, we must ensure that every
society has as much natural diversity* as possible, ranging from city centres to the most
untouched areas. The desire to perpetuate humankind and improve its well-being implies
passing on to future generations in a clear-sighted and responsible way the greatest possible
variety of means to enable us to continue to evolve alongside the other elements which makeup the biosphere. Although these are largely unknown today, they may be a future source ofinnovations which will contribute to human well-being.
Concern for human well-being and a desire for a flourishing natural world stem from the sameaspiration. This leads us to attribute a fundamental value to every genetic and cultural
memory transmitted by individuals, species, communities, ecosystems and human societies as
they are the source on which our existence and evolution depend. This value provides
justification for a sustainable use* of other species with whom we share a common fate. It
also calls for the exercise of responsible behaviour in the sustainable use of certain species orby limiting the risks which others impose on us. This value also calls for the emergence of
new economic and social strategies aimed at ensuring the continuing adaptation of thebiosphere in an atmosphere of respect for our cultural diversity.
Climate change, desertification, large-scale pollution, deforestation, artificialisation anddegradation of soil, extinction of species, a decline in genetic diversity, the homogenisation offlora and fauna, overexploitation of natural resources etc. In Nagoya (Japan), the 10 th meetingof the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) whichbrought together 193 countries, observed that despite certain signs of progress, we hadcollectively failed to stem biodiversity loss in 2010. The conference therefore fixed a new
deadline: by 2050 humans must ensure that biodiversity is “valued, conserved, restored andwisely used” so that, in particular, ecosystem “services” are maintained. The deadline set may
seem very far away, but ecological dynamics can suffer from an inertia effect. Therefore wemust ensure a living web in every area starting now, not simply in terms of adequate
ecological functioning, but also increased potential for diversification and adaptation bypreserving, valuing and even reinforcing biodiversity. Initiatives promoting biodiversity showa sense of ecological solidarity*, at local and global scales, and fairness and a spirit ofsolidarity towards present and future generations.

6A new national biodiversity strategy
The French National Biodiversity Strategy, which is in line with the international approach, isbased on three firm principles:- Biodiversity is a key social issue and the National Biodiversity Strategy therefore
promotes the mobilisation and commitment of all stakeholders. This entails making a major
long-term commitment to providing information and educational resources so that everybody
can understand why it is important to have as much natural diversity around us as possible.
- Development projects incorporating biodiversity into every activity should bedesigned and implemented on the scale of territories, especially as local projects promoting
biodiversity can have positive and fast effects on this scale. This is particularly valid inoverseas territories where biodiversity is exceptionally rich and of major importance to the
local people and socio-economic and cultural development.
- Frameworks must be put in place at every level of governance, from the global to the
local, and at all these levels public policy, including fiscal policy and management and theplanning legislation which they drive, must be genuinely biodiversity-friendly. The National
Biodiversity Strategy has been designed in a spirit of international cooperation and solidarity.
Our knowledge* of biodiversity is patchy: observation, research and innovation must be
considerably increased. However there is a degree of uncertainty inherent in science.
Decisions must advance solutions which contain an element of reversibility, or at least a highdegree of scalability. In order to frame decisions, therefore, academic scientific knowledge,
local knowledge, data collected through collaborative sciences and the experiences of themany institutions and associations working to improve our understanding of nature, itsconservation and enhancement should be taken into account. These many different sources ofknowledge should feed into democratic debate between citizens in a spirit of partnership. The
state and local authorities, within their own sphere of jurisdiction should assume
responsibility and stimulate the emergence of these discussions. It is a case of trusting citizens
and their political, socio-economic and third sector representatives in the field. Regional orland strategic development projects cannot be viable unless they take as their starting point
the natural environment, namely by incorporating biodiversity from the outset. Lastly, whendegradation of the biosphere entails increasingly heavy costs, promoting the diversity ofliving organisms should not be considered an additional expense, but an investment. In otherwords we must undertake what could be termed an “ecological recapitalisation”, a policy
aimed at gradually developing our ecological heritage across the country.

Jointly developing life skills between humans and with nature as a wholethrough a democratic process
is to envisage a new way of living on the Earthand making progress towards greater humanity.

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A shared mission
The 2011-2020 NBS ambition:
To preserve, restore, strengthen and value biodiversity
and ensure its fair and sustainable use
To involve everyone and every sector of activity, in order to succeed

The National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS) aims to preserve, restore and increase living
diversity in every area for which France is responsible on the mainland and overseas. This
also extends to the European and international framework, where France can contribute to thismission in a spirit of global solidarity. The objective is to keep ecosystems functioning
adapting and evolving for the long term. To this end, the NBS is promoting the reduction of
direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity, sustainable use of living resources and equitable
distribution of the benefits which they deliver.
The NBS contributes to the integrated development of territories and to sustainable
development in mainland France and in the overseas territories. As a result, it is incorporated
as a priority into all public policy, at every territorial scale, such as policy relating to water,soil, the sea, climate and energy agriculture and forestry as well as spatial planning,
infrastructures, industry, trade, education, research, health, etc. As such, it plays a full role ina project for society which targets the well-being of current and future generations bymodifying our relationship with nature.
The NBS brings together all the stakeholders – the state, regional authorities, economic
stakeholders, non profit associations, research stakeholders – in planning, implementing andevaluating its effects. It aims to provide information, raise awareness, mobilise elected
representatives and citizens and promote their involvement and initiatives so that they
contribute to its success through responsible measures.

8Working together
There is a consensus of opinion that one of the keys to tackling the erosion of biodiversity
successfully lies in the mobilisation of society as a whole. The National Biodiversity Strategy
2011-2020 was designed to reflect this.
The choice of a collaborative process was made as soon as the review was launched, during anational conference held in May 2010 in Chamonix (“Choosing a method of governance forworking together successfully”). A Review Committee comprising more than 100 national
networks and bodies then worked to produce the NBS 2011-2020 document with its sharedvision and mission.
Text box 2: NBS 2011-2020:
 A shared vision, a joint mission; Six supplementary strategic goals; Twenty inter-related targets; Incorporation of the Aichi Targets adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity
COP10.
One of the basic principles and one of the original features of this 2011-2020 strategy is thefact that it establishes a coherent framework so that all stakeholders can contribute on a
voluntary basis. Each stakeholder has their own level of responsibility and resources and cancontribute, within the framework of their respective abilities, to the achievement of themission, strategic goals and twenty targets8. It is within this cohesive framework that these
local authorities can play a part in working to promote biodiversity. Biodiversity, its
development and interaction with human activities are not uniform across French territories.
The National Biodiversity Strategy was designed to provide a shared framework for all
stakeholders which can be adapted to the various issues in each territory and to the variety ofoptions for action available to each stakeholder. For any given stakeholder, in a given
territory, certain strategic goals or targets will assume a particular significance.
By mobilising as many people as possible, the National Biodiversity Strategy helps build
collective capacity for action at different territorial levels and in every sphere of activity. A
subscription and commitment mechanism has been established to formalise this desire tocontribute (cf. text box 3). All stakeholders (legal entities) are therefore invited to become
subscribers to promote and publicise the NBS. Each subscriber is also invited to make acommitment to action on the basis of the principles for action and government officially
recorded together when the Strategy was drafted. The voluntary commitment is designed todevelop meaningful action to promote biodiversity with a gradual and proportionate
improvement in the practices of the stakeholders concerned. This coherent framework forsubscription and commitment forms an integral part of the National Biodiversity Strategy –working and succeeding together.

8For instance, in Saint Barts in the Caribbean, in French Polynesia, Wallis-et-Futuna and in New Caledonia, theenvironment falls within the territorial jurisdiction of the local authorities.

9Text Box 3: The NBS, a coherent and incentivising framework:
The implementation of the NBS is a dynamic process which is based on subscribing to the
NBS and a declaration of voluntary commitment.
− Subscribing to the NBS:
Stakeholder mobilisation is reflected first and foremost in the signature of a voluntarysubscription to the National Biodiversity Strategy, to its vision, mission, strategic goals ,targets and governance principles (cf. Annex 1). Subscribing organisations declarethemselves ready to: “a) disseminate and promote this strategy and its procedural rules
through information and education within their networks and among their partners; b) sharethe lessons learned from their experiences in promoting biodiversity; c) familiarise
themselves and others with the tools proposed by the strategy in order to initiate activities; d)
explore, within 18 months, the possibility of and the circumstances for implementing a
voluntary declaration of commitment within the framework of their activities for theobjectives relevant to them and to notify the Ministry of Sustainable Development, acting as
the NBS Secretariat, of their decision.” This subscription is the first phase, open to all,designed to inform, share and explore how to commit to biodiversity in a manner which goesbeyond legal requirements. The state will update monitoring of stakeholders who subscribe to
the strategy and make a commitment by signing the voluntary declaration of commitment.
− The voluntary declaration of commitment to the NBS:
Within 18 months, subscribing organisations declare their willingness to make a firm
commitment to the implementation of the NBS, by presenting the action plan they choose to
implement. They may subscribe and commit throughout the duration of the NBS 2011-2020.
Their proposed actions must go beyond mere compliance with existing regulations and mustof necessity lead to a positive and significant impact in favour of biodiversity. They can bevery diverse and must be commensurate with the size and activity of the organisation. They
can fit into the scheme of existing measures (Agenda 21, corporate social responsibility,
certifications specific to the relevant sector, etc.) and should promote and facilitate theiradoption and actually reinforce their biodiversity component if they have one. The declarationmust involve commitment and be significant, supplementary, measurable and scalable. The
declaration defines the general framework of the commitment and includes a description of
the project, its partners, its scope for action and objectives, accompanied by performanceindicators. It is registered with ad hoc committees, namely the NBS Monitoring Committee orregional monitoring committees9, bringing together all stakeholders (based on the Grenelle
model), and supported on a methodological level by the national committee. The recognised“NBS commitment” constitutes a guarantee of quality and consistency. It entitles subscribers
to mention the NBS in all their communications relating to actions undertaken as part of theircommitment and to use the NBS logo.
Methodological tools have been designed to assist in drafting, registering and monitoring
commitments within the general framework defined by the NBS. This is the purpose of the“Action guide” which contains general methodological recommendations by type of
stakeholder, as well as practical examples of possible activities.

9 Regional green and blue infrastructure committees (Comités régionaux Trame verte et bleue) can play this role.

10Biodiversity in France
Spanning the globe
By virtue of its geographic position in Europe and overseas, France possesses a very richnatural and cultural heritage; it is a “megadiverse” country. French overseas territories
encompass a variety of latitudes: the Muscarene islands, the Guyana plateau, the Caribbean,
the South Pacific, Austral and Antarctic islands and the North American boreal environment.
In mainland Europe, France lies at the crossroads of influences and includes 4 of the 11
biogeographic regions (Atlantic, Alpine, continental and Mediterranean). France is therefore
situated in 5 of the 37 world biodiversity hotspots recognised by the WWF and IUCN and 4 ofthese hotspots are located overseas. The French exclusive economic zone covers over 11
million km² and is the second largest in the world. All of these factors mean that France hassignificant responsibilities in the area of biodiversity.

A diversity of natural habitats
This variety of territories and biogeoclimatic influences is reflected in a variety of ecosystems
and landscapes. It is not possible to list all the types of ecosystem present in France. Some areparticularly emblematic, scarce or endangered and require special attention, such as the
mangrove swamps, coral reefs, aquatic plant habitats, wetlands, certain agro-pastoral
environments or cave environments, etc. For example, French overseas territories have 10%of the world’s coral reefs (ranked 4th in the world), and therefore make a significant
contribution to national and global biodiversity. The surface of an ecosystem does notconstitute a sufficient criterion for analysing its ecological state; it is also necessary to factor
in the way in which it is divided up, its functionality and its past and potential future dynamic.
For example, an assessment of the state of conservation of mainland French forest habitats ofcommunity interest showed in 2007 that approximately 65% were in a poor state ofconservation, whereas rocky habitats (cliffs, caves, etc.) and sclerophyllus habitats (drycoastal heathland, Mediterranean forests, etc.) were in a fairly good state of conservation.

A high number of species
Within these ecosystems, France has a very rich and diverse flora and fauna, both in mainland
France and overseas territories. The national register of natural heritage currently lists nearly
11,934 plant species, 43,727 animal species and 14,183 types of fungi in mainland France. In
overseas territories, despite often very patchy knowledge, registers show a far wider specificdiversity than in mainland France. For example, there are more than 50 times as many
endemic plant species. Biodiversity in overseas territories is particularly vulnerable as it ispartly insular: populations of species are often small and isolated and there are many endemic
species, i.e. species which only exist on those islands. For example, the recent publication of
the red list of flowering plants and ferns for La Réunion showed that of the 905 species
analysed, 49 have already disappeared and 275 are threatened with extinction.

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Limited knowledge about genetic heritage
Little is known about the genetic heritage of species found in France, with the exception of
livestock breeds and varieties which are cultivated or planted. Yet this is what guarantees theability of plants to adapt to a changing environment and constitutes a key component of
biodiversity.
All the various elements which constitute biodiversity interact with each other. Thus if one
element disappears, then the system as a whole may be compromised. For example, thedecline in the population of pollinating insects can lead to the decline of the plant species
which they pollinate.

Biodiversity is useful to humankind
Biodiversity, whether it be genetic, specific, ecosystemic or landscape-based, is one of thefundamental elements of the diversity of crops France. The traditional knowledge of Frenchpeople is partly linked to their understanding of biodiversity, both in mainland France andoverseas, ranging from food to medicine, not forgetting clothing, construction, or thedevelopment of skills and practices in agriculture or livestock rearing. Biodiversity actuallyforms the basis, directly or indirectly, for a very wide variety of human activities and benefits
which we enjoy. Agricultural activity, for example, requires soil which is the product ofactivity by micro-organisms. It is also based on the diversity of animal and plant genetic
resources which must not only be preserved but also managed in a dynamic way to provide
appropriate varieties for the farmers of the future.
An exploratory study for an assessment of ecosystem services in France identified 43 services
in three categories: provisioning services (cultivated fruit and vegetables, wood forconstruction or energy, fishing-based resources, etc.); regulating services (avalanche
prevention by certain forests, regulation of flooding, mitigation of climate variations, etc.);
cultural and aesthetic services (landscapes for leisure, the cultural or spiritual significance of
certain natural environments, etc.). A single ecosystem can provide different services
depending on the way in which it is managed: not all of the ecosystem services can beproduced simultaneously or in the same place and compromises have to be found.

Pressures threatening biodiversity
Despite international, European, national and local commitments, biodiversity is in sharp
decline. The objectives set by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Rio deJaneiro in 1992 and the European Union 2010 objective (“to halt the loss of biodiversity by2010”) have not been achieved. The ecological crisis threatening the whole of the nation canbe attributed to a number of pressures, which sometimes interact:• the destruction, fragmentation and degradation of habitats reduce the number ofenvironments available for species and their ability to move around;• air, ground, water and marine pollution disrupt a number of a ecosystems and put humanhealth at risk;• using species at levels above their replacement rate leads to their decline;• the arrival of invasive alien species in ecosystems that have often already been madevulnerable by other pressures is a recurring problem;

12

•
•

climate change has a direct and indirect impact on biodiversity (disruption of lifecycles,
seasonal shifts, etc.):
the reduction of human activities – among them agriculture- may often lead to poorer
landscape and biodiversity.

The increase in these pressures is very closely linked to demographic and lifestyle changes.
Moreover, their relative significance varies according to the geographical, human andecological context. For instance, Polynesian atolls are particularly sensitive to the rise in sea
levels caused by climate change. The impact of invasive alien species is very significant inisland environments, especially in overseas territories. Overfishing and the degradation ofmarine habitats have already led to the collapse of certain fish stocks.
Despite growing awareness, especially within the framework of the National Biodiversity
Strategy (NBS), most anthropic threats and pressures relating to biodiversity are increasing.
Many initiatives have been implemented to reverse this trend: creation of protected areas,
action plans for species, strategies to combat invasive alien species and the promotion ofpractices in favour of biodiversity, raising awareness, etc.

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The Twenty National Biodiversity
Strategy Targets
Strategic goal A: Generate the willingness to act in favour of biodiversity
Target 1

Foster, enrich and share a common nature-oriented culture

Target 2

Reinforce mobilisation and citizen initiatives

Target 3

Turn biodiversity into a positive issue for decision-makers

Strategic goal B: Preserve life and its ability to evolve
Target 4

Preserve species and their diversity

Target 5

Build a green infrastructure including a coherent network of protected areas

Target 6

Preserve and restore ecosystems and their functioning

Strategic goal C: Invest in a common good: our ecological capital
Target 7

Include preservation of biodiversity in economic decisions

Target 8

Develop innovations for and through biodiversity

Target 9

Develop and perpetuate financial and human resources for biodiversity

Target 10

Turn biodiversity into a driver for development and for regional cooperation in the overseas
entities

Strategic goal D: Ensure sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity
Target 11

Control pressures on biodiversity

Target 12

Safeguard sustainability of biological resource use

Target 13

Share equitably the benefits arising out of the use of biodiversity on all scales

Strategic goal E: Ensure consistency across policies and the effectiveness of actions
Target 14

Ensure consistency across public policies on all scales

Target 15

Ensure ecological efficiency of public and private policies and projects

Target 16

Develop national and international solidarity amongst territories

Target 17

Reinforce green diplomacy and international governance for biodiversity

Strategic goal F: Develop, share and promote knowledge
Target 18

Develop research, organise and perpetuate the production, analysis, sharing and disseminationof knowledge

Target 19

Improve expertise in order to build capacity to anticipate and to act, mobilising all sources ofknowledge

Target 20

Develop and organise mainstreaming of biodiversity issues in all education and training courses

14Strategic goal A: Generate thewillingness to act in favour of
biodiversity
The current loss of biodiversity can only be halted if biodiversity is given a higher
profile in society so that change takes place. Citizens and decision-makers will only
mainstream biodiversity if they are familiar with it. Urban populations, which are often
cut off from nature, and rural populations, which use its services more directly, must
rally to this objective of conserving a common asset. We must reconnect culturally andemotionally with the living fabric of the Earth and bring about a cultural shift in society
geared towards respect for biodiversity.
This means ensuring that every individual has a body of knowledge and values which
can allow them to become aware of their daily reliance on services delivered bybiodiversity and inform their decisions and actions. Furthermore, in a professional
context, all managers must integrate the need to preserve biodiversity into their culture
and decision-making criteria.
Several levers are available to drive this change. They involve children as well as adults
in the school environment, in extra-curricular activities, non-profit or professionalorganisations as wells the arts and culture. They involve:- developing a love of nature: developing feelings, stimulating curiosity, touchingemotions, awakening receptiveness, empathy, wonder and respect, taking thetime to observe and understand- demonstrating that biodiversity provides indispensable services by connecting it
to issues such as health, diet, employment, the economy, the environment inwhich we live, leisure, sport and cultural activities- explaining that biodiversity has a strong functional connection with otherenvironmental issues- raising awareness of the need for knowledge about nature, notably by developing
communications and events- promoting involvement, both by individuals and collectively, in preserving
biodiversity- persuading and mobilising political and administrative decision-makers, as well
as socio-economic stakeholders
A major challenge in this strategic approach consists of establishing a link between
individual activity and the general good. Biodiversity is a common good which concerns
us all and whose benefits affect life on Earth and the well-being of current and future
generations.
Within the framework of the strategy, all stakeholders are committed to fostering anature-oriented culture, and to facilitating and mobilising citizen initiatives in order tomake biodiversity a positive issue for decision-makers.
15

Target 1: Foster, enrich and share a nature-oriented culture
The objective is to ensure that biodiversity is recognised by individuals and society. This
involves fostering, enriching and sharing a nature-oriented culture. This is based on global
and local biodiversity and on the diversity of perceptions and uses and can take a number ofdifferent forms: local practice, knowledge about nature, real-life experiences, education
received, diet, personal appeal, etc. It ensures awareness of the major role played by the living
world as a source of tangible and intangible benefits for humanity and therefore a full
appreciation of its value. It is not just rational, but also emotional, sensory and therefore
multifaceted.
This is why this message must be disseminated on a voluntary basis by all who are involvedin the transmission of culture: education in school and in the home, trips and events for young
people, the media, the recreational and the arts world, etc. It should bring hope and positiveand incentivising values so that it becomes a reality across the whole of society.

Target 2: Reinforce mobilisation and citizen initiatives
Citizens are fully-fledged stakeholders in the future of biodiversity through their activities andeveryday choices (consumption, housing, travel, lifestyle). It is important to capitalise on andpromote positive citizenship initiatives in favour of biodiversity and to build transferrable
models for action on these bases. The media and social networks have a major role to play indrawing attention to and adopting these citizen initiatives.
These activities affect all citizens, but also institutions, biodiversity professionals, non profit
associations, businesses, elected representatives etc.
In order to achieve a successful mobilisation it is important to promote and enhance citizen
commitment. It is also important to involve citizens in collective thinking and decisionmaking within the framework of consultations and citizen involvement, both at national andlocal level, to build a capacity for expertise within society. A process enabling citizens to get
involved is to be defined.

Target 3: Turn biodiversity into a positive issue for decision-makers
Biodiversity must be perceived and managed by public and private decision-makers as a
powerful political asset, on a par with public health or economic development.
It is important for them to incorporate it into their decision-making for the common good,whether they act as guarantors or whether they contribute to it, in order to mainstream
biodiversity in all of their actions as far upstream as possible. This can be done notably byprioritising prevention over compensation and restoration, drawing in particular on the results of
the TEEB study into the economics of biodiversity and ecosystem services and the MEA on
the evaluation of ecosystems.
In this way, it is also necessary to ensure that actions led by local authorities to preserve andrestore biodiversity are properly valued and receive full recognition. Helping decision-makers
to understand the health, economic, social and even political benefits of management whichmainstreams biodiversity as a response to everyday concerns will enable them to resolve
potential conflicts over use and to recognise the cost of doing nothing.
16

Strategic goal B: Preserve life and its
ability to evolve
Ever since life began, living organisms have been evolving and adapting to changing
environmental conditions on account of their diversity. However, human activities tend
to curtail this capability for evolution because they cause the loss of biodiversity.
Protecting biodiversity is crucial to preserving the ability of life to evolve.
All diversity, whether it be genetic, specific, ecosystemic or landscape-based, enables life
to adapt. In a dynamic world, it is necessary to protect certain elements of biodiversity,
but also to view it as a whole. Preserving life therefore involves focusing on the mostendangered species as well as widely distributed species, on protected areas as well asother areas, on genetic diversity used by man or not currently in use. It also involves
taking into account the fact that we know nothing about a large proportion of thisbiodiversity. It also entails reconciling the coexistence of human activities withbiodiversity more effectively.
French island territories, mostly located overseas, have a very high level of endemism
and a limited ability to adapt. Land species’ movements are constrained by the surfacesof their natural habitats. Global changes* are likely to have a very profound impact onthem and their requirements in terms of preservation of biodiversity are significant.
Within the framework of the NBS, stakeholders undertake to work to preserve genetic
resources, species, ecosystems and landscapes and their ability to evolve, against the
backdrop of the dynamic of global change.

Target 4: Preserve species and their diversity
The simultaneous presence of a number of living species in natural environments is one of thekeys to the expression or expansion of life on Earth. One of the objectives of this strategy istherefore to monitor and maintain species diversity by focusing more particularly on species
whose survival is threatened in the short or medium term. An improvement in theconservation status of these species is to be sought by implementing action plans. It is also
necessary to preserve species which, while not actually in danger of extinction, play animportant role in the functioning of ecosystems. Some of these, whose numbers are
significantly depleted, could be the focus of population reinforcement and measures to arrest
their decline. When all the necessary preconditions are met, specimens of a species which had
become extinct in a given region could also be reintroduced.
For the preservation of species to be sustainable*, it must be accompanied by diversity among
the individuals which comprise it and by a minimum population size. Within this diversity,
the conservation of genetic diversity (animal, plant, microbial), both domestic and wild, is a
key objective. In addition to its general contribution to the functioning of the biosphere,
genetic diversity constitutes a resource for adaptation to climate change, forms the basis formany economic developments, and provides a living resource for research, notably in the
medical field. It is necessary to reinforce its conservation both in situ and ex situ.

17

Target 5: Build a green infrastructure including a coherent network ofprotected areas
The resilience and functionality of ecosystems must be maintained or even reinforced in orderto preserve the evolutionary processes required for them to adapt as well as to preserve
biodiversity. Moreover, in the context of global change, species must be able to move to findbetter environmental conditions in which to live.
Defining, preserving and restoring the green and blue infrastructure* to good condition is apriority, although we must be alert to its impact on the movements of invasive alien species
and its role as a pathway for the transmission of disease. The green and blue infrastructure(trame verte et bleue, TVB), which includes both reservoirs of biodiversity and elements
ensuring connectivity across the whole infrastructure, must be designed in a coherent manneron all territorial levels. Moreover, it is necessary to incorporate this ecological infrastructure*
into the regional environment, in overseas territories in particular, but also in Europe.
Ecological continuities are notably based on what is termed “ordinary biodiversity”. They canalso be found in urban environments, where green and blue infrastructures could be created orreinforced.
Protected areas, the key elements of this infrastructure, are one of the main tools forconserving biodiversity on a national, European and international level. Protected areas must
exist in sufficient numbers, be representative of different environments and be effectively
managed. The network of protected areas is required to play a key role in responding to global
environmental challenges, notably the effects of climate change. It contributes to theresilience of ecosystems by mitigating impacts and maintaining the quality of services
delivered by ecosystems. Therefore the construction of a network of protected areas on land
and at sea, in mainland France and overseas, in an approach based on ecological coherence
and solidarity, is essential to implementing a national green infrastructure.

Target 6: Preserve and restore ecosystems and their functioning
Human activities have caused the degradation of certain elements of biodiversity, which now
require restoration. The preservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the restorationof those which are polluted, fragmented, or disturbed must be a priority.
This degradation of ecosystems and of natural and semi-natural habitats which constitutethem is a major factor in the erosion of biodiversity. By contrast, a policy to improve habitats
is an effective option to ensure that ecosystems function. This functioning is essential, as it
determines the production of many services which are of benefit to man: climate regulation,
waste water treatment, pollenisation, etc.
Preserving and restoring ecosystems entails quantitative and qualitative commitments. This
involves a mission to preserve ecosystems quantitatively, i.e. in surface area, andqualitatively, by monitoring their functionality, especially by reducing fragmentation whichsignificantly diminishes their ability to adapt and deliver services. Ecological engineering
which respects ecosystem functions must also be developed and promoted.

18

Strategic goal C: Invest in a common
good : our ecological capital
Biodiversity is our common heritage and one of the pillars of the functioning of thebiosphere. The resources which the living world provides for us enrich us and contributeto the well-being of humanity. Safeguarding this heritage and viewing it as a common
asset involves a commitment to new approaches so that this richness fosters oursustainable* and equitable* development for the future.
Biodiversity is a legacy from the past which requires us to devise very long-term
economic strategies. Advances in science and technology mean that we can begin tounderstand biodiversity and its role and to benefit from this. However our economic
rationale should not end with the immediate benefits conferred by exploiting it. It mustalso set out to protect and enhance biodiversity, which is our common heritage.
Investing in the physical and human resources required to protect and enhance thisheritage simply constitutes good management of our relationships with life on Earth. It
entails demonstrating a conviction that our natural heritage is a of key importance, our“ecological capital” and a source of benefit to humanity today and for the future.
Within the framework of the NBS, stakeholders make a commitment to use over thelong term the ability to adapt and evolve which forms the basis of the biological story of
our planet and the resources and services which nature provides for us, without
jeopardising them.

Target 7: Include preservation of biodiversity in economic decisions
Biodiversity and natural resources are affected by the current economic growth mode forwhich they also partially form the basis. In fact, business and economic activities more
broadly, play a major role in biodiversity, either by the impacts (negative or sometimes positive) of their activities on species and natural environments, or by the benefits which they derive from the goods and services delivered by biodiversity. These costs and benefits are
scarcely addressed in economic decision-making.
It is necessary to integrate biodiversity more fully into the economic sphere in order to reconcile public and private interests, ensure mainstreaming in the long term, raise awarenessamong businesses of their dependence on biodiversity and encourage economic stakeholders
to invest in ecological capital and thus to play a role in developing this common asset.
In order to achieve this integration successfully, it is necessary first of all to reduce then withdraw incentives which harm biodiversity, to reform the tax system, develop new positive incentives, integrate the impacts on biodiversity into eco labelling, or even extend the “polluterpays” principle and enforce it more rigorously. In particular, public subsidies must be redirected in several areas to avoid contributing to the loss of biodiversity and must be subject to bioconditionality measures.

19

Target 8: Develop innovations for and through biodiversity
Innovation in the field of valuing biodiversity as a source of natural technologies and as abasis for sustainable development activities must be increased. Furthermore, it is important toincrease mainstreaming of biodiversity in areas in which innovation occurs, either in terms of
direct or indirect impacts or through equitable sharing of the biosphere’s resources. A whole
new area of research and practice (for instance ecological engineering) should be promoted
and structured around this concept.
Transfer of knowledge to organisations supporting innovation (companies, local authorities,
non-profit associations, and various excellence clusters, etc.) must be ensured by drawing on
international best practice. This will facilitate the development of new projects capable ofreconciling economic and social development with respect for the environment andbiodiversity.
The NBS offers a permanent framework for priority development of new concepts andprojects of all types, with particular emphasis on their value-added component for overseas
territories and new promotion methods.

Target 9: Develop and perpetuate resources for biodiversity
Preserving, restoring and developing ecological capital constitute a major national policy
which must develop in a coherent manner for the long term. In this respect, it must haveaccess to increased financial, human and technical resources enabling it, on the one hand, tosupport initiatives throughout French territories and, on the other hand, to support France’s
international commitments, in particularly those made in Nagoya (an increase in state fundingfor development focusing on biodiversity).
In order to respond to these challenges, financial contributions will need to be substantially
increased, firstly on the part of public stakeholders (the state, local authorities) but also fromthe private sector (company biodiversity budgets, environmental sponsorship, etc.) in order toinvest in the preservation of biodiversity.
Moreover, examples of major environmental policies such as water, waste and energy saving
demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of the implementation of targeted resourcesmanaged within the framework of a multi-year plan drawn up jointly by the stakeholders. In
addition to ensuring consistency between activities, such resources will create synergy withinitiatives implemented by various private and public operators to preserve and develop our
ecological capital. It is therefore appropriate to establish a mechanism of this type forbiodiversity.
A growing number of professionals are working to protect biodiversity in all spheres ofactivity and in a variety of organisations: businesses, researchers, teachers, non-profit
associations, managers of protected areas, local authorities, organisations for social andprofessional integration, etc. Recent studies carried out within the framework of the green
economy plan for jobs and employment identify some forty different professions and over
30,000 jobs. Significant resources must be made available to reinforce the skills of active
professionals (training, tools, methods, etc..) and develop these vocational areas.

20

Target 10: Turn biodiversity into a driver for development and for regional
cooperation in the overseas entities
Insularity, or in the case of Guyana, its geographical location, mean that overseas territories
are structurally extremely dependent on imports (energy, foodstuffs, equipment, etc.) whichpush up the cost of living as well as creating a large carbon footprint. Overseas territories arecommitted to a development goal which is focused more clearly on their own potential. Thisis the “endogenous development” goal defined by the Interministerial Council for Overseas
Territories (CIOM) on 6 November 2009.
The promotion of natural resources, in particular, is a crucial asset for endogenous economic
development in overseas territories. On the one hand, biodiversity is a source of innovation
and research, hence the growth of specialist research companies developing and marketingproducts linked to biodiversity. On the other hand, the protection and promotion of theecological assets of overseas territories is a growth factor for tourism, especially eco-tourism,
although the impacts of tourism must be kept to a minimum.
Lastly, the protection and promotion of biodiversity provides a focus for regional
cooperation* between overseas territories and neighbouring countries. This involves
reinforcing cooperation and coordinating action between overseas collectivities, between
overseas collectivities and neighbouring countries, or with the rest of Europe. There is
therefore scope to increase sharing of information and know-how for the conservation andenhancement of biodiversity within the framework of regional cooperation by broad
geographic zone (Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Pacific, South America). In addition, islands aredeveloping original strategies and models which could be shared with or even transferred tomainland situations to positive effect: adaptation to climate change, and reduction in anthropicpressures, conservation and integrated sustainable management of biodiversity in theecosystems exploited, etc.

21Strategic goal D: Ensure sustainable andequitable use of biodiversity
Many human activities have an impact on biodiversity either directly or indirectly. The
artificialisation of soils reduces the surface available for nature and fragmentation ofareas exacerbates this situation, notably by preventing species from moving around,physical, chemical or biological pollution modify the structure of populations and impair
their potential to evolve, alien invasive species disrupt living communities, especially on
islands, and harvesting of living resources does not always take their renewal into
consideration. Climate change is already modifying the environment at speeds which arequite unprecedented in the history of the earth and this is likely to increase the effects ofother pressures.
Some of these pressures can also exert an influence which extends beyond their
immediate environment. Thus the production of goods and services and theirconsumption have an impact on biodiversity far beyond our frontiers, for which wemust accept responsibility.
Within the framework of the NBS, stakeholders as a whole undertake to act to control
these pressures, use natural resources more sparingly, take into account all theconsequences for biodiversity of our lifestyle and to share equitably* the benefits which
can be obtained from the use of these resources. There will be particular focus on
overseas territories, which are mostly islands: competition between activities for the useof the soil and the marine environment is very fierce; many inhabitants rely on the daily
use of natural resources and biodiversity there is both particularly rich and vulnerable.

Target 11: Control pressures on biodiversity
The objective is to become more familiar with these pressures, to understand their causes andeffects and to initiate concrete actions to reduce them. These actions will aim to avoid newpressures, reduce existing pressures or compensate inevitable pressures. It will involve
adopting a new mode of governance based on consultation* between stakeholders andensuring that the decisions taken are observed. There are a number of possibilities: promoting
and using materials with a low impact on biodiversity, limiting the artificialisation of areas,
ecological transparency in transport infrastructures, good practices for preventing andcombating alien invasive species, combating toxic substances and all forms of pollution. The
cumulative effects of these pressures must also be monitored and taken into account. Thereneeds to be a special focus on more fragile and endangered ecosystems such as mangroveswamps, coral reefs, primary forests, estuaries, feeding grounds, etc. and on zones particularly
affected by human activity, notably overseas territories.

Target 12: Safeguard sustainability of biological resource use
This entails promoting sustainable use and management* of resources covering the use andusers of natural living resources, with particular reference to fisheries, agriculture and22

logging. Action should focus on all aspects of this use: better knowledge about renewal rates
for these resources and the effects of their exploitation, developing production and harvesting
methods which respect the environment (the concept of ecological management and an
ecosystemic approach), raising awareness among consumers of the positive or negative
impacts of their behaviour on biodiversity, combating wastage and making better use ofwaste. Activities must be carried out at all levels: local initiatives, national (through agroenvironmental measures for instance, and European policy (in particular the CAP and theCFP), international cooperation, notably to promote sustainable channels and reinforce theimports of certified products.

Target 13: Share equitably the benefits arising out of the utilisation of
biodiversity on all scales
The objective is to promote, reinforce and share, in a manner which is fair* for all, thebenefits derived from biological diversity and ecosystem services. Some ecosystem services
are actually used at a local level but many ecosystems benefit a wider collective group or evenhumanity as a whole (e.g. carbon dioxide fixation). Others, such as bio-prospecting, involve
stakeholders distinct from those living in these ecosystems. It is a case of ensuring a fairexchange between the beneficiaries of these services and those who have contributed or arecontributing to maintaining them, (for instance by implementing a legal framework in France
for access to genetic resources).
This “ecological solidarity” should be implemented on different scales: between towns andrural areas, between municipalities involved in preserving local natural heritage andneighbouring municipalities who benefit from this, between regions within a country (notably
in the case of France between the mainland and overseas territories), and lastly between
states, with France being involved by virtue of its dual role as a supplier and user of these
services.

23

Strategic goal E:
Ensure consistency across policies andthe effectiveness of action
Over the centuries public policy has evolved to created a complex structure of laws,
regulations and public expenditure. Each change in this mechanism is analysed only inits specific context and contradictions between public policies inevitably arise. Politicaldecision-makers need to choose between contradictory policy elements whilst talking
into account the improvement in our knowledge about the role of living organisms in the
major balances of the biosphere and about the perpetuation of an environment which isfavourable to humankind.
A framework must be built which encourages ideas, allows the most effective andefficient actions to be carried out and makes it possible to ensure that other public
policies do not cause irreparable damage and in particular do not harm the ability of therelevant natural resources to renew themselves. Assessments must incorporate these
aspects of effectiveness and efficiency.
Achieving this effectiveness also implies acting in a way which takes into account theconcerns of those who are located at a distance and with whom we sometimes interact
without even being aware of it: the neighbouring region, the neighbouring country or acountry on the other side of the world. The aim of the strategy is also to develop
ecological solidarity and to guarantee solidarity between states based on strengthening
international action.

Target 14: Ensure consistency across public policies on all scales
Certain public policies such as fragmentation of habitats, overexploitation, the propagation ofalien invasive species or pollution play a role in increasing political pressures on biodiversity.
Often, one aspect of this damage could be reduced without amending public policy, but newdecisions are also required in the light of our awareness of the issues.
Steps must be taken to achieve greater consistency on all scales of territory (including forcoastal and marine areas). This is particularly the case for instance where planning and spatialplanning documents (strategies, programmes, plans) are concerned at a territorial level.
Moreover, there must be good coordination between the different scales of organisation,
ranging from the local to the international, particularly in the context of the territorialisationof the NBS and the current development or review of regional and local biodiversity
strategies.
This consistency is reflected notably in sharing best practice, a genuine environmental
evaluation which mainstreams biodiversity, and effective economic instruments. We must allcommit to these principles in a clear and ambitious ways at an appropriate level of
responsibility and subsidiarity.

24

Target 15: Ensure ecological efficiency of public and private policies andprojects
The aim is to ensure the widespread use of methods and tools which enable the best choices tobe made in all sectors for mainstreaming biodiversity. How can we ensure that natural
biological resources are used effectively? How can we guarantee that the technical choices
made by the authorities, business and individuals are economically efficient and also ensure
the renewal of resources used and the long-term functioning of the ecosystems which providethem?
New methods and experiments are required, such as mainstreaming biodiversity into the life
cycle monitoring systems, at every level, to ensure that the development of French society isbased on rigorous environmental assessments and consistent decisions on the part ofeconomic stakeholders, ranging from the producer to the consumer. The quantity of wood,
agricultural produce or sustainably sourced fibres necessary to ensure production in a businesscan be optimised according to the impact of the production of these resources on biodiversity.
Increased population density, avoidance of the most critical biodiversity zones and respect forecological functions and continuities facilitate improvements in the ecologically efficient use*of spaces in territories.

Target 16: Develop national and international solidarity among territories
The mechanisms regulating functioning and exchange in ecosystems transcend administrative
boundaries and state boundaries. The ecological interdependence of territories is a fact andecological solidarity is a voluntary way of acknowledging this. Thus pollutants released into ariver will have an impact on the coastal environment and the activities which originated thedamage should remedy it and reduce its impact, despite being located a significant distanceaway. Similarly, if an urban area benefits from flood prevention provided by the presence
upstream of a major rural area and wants to prevent this zone from being built up, then it is
only fair to expect something in exchange.
On a national level, tools for organising these forms of solidarity have already been developedin the field of water, but have still to be developed in the area of biodiversity.
In order to meet the challenges of preserving global biodiversity, international solidarity must
be strengthened, ensuring greater mainstreaming of biodiversity into French development
assistance by facilitating and supporting actions in favour of global biodiversity by local
authorities, research bodies, NGOs and companies, and by supplementing the array of tools,
methods, approaches and means available, especially in the field of innovation, to step up the
French contribution in a movement for international solidarity.

Target 17: Reinforce green diplomacy and international governance forbiodiversity
International action features in most of the targets of the National Biodiversity Strategy.
Reinforcing green diplomacy and governance relating to biodiversity is a target in itself since
it concerns stakeholders as a whole on an international scale. It responds to the need tostrengthen the environmental coherence of French action abroad and to find ways of25

improving the effectiveness of action in favour of biodiversity, notably by addressing sectoral
policies pursued by France abroad such as trade, agriculture, forestry, education and culture,etc. This involves mobilising all public and private stakeholders.
It therefore entails involving all relevant partners – official missions, local authorities,businesses, NGOs, non-profit organisations and research bodies – each according to their own
negotiating and/or implementation level, with the aim, on the one hand, of reinforcing thecoherence and effectiveness of the activities of the different biodiversity agreements, theirconnections and complementarity and, on the other hand, of mainstreaming and better
integrating biodiversity into arenas which will apply them or tackle them indirectly. On a
broader scale, diplomacy must contribute to improved international governance of theenvironment (IPBES, WEO, notably the preservation of open sea biodiversity).
Lastly, it is necessary to reinforce the ability of the various non-governmental stakeholders(local authorities, NGOs, business, non-profit associations) to act internationally, to further
consult stakeholders on international conferences and to foster more regular dialogue
between development, environment and international action stakeholders.

26

Strategic goal F: Develop, share andpromote knowledge
The connection between knowledge and decision-making must be reinforced in order toachieve greater integration of biodiversity into human activities.
Improving our knowledge of biodiversity, its origins, dynamic and its link withecosystem services and social dynamics are key topics for the well-being of humanity
and its future. Major development of multidisciplinary research is required in this field.
The development of new interfaces between stakeholders in biodiversity and theestablishment of a science-society dialogue are vectors for a better definition of the issues
involved by all stakeholders.
The rapid increase in questions relating to biodiversity and related issues must be
accompanied by innovations to initiate new areas of research and new thinking about
the knowledge available and how to promote and share it.
The NBS provides a framework for this development which will be based on themobilisation of all knowledge whether it be from research studies, public involvement inscience, local knowledge, lessons learned, managers, non-profit associations or business.
Mobilisation of expertise* which is multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder, needs to be
based on strengthening and improving the coordination of biodiversity observation
networks and observatories, as well as data management and analysis bodies. Innovative
approaches will facilitate the development of scenarios for changes in biodiversity in theface of local as well as global change, improved identification of sources of uncertainty
and an assessment of their scope in order to provide better input into decision-making
and action.
Expertise underpinned by a synthesis of validated knowledge of every type and byresearch results will be organised within the framework of the IPBES by mobilising the
research community in interaction with stakeholders.
Furthermore, reinforcing the links between research and decision-making on different
scales of governance ranging from the local to the international will make it easier toexplain, inform and support public and private decision-making more clearly.
In addition, mainstreaming biodiversity into all types of training and the reciprocal
introduction of key social issues into the training of naturalists will foster mutualawareness.

27

Target 18: Develop research, organise and perpetuate the production,
analysis, sharing and dissemination of knowledge
In order to understand the ability of biodiversity to respond to global* and local change, it isnecessary to improve our knowledge which is currently very patchy. This knowledge must
relate to the state of biodiversity and the mechanisms involved in its dynamic and resilience,
including adaptation, as well as to human activities which interact with it. The knowledge
available is still inadequate, often dispersed and inaccessible to many stakeholders (researchbodies, non-profit associations, business, local authorities, etc.). A research initiative designed
to fill these gaps in our knowledge is essential.
New questions relating to major issues in our societies require us to rethink the way in whichknowledge is produced in the field of biodiversity. It is necessary to promote
multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder synergies in order to facilitate mutual questioning andthe co-construction* of science-society responses, (for instance by developing realistic
projections based on socio-economic scenarios to build research strategies ). Knowledge
monitoring and management will be based on enhanced coordination of access to the data
produced and the development of appropriate means of experimentation (“permanent study
sites”), analysis and meta-analysis within a multidisciplinary framework (ranging from thenatural sciences through to the social sciences and including chemistry and maths, amongst
other subjects). Coordinated steps must be taken to inventory biodiversity, overcoming thehurdle of taxonomy.

Target 19: Improve expertise in order to build capacity to anticipate andact, mobilising all sources of knowledge
The mobilisation and implementation of collective expertise*, which is diverse andindependent by virtue of better informed decision-making, should be strongly supported by
the NBS. This collective expertise is appropriate for all levels whether it be to respond to
major social questions about biodiversity on a national and international scale or to findinnovative solutions to practical problems in the field. It complements the mobilisation ofexpertise implemented by professional organisations (and usually codified in standards), or
individual experts.
This a major strategic challenge for all those involved in knowledge production, notably
researchers (whose research evaluation should explicitly integrate expert appraisals that they havecarried out), who must organise themselves to make biodiversity a priority with a view to a
European and international structure within the framework of the IPBES. This involves
creating optimal, innovative conditions for improved science-society dialogue, a closer
relationship between research and expertise, and action to inform decision-making andsupport measures to manage biodiversity as fully as possible.

Target 20: Develop and organise mainstreaming of biodiversity issues in all
education and training courses
The term biodiversity should not just be a scientific or political term, but should be embodied
in a living vision which forms the basis of our national culture. This culture stems largely

28

from education and training which should incorporate biodiversity at appropriate levels ofdetail into all programmes ranging from initial education (general, higher or vocational
education, where this process is incorporated into primary, junior and senior school
curriculum, as well as into general, technical and vocational education), and right through tocontinuing education.
Training all stakeholders - from policy-makers to social and economic stakeholders to citizens- and enhancing a common base of knowledge on biodiversity, are the best way to ensure
mainstreaming within the population of issues which concern the whole of humanity.
As a result, communications, law or political science experts will be better equipped tointegrate into their strategic thinking the spatial and temporal scales where man and diversity
interact and the importance of nature and its benefits for mankind. Engineers will be invited totake into account the biological consequences of certain technological options on a systematic
basis and will learn to imitate the inventions of nature. Biodiversity research, biomedical
research and public health activities will be integrated.
In more general terms, each individual, on their own scale of action, will be aware that theirplace in the universe forms part of the dynamic of life from which we derive benefit and forwhich we are responsible at our own level.

29Governance, monitoring and evaluation
Since its initial phase in 2004, the NBS has been stressing the fact that concrete results interms of preserving and enhancing biodiversity can only be achieved if “everybody is
involved. […] Continuous striving for this active and vigilant involvement is equally crucial
for the development, implementation and monitoring of the strategy”. This is why the new
NBS 2011-2020 aims to generate greater commitment from various stakeholders on all
territorial scales in mainland France and in overseas territories in order to achieve theobjectives set. The strategy directs, mobilises, stimulates and aggregates initiatives.

Governance principles“Rather than viewing governance of biodiversity as a mere tool,
we must now think of it as a social issue”,
French Conference on Biodiversity, Chamonix, May 2010.

The NBS is a major component of the National Sustainable Development Strategy(SNDD): it observes and applies its principles for good governance. These stem from thereference framework of the territorial sustainable development projects and local Agenda 21
strategies, the Aarhus Convention, the environment charter and the framework law relating to
the implementation of the Grenelle Environment Forum.
They translate as follows for the NBS:
- shared governance with stakeholders (state, local authorities, employers, trade unions
and non-profit associations for the protection of nature) instituted by the Grenelle
Environment Forum. This is based on decision-making and consultative bodies both ata national (see below) and local level10.
- effective and increased involvement of stakeholders, at every stage and as far
upstream as possible;- organising the expression of the various interests of stakeholders and coordination
between different levels of decision-making (international, European, national, local);- continuous improvement of the implementation of the NBS;
- public consultations to develop involvement in decision-making and public access to
information;- cross-cutting approaches designed to make policy and actions more coherent, legible
and effective;- monitoring and evaluation to encourage action, inform decision-making and guidechange.

An NBS implemented by stakeholder commitments
Every stakeholder can contribute to the implementation of the NBS. Each stakeholder,according to their level of responsibility and scope of their skills, can develop operational

10 At a local level, shared governance is established through committees such as the Grenelle committees or regional green
and blue infrastructure committees (to avoid creating further bodies). The local level provides good scope for adoption ofissues relating to biodiversity by all those who live in the same area.

30

objectives which give rise, as the case may be to various projects, plans, programmes, and areaccompanied in so far as possible by performance indicators.
The State makes a commitment to be exemplary in the exercise of its prerogatives: in linewith the initial strategy, it will develop throughout the period and in a cross-cutting manner,
its own commitments to the policies for which it is responsible. It will ensure that publicbodies contribute to the development of operational objectives on their territorial scale.
Furthermore, the state undertakes to organise the collective dynamic for the implementationof the NBS, notably through the subscription and commitment mechanism whosetransparency and effectiveness it will ensure. Lastly, it will ensure the consistency of actions
undertaken, their integration into other public policies on a territorial level and compliancewith international agreements.
Local authorities are already implementing or will implement actions including regional
strategies, action plans, projects, etc., whose scope will vary according to the size of the local
authority. Existing initiatives will be integrated, notably regional biodiversity strategies (SRB)
and green and blue infrastructure strategies (TVB). Like the state, they can play a dual role insetting an example and providing organisation. Commitments by overseas collectivities take
into account the scope of their environmental capabilities.
Economic stakeholders and notably businesses can also establish action plans, for example
within the framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR). They act on their own behalf
or as part of groups assisted by Chambers of Commerce. Their actions take place at various
territorial levels (global, national, local).
NGOs (non-profit associations, foundations), trade unions, land managers, and otherstakeholders involved in the NBS: their commitments will be linked to their own
approaches and responsibilities relating to training, raising awareness, supporting projects,
managing territories and other activities in the field.
In addition to the targets and actions which each stakeholder defines individually, action in
partnership by several stakeholders will contribute to achieving the NBS targets more
effectively. These actions can even include initiating contributions from citizens, who by theirindividual behaviour (consumption, activities, commitment, etc.) could also contribute to thesuccess of the strategy.
A platform for exchanging information between various NBS stakeholders, including both themany partners and civil society, will be implemented via a dedicated page on the Ministry for
Sustainable Development website. Public debates and citizen conferences can supplement
these mechanisms as required.

Monitoring and evaluation of the NBS: principles, relevant bodies andindicators
The NBS 2011-2020 is equipped with a full monitoring and evaluation system. The principles
for monitoring and evaluation and the relevant authorities are as follows:31

− Monitoring and evaluating the results of the implementation of the NBS:
An annual scorecard of monitoring indicators for the implementation of the strategy ispresented to the NBS Monitoring Committee to ensure the smooth running of the mechanism
for steering and organising the overall strategy implementation process.
The NBS Monitoring Committee, a consultative, steering and decision-making body, is anextension of the Review Committee. It is tasked with monitoring the National Strategy as wellas the implementation of the three Nagoya Agreements 11 and the European strategy in France.
In this respect, Committee members confer to develop “targets” which are quantitative, in so
far as possible, converging with the effective implementation of the NBS. It examines theannual report produced by the NBS before its submission to parliament (cf. article 1 of theGrenelle I Act) and the NBS mid-point evaluation report. It also draws on the performanceindicators for the impact of the NBS on biodiversity (see below) to provide focus for the
implementation of the NBS. It evaluates and recognizes voluntary declarations ofcommitment by stakeholders (cf. Text box 2 in “Working together”).
− Monitoring the impact of the NBS on biodiversity:
The National Biodiversity Observatory (ONB), created in compliance with the Grenelle I
Act (article 25), is, inter alia, responsible for monitoring the effects of the NBS on
biodiversity and at the interfaces between biodiversity and society. In order to do this, the
ONB: a) translates the NBS strategic goals and targets into questions for which indicators canbe devised; b) develops a set of indicators to monitor the overall impact of the NBS, and also
additional sets of indicators with finer monitoring granularity where national issues requirethem; c) provides information about these indicators and makes them available to public andprivate decision-makers and citizens. The ONB offers indicators adapted to various types ofinterested party, on the various relevant scales and covering all the strategic goals andobjectives of the NBS. By making this information available to all, it thus provides reliablereference points facilitating effective policy management (by decision-makers and managers)
and broad, constructive democratic debate (involving citizens).
The set of indicators for the NBS are set out in a document accompanying the strategy andmay develop over time. The proposed indicators stem from an initial analysis of the strategic
goals and targets adopted after the NBS review process. The initial list of indicators, as wellas proposals relating to overseas territories, will be put forward for discussion before the final
selection is made in 2011. The indicators will subsequently be updated at an appropriate
frequency for each indicator. The complete set of indicators will be published annually by the
ONB.
When they are published, the ONB will explain the values obtained using the various
indicators, but does not offer any comment. The interpretation of the results is restricted to the
NBS Monitoring Committee.
Lastly, there are other decision-making and consultative bodies at a national level:− Grenelle Environment Forum National Sustainable Development Committee(CNDDGE): this consultative body is associated with the development, monitoringand evaluation of the NBS. Annual NBS monitoring and evaluation reports are
11 Convention on Biological Diversity Strategic Plan (including the 20 Aichi Targets); ABS protocol for access and benefit
sharing of genetic resources; Strategy Resource Mobilisation.

32

submitted to it for transmission to parliament. Members’ recommendations areattached to the reports on transmission.
− Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE): the third constitutional
assembly of the French Republic. As a forum for dialogue and debate, the CESE
promotes collaboration between representatives drawn from across society and ensuresthat they are involved in French economic, social and environmental policy. It isregularly consulted on the implementation of the NBS.

33

Annexe 1: Subscription to the NBS
National Biodiversity Strategy:

constitutes the French response to the Convention on Biological Diversity and its strategic plan;
is linked to the European Biodiversity Strategy ;constitutes one of the challenges of the National Sustainable Development Strategy (SNDD) ;is a response to the Grenelle Environment Forum commitments

We subscribe:to the vision, mission and governance principles of the National
Biodiversity Strategy (2011-2020):
MissionTo preserve, restore, reinforce and value biodiversity
ensuring sustainable and equitable use.
To involve everyone and every sector of activity, in order to succeed.

And its strategic goals and targets :A) Generate the willingness to act
in favour of biodiversity
B) Preserve life and its ability to
evolveC) Invest in a common good: ourecological capital

Strategic goals
D) Ensure sustainable and equitable use of
biodiversity
E) Ensure consistency across policies and theeffectiveness of actionsF) Develop, share and promote knowledge

And we decide to:-disseminate and promote this strategy and its procedural rules throughinformation and education within our networks and among our partners
share the lessons learned from our experiences in promoting biodiversity
familiarise ourselves and others with the tools proposed by the strategy in order toinitiate actions;
explore, within 18 months, the possibility of and the circumstances for
implementing a voluntary declaration of commitment within the framework of ouractivities and to notify the Ministry of Sustainable Development acting as the NBS
Secretariat of our decision.
Name of subscribing organisation:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Authorised signatory within the organisation: (Name and role)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Designated biodiversity correspondent (Name and role)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Tel/Fax: ……………………………………………………… Email:……………………………………………………
Date, signature and organisation stamp :34

Annexe 2: Results of the public
consultation on the NBS
In line with the Grenelle Environment Form, the Ministry for Sustainable Development, inagreement with the Review Committee, organised a public consultation* in order to involve
citizens in the development of the NBS 2011-2020. A questionnaire was made available
online from 22 March to 15 April 2011 on the Ministry website. Online respondents were able
to give their opinions on potential future priorities and to suggest practical steps to promotebiodiversity. These opinions and suggestions were taken into consideration by the NBS
Review Committee during the drafting of the Strategy.
During the three-week consultation period, 6,312 citizens took the opportunity to express theirviews about biodiversity and the NBS review. In the wake of the International Year of
Biodiversity, this strong public response confirms that the preservation of life is now aconcern shared by French society as a whole.

A strong commitment to the NBS document
Of the 22 questions addressed to those respondents, several provided an opportunity to assessthe degree of commitment on the part of the public to some components of the NBS
document. The results were decisive: the NBS document won the large-scale approval ofinternet respondents.
The NBS targets were particularly popular. The majority of respondents considered them tobe “crucial” or “important”12. The following preferences were expressed as part of the general
support for the targets. Targets relating to more traditional approaches based on preserving
living organisms and sustainable development were more popular. Therefore Target 6"Preserve and restore ecosystems and their functioning" and Target 11 "Control pressures on
biodiversity" emerged as the highest priorities. By contrast, targets relating to more
contemporary approaches based on the valuing of biodiversity in economic terms, were met
with scepticism by most respondents. For example, 19% of respondents considered Target 13"Share equitably the benefits arising out of the use of biodiversity" to be "not important". This
rejection, although relative, should be considered in relation to the hostile response of
respondents to the notion of patenting living organisms, to which Target 13 could appear to beconnected.

12Question 16 in the survey : "Please state your opinon on the following priorities which may be included in theforthcoming National Biodiversity Strategy: how do you rate the following in order of importance:" offered respondents 16
out of 20 targets from the NBS. Respondents were asked to indicate whether they found each target "crucial", "important" or"not important".

35

Numerous proposals and clear expectations
Although the survey process allowed citizens to provide their opinions on targeted elementsof the NBS document, the survey process established by the Ministry also provided a forum
for freer forms of expression.
Survey respondents were notably invited to suggest one to three courses of action:
13, 824 suggestions were received in this way. This figure demonstrates the level ofengagement on the part of civil society with biodiversity issues. The actions suggested werevaried, both thematically and in their level of detail. Most involved raising awareness.
Governance issues also attracted a great deal of attention.
A selection of these practical proposals will be used within the framework of the work on the
Action Guide, a methodological resource for the implementation of the NBS. Furthermore,
the NBS Review Committee, noted a number of general expectations from the subtext of
responses to the consultation. They focus on:
The need for significant involvement on the part of the public authorities
A new political willingness must emerge in the sphere of biodiversity. This involves theimplementation of a clear approach whose progress in the field must be concrete andverifiable. This approach involves major political decisions on key issues: agriculture, spatial
development, energy, industry, etc. The role of the state and the involvement of politicaldecision-makers is crucial. In parallel, local and regional authorities must also strive tomainstream biodiversity issues in the regions or territories.
The need to create synergies
Based on a large number of responses, several categories of stakeholder have expressed aneed for recognition of their day to day commitment to biodiversity. The hunting community,
farmers and members of non-profit associations in particular have voiced their opinions on
this matter. There is no shortage of willingness to act. However, these groups may come into
conflict, resulting in the stigmatisation of some stakeholders. In order to foster the growth ofeffective collective action, there must be a focus on creating synergies between stakeholders
or providing the necessary arbitration mechanisms.
The need to continue to raise awarenessIf society is to progress towards greater mainstreaming of biodiversity, there must be
increased focus on raising awareness. Particular attention must be paid to raising awarenessamong young people and in this respect, schools are more crucial than ever. Less
institutionalised forms of education and awareness raising should also be developed,
especially with a view to creating or restoring a clear link between the general public andnature. Although steps to raise awareness must initially target children and young people,
other adult groups should not be overlooked so that awareness is ultimately raised across thewhole of society.

36Annexe 3: Mapping between the Aichi
Targets (CBD strategic plan) and the
NBS targets
NBS targets

CBD Strategic Plan Goals (Aichi Targets)

NBS 2011-2020

CBD Target 17: By 2015, each party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced implementing, an effective,
participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan.

Target 1 Foster,, enhanceand share a common
nature-oriented culture

CBD Target 1: By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve it and use
it sustainably.

Target 3 Turn biodiversity
into a positive issue fordecision-makers

CBD Target 2: By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty
reduction strategies and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems

Target 4 Preserve species
and their diversity

CBD Target 12: By 2020, the extinction of threatened species has been prevented and the conservation status, particularly of thosemost in decline, has been improved and sustained.
CBD Target 13: By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants, and farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives,
including other socio-economically valuable species, is maintained and strategies have been developed and implemented forminimising genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity.

Target 5 Build a green
infrastructure including a
coherent network ofprotected areas

CBD Target 11: By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10% of marine and coastal areas, especially areas ofparticular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively managed, ecologically representative
and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into wider
landscapes and seascapes.

Target 6 Preserve andrestore ecosystems andtheir functioning

CBD Target 11: By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10% of marine and coastal areas, especially areas ofparticular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively managed, ecologically representative
and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into wider
landscapes and seascapes.
CBD Target 14: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health,
livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous populations and thepoor and vulnerable.
CBD Target 15: By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced throughconservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15% of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change
mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification.

Target 7 Include
preservation of
biodiversity in economic
decisions

CBD Target 2 CBD: By 2020, at the latest, the values of biodiversity are integrated into national and local development and poverty
reduction strategies and integrated into national accounts, where required and reporting systems

Target 8 Develop
innovations for andthrough biodiversity

CBD Target 4: By 2020, at the latest, governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have
implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe
ecological limits.

CBD Target 3: By 2020 at the latest, incentives, including subsidies harmful to biodiversity, are eliminated, phased out or reformed inorder to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity aredeveloped and applied consistent and in harmony with the terms of the Convention and other relevant international obligations,taking into account national socio-economic conditions.

CBD Target 18: By 2020, traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for theconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and their customary use of biological resources are respected subject to national
legislation and relevant international obligations and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention, with thefull and effective participation of indigenous and local communities at all relevant levels.
CBD Target 19: By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status andtrends, and the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied.
Target 9 Develop andperpetuate resources forbiodiversity

CBD Target 20: By 2020, at the latest, the mobilisation of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all sources and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource
Mobilisation should increase substantially from the current levels. This target will be subject to changes contingent to resource needs
assessments to be developed and reported by Parties.

Target 11 Control

CBD Target 5: By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved, and where feasible brought close

37

pressures on biodiversity

to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.
CBD Target 8: By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem
function and biodiversity.
CBD Target 9: By 2020, alien invasive species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or
eradicated and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.
CBD Target 10: By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs and other vulnerable marine and coastal ecosystems
impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimised, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning

Target 12 Safeguardsustainability of biologicalresource use

CBD Target 4: By 2020, at the latest, governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have
implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe
ecological limits.
CBD Target 6: By 2020, all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably and legally, and by
applying ecosystem-based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted
species, fisheries no longer have significant adverse impacts on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts offisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within safe ecological limits.
CBD Target 7: By 2020, zones under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of
biodiversity.

Target 13 Share equitably
the benefits arising out of
the utilisation of
biodiversity on all scales

CBD Target 16: By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arisingfrom their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation.

Target 14 Ensure
consistency across public
policies on all scales

CBD Target 3: By 2020 at the latest, incentives, including subsidies harmful to biodiversity, are eliminated, phased out or reformed inorder to minimize or avoid negative impacts and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity aredeveloped and applied consistent and in harmony with the terms of the Convention and other relevant international obligations,taking into account national socio-economic conditions.
CBD Target 17: By 2015, each party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced implementing, en effective,
participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan.

Target 18 Develop,
research, organise andperpetuate the production,
analysis, sharing anddissemination ofknowledge

CBD Target 18: By 2020, traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for theconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and their customary use of biological resources are respected subject to national
legislation and relevant international obligations and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention, with thefull and effective participation of indigenous and local communities at all relevant levels.
CBD Target 19: By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status andtrends, and the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied.

The 20 Aichi Targets are reflected in one or more of the NBS goals which are formulated in
more general terms.
This is not the case for the following NBS goals: Target 2:Reinforce mobilisation and citizen
initiatives, Target 10: Turn biodiversity into a driver for development and for regional
cooperation in the overseas entities, Target 15: Ensure ecological efficiency of public andprivate projects, Target 16: Develop national and international solidarity amongst
territories, Target 17: Reinforce green diplomacy and international governance forbiodiversity, Target 19: Improve expertise in order to build capacity to anticipate and act,
mobilising all sources of knowledge, Target 20: Develop and organise mainstreaming of
biodiversity issues in all education and training courses.

38Abbreviations and acronyms
ABS: Access and benefit sharing of genetic resources.
CAP: Common Agricultural Policy.
CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity.
CESE: Comité économique et social et environnemental, Economic, Social andEnvironmental Committee.
CFP: Common Fisheries Policy.
CIOM: Conseil interministériel de l'outre-mer, Interministerial Council for Overseas
Territories.
CNDDGE: Comité national du développement durable et du Grenelle de l’environnement,
Grenelle Environment Forum National Sustainable Development Committee.
CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility.
IPBES: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
MEA: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
MEDDTL: Ministère de l'écologie, du développement durable, des transports et du logement,
Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing.
ONB: Observatoire national de la biodiversité, National Biodiversity Observatory.
SNB: Stratégie nationale pour la biodiversité, National Biodiversity Strategy.
SNDD: Stratégie nationale de développement durable, National Sustainable Development
Strategy.
SRB: Stratégie régionale pour la biodiversité, Regional Biodiversity Strategy.
TEEB: The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity.
TVB: Trame verte et bleue, Green and blue infrastructure.
IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
WEO: World Environment Organisation.
WWF: World Wildlife Fund.
39

Glossary
Biodiversity: designates the diversity of living organisms. This diversity is reflected in andcontributes to all levels of organisation of life: diversity of species, diversity within a species
or between the individuals comprising a species at a given point and ecological diversity
involving the association of species (biocenosis) in a particular environment (biotope).
Co-construction: A process of reaching a decision on a joint basis involving all stakeholders
based on discussions and consultations deemed useful by the stakeholders; the authority
remains responsible for arbitration on points where there is no consensus.
Discussions: A broad approach involving asking for advice on a plan by consulting parties
interested in the decision, before it is taken. The authority wishing to make a decision presents
it to the people concerned and initiates a dialogue with them. The authority is free to maketheir own decision. Discussions can take place very early in the decision-making process.
Consultation: The process by which decision-makers ask the advice of the population inorder to establish their opinions, expectations and needs at any stage of a project. Those
consulted do not however have any guarantee that their contributions will be taken into
account in the final decision.
Ecological capital: resources such as minerals, plants, animals and air in the terrestrial
biosphere viewed as means of production of ecosystem goods and services: oxygen
production, natural water treatment, prevention of erosion, crop pollination and even theprovision of leisure services. It is one of the 5 types of capital producing wealth, together
with human, financial, social and physical capital.
Ecological effectiveness: the ability of a project to minimise its negative impact on
biodiversity and maximise positive impacts (in the same way as economic effectivenessinvolves achieving the maximum return from economic capital).
Ecological infrastructure: This concept reflects the will to integrate, preserve and restore
natural spaces in town and country planning and management decisions and to recognize theimportant contribution they make to human societies as regards the services they deliver, on apar with man-made infrastructures.
Ecological solidarity: a close interdependence between human beings, between humans andthe natural or built environment of two geographic areas be they adjacent or not (R. Mathevet,
CNRS report). It designates both a “common destiny” which exists between man and his
environment and the willingness to influence the various components of this community in apositive way.

40

Ecosystem services: the utilisation by mankind of the ecological functions of certain
ecosystems through uses and regulations which frame this use. In the interests of simplicity,
we say that ecosystems “deliver” or “produce” services. However, an ecological function only
takes the form of a service to man if social practices recognise the usefulness of the ecological
function for human well-being. For example the production of oxygen in the air, natural water
treatment, resources which feed domestic or hunted animals, the activity of crop pollinators,
micro-organisms which produce and maintain soil, natural carbon sequestration in wood, soil,
the oceans and subsoils, or continuous recycling of nutrients and of the necromass by animals,
fungi and bacteria.
Equitable: whose benefits are shared fairly.
Expertise: assistance with decision-making based on technical or scientific facts, incircumstances where a decision-maker finds themselves faced with issues which are beyond
the scope of their knowledge.
Global change: a concept covering changes in the biosphere (such as climate change andchange of soil use) and changes in societies caused by globalisation.
Green and blue infrastructure: a structural approach which consists of including thepreservation and restoration of ecological continuities in spatial planning decisions. It
includes a green component, which refers to natural and semi-natural terrestrial environments,
and a blue component, which refers to the aquatic and wetland network (rivers and streams,
wetlands, etc.).
Knowledge: the sum of known things. Scientific knowledge is one of the main forms ofknowledge. There are many types of knowledge which, without being scientific, arenevertheless appropriate for their purpose: know-how (arts and crafts, being able to swimetc.), speaking foreign languages, familiarity with traditions, legends, customs or ideas
relating to a particular culture (traditional knowledge) or even knowledge relating to a given
society or humanity in general (knowing what a hammer is for and that water extinguishesfire).
Nature: the physical and biological environment in which human societies evolve. This isoften contrasted with the notion of culture, which is peculiar to humankind; nature is
generally considered to lie outside culture.
.
Regional cooperation: cooperation between several territories in the same part of the world,
for example between countries and overseas collectivities in the Caribbean or Pacific, etc.
Sustainable: which can last over the long term. “Sustainable development is development
which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs” .

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www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr
Ministère de l’Écologie,
du Développement durable,
des Transports et du Logement
92055 La Défense Cedex
Tél. 01 40 81 21 22