The council has just authorised new protection of flora and fauna areas in the Nature Zone 2000 treaty. The surface area has been extended to 7,468 hectares from the existing 6,159 hectares. The zone was instigated in 2003 and stretches from Villeneuve Loubet to the Lerins Islands.
The new extension is situated off the headlands of Ilette and Bacon. This important marine area now completes the Nature 2000 zones that include the rivers and gorges of the Loup and the lowlands of the Alps in Grasse on the territory of Sophia Antipolis Agglomeration. This area of marine territory was the only eligible marine zone in the Alpes Maritimes department.
Nature 2000 is an ecological European network set up by the directive 92/43/CEE “Birds” and “Habitat” for the conservation of natural habitat of wild flora and fauna from 21 May 1992. Constantly adapted, the network must fulfil objectives fixed on by the Convention on biological diversity which was adopted at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 and ratified by France in 1996.
Special conservation zones are created to conserve ecological sites with natural habitat of interest to the community where it is situated, be it by its rarity or primordial ecological role that it plays in the eco-system.
Conciliating human activity and nature, Antibes Juan-les-Pins bay was designated Nature Zone 2000 by a panel of experts because of the richness and diversity of flora and fauna, in particular the presence of Posidian herbarium and large areas of corral genus. Interest in this sector is also involved with the presence of groups of dolphins, a species that is similar to the whale and sperm whales.
The directive does not forbid commercial enterprise or sailing but endeavours to make it compatible with the preservation of species and habitat in the zone.
Once the zone has been designated, a Pilot Committee works with State bodies, towns, scientists, professionals and associations to map out objectives relating to the presentation and improvement of the zone and the habitat and unusual species to be found there.
All positive actions to protect the environment are part of the commitment of the Environment Charter which was signed on 21 January 2008.
