To mark World Wetlands Day, the French National Biodiversity Observatory (NBO) has published an overview of the state of biodiversity in French wetlands, written in partnership with Tour du Valat.
To mark World Wetlands Day*, the French National Biodiversité Observatory (NBO) is releasing a 12-page thematic publication summarizing the key figures for its wetlands indicators.
Marshes, lagoons, estuaries, mangroves… Situated between land and water, wetlands are veritable biodiversity “hotspots”, indispensable to many plant and animal species. They also provide humans with numerous ecosystem services, as well as essential resources – water, food, cool islands, materials, habitats, etc. – for their social, economic and cultural activities. – for their social, economic and cultural activities. For example, one in eight people in the world derives food or useful materials for daily life from them.
In France, around 30% of the country’s total surface area is suitable for wetlands.
Although their current surface area in France is a source of debate, the most likely range is between 15 and 20% of the French territory still covered by wetlands at the dawn of the 21st century. But wetlands are still highly threatened by human pressures and continue to disappear, despite the protection and restoration measures implemented in recent years.
It is more important than ever to continue our preservation efforts, especially as many of them are already bearing fruit: for example, various species of waterbirds, as well as otters and beavers, are seeing their populations increase again. Two indicators that encourage us to step up our efforts to protect and restore these essential environments.
This ONB document was written in partnership with Tour du Valat, Ramsar France, OFB, SDES, Agence de l’Eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse, Forum des Marais Atlantiques, DEB of the French Ministry of Ecology, and IOWater.
Discover the former Camargue salt marshes and find out more about the key figures for wetlands in this OFB video (4 minutes) :
