International community calls for a viable solution to save the Camarguewetlands in France Extra High Voltage line in the Camargue

A coalition of 74 organizations representing 36 countries, including Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands (MAW) members, BirdLife partners, WWF, and others, is urging national and European authorities to address the environmental and socio-economic risks posed by large-scale infrastructure projects in the Camargue, an emblematic Natura 2000 site in Europe.

A key concern is the planned construction of an extra-high-voltage (EHV) overhead power line, which would have severe implications for biodiversity and the region’s socio-economic stability.

In three letters addressed to the French Minister for Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention, the European Commission, and the Secretary of the Bern Convention, the undersigned organizations express deep concern over the growing number of infrastructure projects threatening the Camargue Biosphere Reserve. Particular emphasis is placed on the EHV overhead power line, which could compromise the ecological and cultural integrity of the Camargue.

Key Concerns:

• The proposed 65 km EHV power line would include 180 pylons ranging from 60 to 80 meters in height, crossing four Natura 2000 sites, a national nature reserve, a regional natural park, a Ramsar site, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• The project site lies directly on the migratory flyway between northern Europe and Africa, posing a serious electrocution risk to over 400 bird species, many of which are protected and endangered.
• Beyond ecological threats, the construction of the EHV line would negatively impact agriculture, tourism, and cultural heritage, key economic pillars of the region.
• Public opposition is strong, with over 33,500 signatures on a petition rejecting the project.

Legal and Policy Implications:

The organizations highlight that the EHV project contravenes EU environmental laws, particularly the Nature Restoration Law, and violates France’s commitments under the Bern Convention (Article 4.2), which mandates consideration of conservation requirements in project planning. Additionally, if the project proceeds, UNESCO’s potential withdrawal of the Man & Biosphere label would send a negative message internationally, undermining France and the European Union’s ability to balance climate action with nature conservation.

Call for Alternative Solutions:

An unprecedented local collective of farmers, environmentalists, and stakeholders from the tourism, cultural, and industrial sectors has proposed alternative solutions to the overhead power line. The undersigned organizations call for a thorough evaluation of these alternatives to ensure that carbon neutrality goals align with the protection of the Camargue’s rich biodiversity and heritage.

Note to Editors:

Letters from the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands and partners:

• To the French Minister for Ecological Transition
• To the European Commission
• To International Organizations

🔗 More Information:

• Official Project Page: RTE France – Project Overview
• Least Impact Route Announcement (27 Sept 2024): French Government Site
• Legal Reference (Decree No. 2024-281, 29 March 2024): Legifrance
• Public Petition: Sign the Petition
• Position Statements:
  • Protected Areas Managers
  • French Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
  • MAB France (Man & Biosphere UNESCO)
  • Op-ed from Local Collective Stop THT 13/30

Signatories:

1. Changeons d’avenir (France)
2. Nature et Citoyenneté Crau Camargue Alpilles – NACCICA (France)
3. Agir Pour la Crau (France)
4. XR Arles (France)
5. Wetlands International Europe (Belgium)
6. BirdLife Europe and Central Asia (Belgium)
7. MAB-France (France)
8. WWF France (France)
9. WWF Spain (Spain)
10. Association Ramsar France (France)
11. Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux – LPO / Birdlife France (France)
12. Euronatur (Germany)
13. Doğa Derneği (Türkiye)
14. Youth and Environment Europe (Czech Republic)
15. Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust – WWT (United Kingdom)
16. Eurosite (The Netherlands)
17. Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania – INCA (Albania)
18. BirdLife Sverige (Sweden)
19. The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature – RSCN (Jordan)
20. Center for Protection and Research of Birds – CZIP (Montenegro)
21. Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon – SPNL (Lebanon)
22. Tour du Valat (France)
23. Société Protectrice des Animaux et de la Nature – SPANA (Morocco)
24. Natur- und Vogelschutzverein Steffisburg (Switzerland)
25. Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos – MedINA (Greece)
26. Swiss Society for the Study and Conservation of Birds – Ala (Switzerland)
27. Ornithological Research Center (Türkiye)
28. Naturschutzverein Faunaberna (Switzerland)
29. Grupo de Estudos de Ordenamento do Território e Ambiente – GEOTA (Portugal)
30. Algerian National Association of Ornithology – ANAO (Algeria)
31. GREPOM/BirdLife Morocco (Morocco)
32. Association “Les Amis des Oiseaux” – AAO/BirdLife in Tunisia (Tunisia)
33. Swiss Ornithological Institute (Switzerland)
34. Society for the Protection of Prespa (Greece)
35. Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania – PPNEA (Albania)
36. Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation – MEDSEA (Italy)
37. BirdLife Finland (Finland)
38. Lithuanian Ornithological Society – BirdLife Lithuania (Lithuania)
39. Mediterranean Small Islands Initiative – PIM (France)
40. natur&ëmwelt (Luxembourg)
41. Associação Portuguesa para a Conservação da Biodiversidade – FAPAS (Portugal)
42. Fundación Global Nature (Spain)
43. Associação Natureza Portugal, in association with WWF – ANP|WWF (Portugal)
44. Association Biom – BirdLife Croatia (Croatia)
45. BirdLife Estonia (Estonia)
46. Rewilding France (France)
47. Ornithological Society “Naše ptice” (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
48. SEO/BirdLife (Spain)
49. Palombar – Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural (Portugal)
50. Via Pontica Foundation (Bulgaria)
51. BirdLife Norway (Norway)
52. Libyan Society for Birds – LSB (Libya)
53. Latvian Ornithological Society – LOB (Latvia)
54. Danish Ornithological Society – BirdLife Denmark – DOF (Denmark)
55. Centrum Ochrony Mokradeł (Wetlands Conservation Centre) – CMOK (Poland)
56. Vogelbescherming Nederland / BirdLife Netherlands – VBN (The Netherlands)
57. Nature & Youth Sweden (Sweden)
58. Nederlandse Jeugdbond voor Natuurstudie – NJN (The Netherlands)
59. Sociedade Portuguesa de Ecologia – SPECO (Portugal)
60. Asociación Biodiversa (Spain)
61. Society for Conservation Biology Europe Region – SCB (France)
62. Organization for the Promotion of Ecoclubs – OPE (Portugal)
63. Liga para a Protecção da Natureza – LPN (Portugal)
64. UK Youth Climate Coalition (United Kingdom)
65. Flemish Youth League for Nature & Environment “NATUUR 2000” (Belgium)
66. Environmental Center for Development Education and Networking – EDEN (Albania)
67. Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia – BPSSS (Serbia)
68. Pi Gençlik Derneği (Türkiye)
69. Mladi istraživači Srbije – MIS / Young Researchers of Serbia (Serbia)
70. Buglife (United Kingdom)
71. Ecopolis (Monaco)
72. Almargem (Portugal)
73. Albanian Ornithological Society – AOS (Albania)
74. BirdLife Malta (Malta)

The Camargue, in the south of France, is a unique area renowned for its cultural and natural heritage. France’s largest wetland area (150 000 hectares), the Camargue is the second largest delta in the Mediterranean after the Nile. It is home to exceptional biodiversity, with its marshes, ponds and salt marshes hosting a multitude of species. The Camargue is also an agricultural area. It is home to crops such as rice and vineyards, as well as extensive breeding of bulls and horses, contributing to its local identity and economy. An emblematic site in France and Europe, the Camargue has been shaped over the centuries by nature and man, developing a strong cultural identity and a unique natural heritage. It is a true crossroads between nature and culture.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

The Camargue is a site of international importance, recognised for its unique biodiversity through several protection statutes.

KEY FIGURES

The Camargue is home to exceptional biodiversity: of the 5 700 species inventoried, 44 are mammals (40% of national species), 39 are freshwater fish (more than 50% of French species), 43 are odonates (more than half of national species) and more than 1,000 are flowering plants (20% of French flora), 59 of which are heritage species. It is also a key stage in bird migration between Europe and Africa, as well as a major breeding and wintering site, hosting 400 bird species (75% of national species).

IUCN Red List Species

The IUCN European Red List assesses the conservation status of species on the continent, by ranking their risk of extinction. It is used to guide conservation policies and prioritise actions to protect biodiversity. It is also a tool for monitoring population trends and raising public awareness of the threats to Europe’s flora and fauna.