Spread over 6 704 ha and 14 communes (12 in the Doubs and 2 in the Jura), the glacial footprint has left a unique geomorphology, which today offers a great diversity of environments and species.
The watershed corresponds to that of Drugeon and its hairy stream, afferences and reaches. The Drugeon has its source in
the mountains of Laveron and Mont Noir on the heights of the lakes of Remoray and Saint-Point where it bears the name of
Bief Belin and Ru de Chantegrue. It flows into the Doubs, about thirty kilometers further downstream of Pontarlier.
Nous avons particulièrement fiers d’intégrer la liste verte de l’UICN, d’autant plus que nous sommes le premier site Natura 2000 à être labellisé. Cette inscription reconnaît l’efficacité de plus de 20 ans de gestion de la vallée du Drugeon
Conservation
Good governance
Community benefits
We are glad that efficient management and good state of conservation of 7 new French sites have been recognized by the Green List Program! I have no doubt they will constitute inspirational sources and new references for future applicants. Diversity and richness of habitats, species, governance systems and protection status of French Continental and Overseas territories are now well represented by those 22 Greenlisted sites. They will very soon be engaged in the creation of the Francophone Green List network and globally contribute to the international influence of the Green List.
The Natura 2000 site in the Drugeon basin is designated both under the Birds Directive (Special Protection Area) and under the Habitats Directive (Special Conservation Area), with a surface area of 6,520 ha and 6 704 ha.
The Drugeon Basin is also an international wetland of the Ramsar Convention, home to a regional nature reserve “the peat bogs of Frasne-Bouverans” and “la Seigne des Barbouillons”, as well as a site Sensitive Natural Spaces of the Department “the lake of Bouverans and the marsh of Varot”.
Spread over 6 704 ha and 14 communes (12 in the Doubs and 2 in the Jura), the glacial footprint has left a unique geomorphology, which today offers a great diversity of environments and species.
The watershed corresponds to that of Drugeon and its hairy stream, afferences and reaches. The Drugeon has its source in the mountains of Laveron and Mont Noir on the heights of the lakes of Remoray and Saint-Point where it bears the name of Bief Belin and Ru de Chantegrue. It flows into the Doubs, about thirty kilometers further downstream of Pontarlier.
Outcome of EAGL Vote on Site
Consensus
EAGL Summary
Pillar 1: Fair Governance The EAGL acknowledges that The Mixed Union of Aquatic Environments of the Haut-Doubs, operator of the Natura 2000 site, is legitimized in the management of this site by a strong support from local elected officials, who created this site, as well as socio-professionals. The Steering Committee ensures concertation and consultation with stakeholders in decision-making on the management of the site, none of whom are opposed to the project. Moreover, the human resources made available by the operator are considered adequate by the EAGL. The EAGL considers that the Drugeon Basin – Natura 2000 site has achieved all the standards of Pillar 1 of the Green List.
Pillar 2: Robust Planning The Natura 2000 site was originally well designed, incorporating the natural and cultural heritage environments and habitats associated with the Drugeon river. It is also composed of a regional nature reserve, a Sensitive Natural Areas and a Prefectural Order for the Protection of Biotope. These tools allow the application of regulations specific to each of the key values protected in areas of higher stakes. The impact of the site on its socio-economic context is known and developed in the management plan (DOCOB) but is not the subject of socio-economic studies per se. Climate change issues are taken into account and anticipated, in particular in the context of the Drugeon river’s renaturation. The main threats are identified and are related to the intensification of agricultural practices, drinking water catchments and visiting practices on its periphery in particular. The issue concerning the intensification of agricultural practices on the periphery and within the Natura 2000 site raises questions from the EAGL about their sustainability and compatibility with biodiversity issues in a near future. The EAGL considers that the Drugeon Basin – Natura 2000 site has achieved all the standards of Pillar 2 of the Green List. However, the EAGL encourages the operator to remain attentive to the evolution of agricultural practices on the site.
Pillar 3: Effective Management Some identified threats can be addressed like rectification of the Drugeon’s bed through successful and appropriate restoration operations by local actors, or the drainage of wetlands. On the other hand, as already stated , the intensification of agricultural practices, drinking water catchments or urban intensification in the vicinity are threats for which the operator is not in control. It should be noted, however, that thanks to the involvement of local elected officials in the management of the Natura 2000 site, these issues are known and have been well addressed so far (limitation of intensive catchments, presence of very few farm owners…). The EAGL acknowledges here the key benefit of the Natura 2000 contracts : The aid granted to farmers under the Natura 2000 scheme has a positive impact on maintaining practices compatible with the management o fkey values on site. The EAGL considers that the Drugeon Basin – Natura 2000 site has achieved all the standards of Pillar 3 of the Green List. However, the EAGL encourages the operator to remain attentive to the evolution of agricultural practices on the site.
Pillar 4: Successful Conservation Considering the means of action allocated to Natura 2000 site operators, the working group considers that the results achieved in terms of conservation of natural and cultural and key values, and ecosystem services are being achieved. This is especially the case for key habitats (peat bogs, Drugeon, associated environments, etc.). The EAGL considers that flora and fauna are in better condition than when the site was created. Moreover, local cultural values related to peat exploitation are preserved and valued. The EAGL considers that the Drugeon Basin Natura 2000 site has achieved all the standards of Pillar 4 of the Green List.
Decision Following the review of the application of the Drugeon Basin Natura 2000 site, the EAGL welcomed the remarkable efforts of the team of managers for the conservation of the values of the site and underlined the quality and completeness of the file. On the basis of these elements, the EAGL voted in majority in favor of the inscription of the Drugeon Basin Natura 2000 site on the protected areas green list with 10 votes in favour. The EAGL recommends to remain vigilant about local agricultural practices and their compatibility with natural key values and ecological processes. The sites’s visit report is available on another platform for the reviewer and Committee anytime.
Reviewer Summary
The Reviewer validates the GL process of the “Site Natura 2000 Bassin du Drugeon” as being in compliance with the rules and procedures of the User Manual. During the EAGL meeting on March 4, the Site Representative made a well-argued yet transparent presentation of the site self-assessment and showed a good understanding of the GL standard and its indicators, also valuing the support of the site’s Mentor in this regard. It is worth noting that the French GL jurisdiction makes consistent use of the Mentor mechanism, as all candidate sites are assigned a Mentor, with GL experience (as they are often themselves representatives of existing Green Listed sites) to guide them through the GL application process. The EAGL then proceeded with the site visit feedback and their vote (in the absence of the site representative and mentor. The Reviewer attended the whole discussion remotely. All relevant information and documentation were shared with the EAGL members and the Reviewer prior to the EAGL meeting and all required information and documentation are available on COMPASS (except for the site visit report (for confidentiality reasons), which will be shared with the GL Committee before their meeting). At the end of the discussion, the EAGL nominated, by a majority vote, the site for the Green List, recommending the site to keep monitoring the management of some threats, such as the agriculture intensification. This point together with the overall outcome of the EAGL assessment are clearly reflected in the EAGL final report on the PA in COMPASS. Regarding the indicators considered as non-applicable given the site’s Natura 2000 designation, the Reviewer recommends the EAGL to take this new aspect into consideration in its next Indicator adaptation (the “Site Natura 2000 Bassin du Drugeon” is the first French Natura 2000 site to apply for the Green List).
The Reviewer validates the site GL process of this site and submits the site to Green List Committee for their final decision.
