Protecting species and biodiversity

Published on 17 October 2016 - Updated 16 December 2019

The Loire's alluvial valleys harbour a wide diversity of habitats and species, some of which (freshwater mussel, green gomphid dragonfly) thrive here in a greater concentration than anywhere else nationwide. How can the impact of human activities be controlled on biotopes? How can knowledge of species and biodiversity be enhanced? How can this be factored into territorial planning strategies or development projects?

To know...

  • Situées sur l’un des axes majeurs de migration aviaire entre l’Europe et l’Afrique, le bassin de la Loire bénéficie d’une dynamique fluviale relativement préservée.
  • La conservation de ces espèces nécessite le maintien de leurs habitats et de l’espace de mobilité des cours d’eau dont ils dépendent.
  • Une bonne connaissance documentaires et cartographiques des biotopes, ainsi que de l’impact des activités sur leur préservation, est une étape essentielle pour la conservation des espèces.
  • Diverses mesures de conservation peuvent être engagées, en cohérence avec les dispositifs régionaux et nationaux de conservation de la biodiversité et d’aménagement de l’espace.

The bed of the River Loire 

on the UNESCO website 

is a   

Natura 2000 site 

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How to ?

Protecting species that have made their home in the Loire Valley first and foremost involves improving knowledge of biotopes and analysing the impact of activities on biodiversity. A range of conservation measures can be undertaken, in keeping with regional and national spatial planning and biodiversity and species conservation policies. 

Become familiar with baseline documents and existing schemes

See the tools and methods

Enhance knowledge of biotopes

Identify which activities pose a biodiversity risk and analyse their impact

  • Sailing, tourism
  • Energy generation
  • Irrigation
  • Structure for limiting the river's reach over the territory
  • Use of natural resources
  • Discharge into the natural environment
  • Agriculture

Undertake conservation measures

  • Conservation of heritage spaces
  • Setup of good agricultural practices
  • Consolidation of Green and Blue Infrastructure to protect the mobility area and ecological continuity
  • Restoration of river margins
  • Preservation of remarkable habitats
  • Restoration of environmental sites that have been exploited by humans (quarries, gravel pits)
  • Efforts to tackle invasive species

Harness the communication tools available to promote the approach