Two laws for heritage and landscapes

World Heritage in a law on heritage

The French Ministry of Culture is drafting a law on heritage aimed at updating the current heritage law in line with the recent changes that have taken place in this sector. 

For property listed as a World Heritage, according to the Minister, it will therefore aim to "find the ways and means of better controlling this protection with our national legal tools". 

Likewise, this new law will strengthen the protection of landscapes in view of the current threats of uncontrolled urban sprawl in particular. 

Main objectives of the draft law: 

• Make cultural and natural heritage an intrinsic component of territorial planning
• Gain a better grasp of new heritage forms
• Improve the public's access to heritage
• Modernise the State's role

Online:

• Discours de lancement des 29e journées européennes du patrimoine (September 2013)

Landscapes in a framework law on biodiversity

During the Environmental Conference which took place in September 2012, the French Government undertook to draft a framework law on biodiversity by the end of 2013, considering that it was now essential to set new national objectives in terms of preservation and restoration of biodiversity and to renew both legal tools and means of action. Title 6 of this law should be devoted to landscapes, and may set definitions of methods and tools for landscape policies. 

Following the initiative of the French Ministry of Ecology, consultations were organised at regional and national level, which particularly gave the French Association for World Heritage Properties in France (ABFPM) the opportunity to contribute to thinking on this draft law. 

Download:

• Débat régional sur la biodiversité (DREAL Centre)
• Transition écologique : consultation sur la biodiversité (DREAL Pays de la Loire)