New-Aquitaine: Natural Areas of Florist and Wildlife Type 1 Ecological Interests (ZNIEFF 1)

This dataset contains the Natural Areas of Wildlife and Floristic Ecological Interest (ZNIEFF) type 1 (2nd generation), for the New Aquitaine region. The ZNIEFF inventory was launched at the initiative of the Ministry responsible for the Environment in 1982, with the support of the National Museum of Natural History of Paris (MNHN). The ZNIEFF inventory is a national scientific inventory of rare or threatened elements. The ZNIEFF inventories are created and brought to the attention of the contracting authorities in accordance with Articles L. 310-1 and L. 411-5 of the Environmental Code. Type 1 ZNIEFFs are identified and demarcated sites because they contain species or at least one natural habitat type of high ecological, local, regional, national or European value. Habitats and/or species reported by ZNIEFF are often, but not necessarily, protected at one of these levels. Type 2 ZNIEFFs concern natural, rich and unmodified sets with significant biological potentials. They may include several point type 1 zones and intermediate media of lower value but having a functional role and ecological and landscape coherence. ZNIEFFs are elements established on the basis of criteria that relate the presence, within a defined perimeter, of critical species and/or habitats. They therefore inform the contracting authority in the exercise of taking account of environmental issues (Articles L. 121-1, L. 123-1 and R. 123-2 of the Code de l’Urbanisme). The case-law has highlighted the need to provide for the necessary protection of these areas in urban planning documents, as well as their inclusion in analyses of the impacts of development projects. In addition, ZNIEFF inventories often point to the presence of protected species pursuant to Articles L.411-1 to L. 411-6 of the Code de l’Environnement, which provide, in particular, for the prohibition of the destruction of individuals and the prohibition of the destruction or alteration of habitats specific to those protected animal or plant species. Therefore, due attention should be paid in the event of a known or suspected presence (which therefore remains to be confirmed through field studies) of species or habitats of protected species.