MEDIA KIT
International conference « Life Défense Nature 2mil »
held from 28 to 30 June 2016, in Nimes, France
RECONCILE OPERATIONAL TRAINING WITH BIODIVERSITY PRESERVATION
ON MILITARY CAMPS
Press contacts :
Conservatoire d’espaces
naturels Rhône-Alpes
Nathalie Melcion
Tél : (00 33) 4 72 31 84 50
(00 33) 6 18 52 75 44
[email protected]
Secrétariat général pour
l’administration
Romain David
Tél : (00 33) 9 88 68 62 36
(00 33) 6 31 18 93 14
romain.david@intradef.
gouv.fr
DICoD
Centre de presse
Tél : (0033) 9 88 67 33 33
[email protected]
SOMMAIRE
Editorial……………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………….……………………..3
Presentation of the « Life Défense Nature 2Mil » conference….….......………………………………….……………..…………..……….4
Focus on the French Army's environmental policy…………………………………………………………….……..……………………...…..... 6
The Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Rhône-Alpes, coordinator of the « Life Défense Nature 2mil » project..….……..7
Conference programme……………………………………………………….…………………………………………………..………..…………………….8
Practical informations……………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….…….……….……….13
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EDITORIAL
1200 hectares of dry grasslands and woodlands on the military camp of Valbonne (Ain), 1637 ha of forest habitats,
moorlands and ponds on the Montmorillon site (Vienne), remarkable humid atlantic moorlands on the Souge camp
(Gironde). Regarding to their size and the diversity of their natural spaces, military bases can be considered as
unique lands.
The conservatories of natural spaces, known in France as CEN, understood this very early. Thus, right from 1997, a
first partnership was established between the Montmorillon military base and the Poitou-Charentes Conservatory.
Afterwards, five more conventions were signed until September 2009. On that date, the Ministry of Defence and the
Federation of natural spaces conservatories reinforced this partnership by signing a framework national convention,
in attendance of the French Minister of Ecology. Since that, numerous conventions have been signed at a local scale
on more than 30 military bases. On those bases, biodiversity benefits now from a monitoring and concerted
management's actions.
Supported by the CEN Rhône-Alpes, the « Life Defence Nature 2mil » project contributes to the development of
creative and successful cooperation between both institutions. Thanks to demonstrative restoration actions on four
military bases in the southeast quarter of France and thanks to awareness and training actions, this project has
strengthened dialogue and mutual knowledge between militaries and managers, at all levels. Moreover, it
contributed to the federation of a real network of actors for the preservation of the military lands' biodiversity.
This seminar, taking place in June in Nîmes, offers European dimension to initiatives in favor of biodiversity.
Biodiversity has no borders and the issues related to its preservation on the military camps form a common feature
with many countries. These exchanges which are now at European and international scales are due to continue in
order to share our experience and show ambition for the future. Given the opportunities offered by the Biodiversity
Act, territories with no more military purpose should be entrusted to CEN while remaining the state property. Let's
hope these successful partnerships on the training camps will inspire new initiatives in other territories.
The President of Federation of natural spaces conservatories,
Pascal Vautier
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PRESENTATION OF « LIFE DÉFENSE NATURE 2MIL » CONFERENCE
The French Ministry of Defence and the Conservatoire d’espaces naturels Rhône-Alpes (a NGO specialized on
biodiversity management) organize an international conference “Reconcile operational training with biodiversity
preservation on military camps”.
It will be held from 28th to 30th of June, 2016, in Nîmes (south of France). On Tuesday, 28 June, and Thursday, 30
June, the conference will take place at the Nîmes national Police Academy. On Wednesday, 29 June, participants will
have the opportunity to visit the Garrigues camp, managed by the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, to discover
military activities and biodiversity restoration actions on the camp.
The conference is organized in the framework of the “Life Défense Nature 2mil” project, the first European project
dedicated to biodiversity on French military lands. It is coordinated by the Conservatoire d’espaces naturels RhôneAlpes.
The French Ministry of Defence owns 250 000 hectares of land. Preserved from urbanization and intensive
agriculture since the beginning of last century, military sites are obvious biodiversity reservoirs and have become
more and more valuable. In order to protect its biodiversity, the French Ministry of Defense, the Conservatoire
d’espaces naturels Rhône-Alpes and their partners – the Conservatoire d’espaces naturels Provence-Alpes-Côte
d’Azur, the Conservatoire d’espaces naturels Corse and the Syndicat mixte des gorges du Gardon – have come
together in the “Life Défense Nature Defense 2mil” project. This partnership aims to ensure effective coordination
between military manoeuvre, shooting activities and biodiversity protection . The project began in October 2012
and will end by September 2016. The total budget is 2 128 061€.
As part of the project, conclusive restoration and conservation actions have been conducted to protect vulnerable
habitats and species on four exceptional locations in south-eastern France :
Garrigues Camp (Gard)
Dedicated to military operational preparation, the Garrigues Camp – literally
“Scrublands camp” - shelters numerous rare and protected birds of prey and
passerines.
The 2nd Foreign Regiment Infantry (2nd REI) and the Joint Union of the Gardon
gorges (SMGG) implement actions to sustain the presence of these birds such as :
> The restoration of dry grasslands thanks to pastoralism ;
> The development of specific species that can potentially provide food for the
birds on the site.
Chambaran Camp (Drôme - Isère)
On this military camp of intensive training, the 7th Battalion of Alpine Hunters
(7th BCA) and the Conservatoire d’espaces naturels Rhône-Alpes participate
in :
> The restoration of its numerous rare and protected bodies of water;
> Improving hunting ground and breeding habitats for forest bats.
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Mont Caume (Var)
Mount Caume is a former military site used for the protection of Toulon harbor.
This field is accessible to the public, therefore it is susceptible to damages. In this
hotspot of biodiversity, the aims of our action are :
> To restore habitats for bats on military structures as well as on dry grasslands ;
> To preserve these environments by raising public awareness thanks to
interpretive trail about ecology and military history.
Aspretto Naval Base (southern Corsica)
In Aspretto Naval Base, the port seawall supports a unique breeding site for the
Audouin Gull (60 to 70% of the total French population). In 2010, the seawall
nesting place was damaged due to a storm. Thanks to the “Life Défense Nature
2mil” project, the seawall was restored. Nesting locations were also created and
an entrance gate constructed, to ensure the long-term protection of the Gulls
and a tranquil environment for the breeding pairs of birds.
Further information about the “Life Défense Nature 2mil” project are available on its website :
http://www.lifeterrainsmilitaires.fr/index.php/en/
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FOCUS ON THE FRENCH ARMY’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The French Army plays a prominant role in the environmental field since it occupies almost 70 % of the MoD’s estate
(170,000 ha of land - 420,000 ac). Due to the nature of its activities and to the natural areas it uses for operational
purposes, the French Army participates actively in the MoD’s environmental strategy and is particularly involved in
the sustainable management of its training areas, biodiversity issues included.
In order for the Army to control operational readiness issues, every environmental action/project shall:
develop the economic, ecological and social potential of military lands,
preserve the necessary balance between the Defense and environmental sensitiveness and interests at stake,
be compatible with current and future operational readiness activities requirements (e.g.: opening up of natural
environments by grazing/grinding/mowing; fire-fighting by maintaining firebreaks; picking-exporting-recycling of
green wastes).
The “LIFE Défense Nature 2mil” project shows the successful conciliation between operational readiness
imperatives and environmental issues on the Garrigues and Chambaran military camps. It therefore contributes to
the full and long lasting usage of military areas.
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THE CONSERVATOIRE D’ESPACES NATURELS RHONE-ALPES
The Conservatoire d’espaces naturels (CEN) Rhône-Alpes - Rhône-Alpes natural spaces conservatory - coordinates
the “Life Défense Nature 2mil” project.
Member of a French network uniting 29 Conservatoires d’espaces naturels, the Conservatoire d’espaces naturels
Rhône-Alpes is a NGO specialized on biodiversity management in the Rhône-Alpes region. For more than 25 years, it
has worked with local stakeholders to define and implement habitats restoration and conservation activities. The
Conservatoire also supports and provides relevant expertise to local authorities and technical operators involved in
natural spaces management.
Through the composition of its board and its steering committees, the Conservatoire listens to and deals with each
shade of opinion in French rural areas (elected officials, owners, farmers, hunters, fishermen, naturalists, forest
managers and forest operators, etc.)
Thanks to its concerted approach and its links with local stakeholders, the Conservatoire develops and supports
many projects whose purpose is to take care of our natural heritage and to take it into account in territory projects
and socio-economic activities.
The Conservatoire Rhône-Alpes plays a direct role in five departments (Ain, Ardèche, Drôme, Loire and Rhône), and
works in partnership with other NGOs in the other parts of the Rhône-Alpes region (Isère, Savoie, Haute-Savoie) and
the Auvergne region (Allier, Cantal, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme).
www.cen-rhonealpes.fr
www.reseau-cen.org
Longstanding partnership with the Defence
A first partnership was established in the early 90s on the Valbonne military camp (Ain) in order
to avoid bushland expansion and preserve the 1 200 hectares of dry grassland and forests.
A few years later, in September 2009, the French Ministry of Defence and the CEN
(Conservatoires des Espaces Naturels) Federation signed a national partnership agreement. The
formal signature event was attended by the Secretary of State for the Environment.
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PROGRAMME
AGENDA TUESDAY, JUNE 2016, 28th
« BIODIVERSITY ON FRENCH MILITARY CAMPS : A MANAGEMENT BASED ON PARTNERSHIP »
NATIONAL POLICE SCHOOL, NÎMES
LED BY SÉVERINE DELAURIE (MINISTRY OF DEFENCE) AND
PERRINE PARIS-SIDIBÉ (NATURAL SPACES CONSERVATORY, CEN RHÔNE-ALPES)
8:30– 9:00
Welcome and signing of attendance list
09:00 –10:00
OPENING OF THE SEMINAR
Keynote addresses
 Didier Lauga, Prefet, Gard, France
 Monique Boissière, mayor councilor, delegate for the army and veteran’s world,
Nîmes City Hall
 Gil Andreau, Divisional Commissionner, Inter regional Delegate for Recruiting and
Training and Director of the National Police School of Nîmes
 Myriam Achari, Director of Cultural Heritage, Memory and Archives, Ministry of
Defence
 General Christian Bailly, Flag Officer, army staff
 Christophe Aubel, Director of the coming National Biodiversity Agency
 Jacques Lepart, Vice-President of the Federation of Natural Spaces Conservatories,
President of CEN, Languedoc-Roussillon
10:00 – 10:15
« LIFE Program achievements and LIFE projects good practices »
Lucie Trokanova, expert in the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO)
10:15 – 10:30
Presentation of the LIFE Defence Nature 2mil project
 Context, objectives, means, actions and achievements, Perrine Paris-Sidibé, “LIFE”
project coordinator, CEN Rhône-Alpes and Serge Payan, Chief of the Housing Unit,
Lyon Defence Zone (MINDEF)
 Presentation of the comic book « Mission Orchis Militaris » and the film
10 :30– 10 :35
Video-clip of the “LIFE Defence Nature 2mil” project on the Mont-Caume military
base
Biodiversity in France and within the Ministry of Defence
 « Legal framework, actors and main tools», Bastien Coignon, Natura 2000
scientific referent (Ministry of Environment, Energy and Sea)
 « Biodiversity of military territories in France », Elodie Fernault, Network Project
Manager (FCEN) and Pascal Tartary, Environment Project Manager (CEN Aquitaine)
10:35 -11:40
 « The environmental policy of the French Land Force », Colonel Yann
Talbourdel, Head of “Housing and Infrastructure” Office (French Land Force Military
Staff - MINDEF)
 « The « DEFNET » network, interface between the environmental European
law and the Ministry of Defence, Gaël Pradelle, Project Manager, European law
office (Legal Counsel - MINDEF)
11 :40 – 12:00
12 :00 – 13:30
DEBATE
LUNCH BREAK WITH A POSTER SESSION
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13:30 – 13:35
Video-clip of the project « LIFE Defense Nature 2mil » on the Aspretto military base
Examples of institutional and naturalist partnerships at Ministry of Defence
 « Southwest Environmental Defence Local Joint Committee and dynamic of
the institutional partnership in the southwest Defence Zone», Béatrice Rebel,
Chief of the “Environment, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” Unit (Military
Staff of the Defence Zone in Bordeaux- MINDEF)
 « A partnership to protect the bearded eagle : overflight of the breeding
areas by the military planes», Stanislas Prouvost, Deputy Director of Environment
and Real Estate department (Direction of the Archives, Memory and Cultural Heritage
- MINDEF)
13:35 – 15 :00
 « Bats and military territories : issues and partnerships », Audrey Tapiero,
“Chiropteran National Action Plan” Project Manager (FCEN)
 « Partnership between the ONF (Office of National Forests) and the MINDEF,
example of the Canjuers camp », Commander Nicolas Fenart, Manager of
Canjuers branch (ONF) and Raymond Desenclos, Environment Project Manager in the
Canjuers camp, 1st RCA (MINDEF)
 « When military exercises contribute to biodiversity, example of the Auvours’
camp», Olivier Vannucci, Manager of Maine-Anjou branch (CEN Pays de la Loire) and
Commander Nicolas Meynard, Head of prevention and risk management Office (Military Staff of the Defence Zone in Rennes – MINDEF)
 « Record of partnerships in the camps of Mourmelon, Suippes, Moronvilliers,
Sissonne et Mailly», Franck Lamand, Environment Project Manager (Support Unit
of Defence Infrastructure in Châlons - MINDEF)
15:00 – 15:30
DEBATE
15:30 – 15:45
BREAK
15:45 – 15:50
Video-clip of the « LIFE Defence Nature 2mil » project on the Chambaran military
base
French land force and biodiversity : focus on the Garrigues military base
15:50 – 16:30
 « Presentation of the military activities on the Garrigues military base »,
Lieutenant-colonel Eric Hildebert, Commander of the detachment of 2nd REI (MINDEF)
 « Presentation of the natural spaces management arrangements in the
Garrigues military camp », Sandrine Keller, Project Manager (Joint Union of the
Gorges du Gardon)
16:30 – 16 :35
Video-clip of the « LIFE Defence Nature 2mil » project on the Garrigues military
camp
16:35 – 16 :45
QUESTIONS/ANSWERS
16:45 – 17:00
GROUP PICTURE
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AGENDA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2016, 29th
« THE GARRIGUES MILITARY CAMP : A TRAINING AREA WITH A HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE »
GARRIGUES CAMP, NIMES
08:00 – 08:30
Welcome, signing of attendance list and bus departure from Garrigues camp
Training village with a destroyed area
08:30 – 11:00
 Observation of a bee-eater colony; these birds are known as the most
european colourful birds
 Demonstration of a military training
11:00 – 12:00
Presentation of Habitat of community interest
 Conservation of dry grasslands thanks to pastoralism
 Agropastoral equipment: dry-stone ponds, fences, …
12:00 – 13:30
Lunch break in the « Mas Cabane »
13:00 – 15:00
Observation of an operational shooting range
 Shooting activities and military drill
15:00 – 18:00
Observation of the biodiversity of the site
 Reintroduction of cottontail rabbits, main source food for the Bonelli's
Eagle, restoration of dry grasslands thanks to brushwood clearing and
approach of the pyrotechnic risk
 Feeding plot for the Egyptian vulture

SMGG’s Museum Area : the “Gorges du Gardon” landscape
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AGENDA THURSDAY, JUNE 2016, 30
« EXCHANGE AND FEEDBACK AT A EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL »
NATIONAL POLICE SCHOOL, NÎMES
LED BY MORGANE REMY, JOURNALIST AND CAPTAIN ALYSSA HOUADRIA (CIAE LYON - MINDEF)
08:30 – 09:00
Welcome and signing of attendance list
09:00 – 09:30
Biodiversity and army in Europe
 « State of Biodiversity in Europe », Ronan Uhel, Head of Natural System and
Sustainability (NSS) European Environment Agency (EEA)
« European army contribution to biodiversity’s stakes », Ludovic Le Maresquier,
Responsible for Environment Policy, General Directorate for Environment (European
Commission)

Round-table N° 1 : « Actions in favor of vulnerable species or habitats on military
areas»
 « Audouin Gull in the Aspretto naval base», Bernard Recorbet (Deputy head of
biodiversity, water and landscape department - Regional Directorate for
Environment), Commander Denis Fabre (Commander of the naval base of Aspretto,
MINDEF)
 « Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata) in the National School for noncommissioned officers», Justine Vidal, Territorial Project Manager, CEN PoitouCharente
09:30 – 10:30
 « Tetrax Tetrax on the Air-Base 115», Christian Pizzut, Environment Manager (Air
Base 115 Orange-Caritat - MINDEF)
 « Shooting during maritime exercices and Posidonia oceanic protection »,
Commander Lazzarino Stefanelli, Ministry of Defence - Italy
 « Greater Horseshoe Bat” in the Military Training Area Hohenfels», Axel
Schulze-Bierbach, Forestry Director (German Federal Forestry Office)
 «Dry European Calluna Heaths (habitat code 4030) with the bird and carabid
beetle linked communities », Franck Meyer, Director of RANA (German Office for
Ecology and Nature), Germany
10:30 – 10:45
BREAK
Round table N°2 : « Restoration and maintain of open lands in military areas »

« Tree and bush clearing on a 600 ha complex of dune and dry
grassland », Wojciech Mroz, Ecology consultant, Ministry of Defence, Poland
 « Restoration of 1620 ha of different habitats », Ieva Mardega, « Life » project
Coordinator Latvian Ministry of Defence
 « Restoration of 3 000 ha of grass heath on military training camp of
Standford », Robert Hawkes, Moorland management expert - Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds (RSPD)-UK and Lisa Wade, Ecologist, MoD, UK
10:45 – 11:45
 « Implementing pastorisation in Meadow Viper habitat and clearing invasive
tree species», Marton Arvay, Danube-Ipoly National Park Director, Hungary

« Pastoralism on the air base 278 d’Ambérieu-en-Bugey and the military
training area Valbonne», Corine Trentin, Project manager – Site management, CEN
Rhône-Alpes, France
 « Pastoralism on Sissonne military training camp », Loïc Léglise, Project
Manager (CEN
Picardie) and lieutenant-colonel François Granger, Deputy
Commander of the training Center in urban areas (CENZUB)
Round table N° 3 : « Monitoring and assessment of biodiversity on military lands »
 « Monitoring of biodiversity for 26 military areas since 2012 », David Külling,
Doctor in natural sciences, Ministry of Defence, Switzerland
 « The development of an overarching document - called "Land utilization
plan (BB-Plan)" - considers all aspects of the use of military training areas»,
Bettina Quass and Greta Nielsen, Project managers, Ministry of Defence, Germany
 « Breeding birds : monitoring of the biodiversity on 26 military lands and
165 civilian lands since 2012 », Wojciech Mroz, Ecology Consultant Ministry of
Defence, Poland
11:45 – 12:45
 « Implementation of species conservation on training military camps using
good practice guidance », Christian Feuring, Forest manager - German Federal
Forestry Department, Germany
 « The program of monitoring of U.S. military camps in Europe », Nate Whelan,
Manager of the Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) program , US Army in
Europe
 « Biodiversity at USAG Bavaria », Manfred Rieck, Chief of the Environment
Department – US Army garrison in Bavaria

« Boar monitoring in Marche en Famenne and assessment of biodiversity in
Houthalen-Helchteren », Koen Thijs, Regional coordinator, Belgian Agency for
Nature and Forest (Ministry of Environment) and Captain Lies Musch, Material
resources manager (Belgian ministry of Defence)
12:45 – 14:00
LUNCH – POSTER SESSION
14:00 – 15:00
Biodiversity and Army at international level
 « Biodiversity and Army at international level», Jean-Michel Valantin,
Research scientist at the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Peace and Strategic
Studies (CIRPES)
 « The role of biodiversity in peace processes », General Asaf Agmon, Ministry of
Defence, Israel ; General Abu Rashid Mansour, Ministry of Defence, Jordania, Doctor
Yossi Leshem, Professor at Tel Aviv University and Alexandre Roulin, Professor at
Lausanne University
Round table N° 4 : « Awareness program and formation on biodiversity »

«Teaching military personnel to achieve acceptance and implementation of
Natura 2000 objectives », Wolfgang Mattes, Professor at Austrian University of Life
Science

15:00 – 16:00
«Awareness-raising and outreach tools of US Army in UE », Nate Whelan Nate
Whelan, Manager of the Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) program , US
Army in Europe
 «Environmental training and awareness of US Army garrisons in Bavaria»,
Manfred Rieck, Chief of the Environment Department – US Army garrison in Bavaria,
Germany
 « National awareness program of the Life project », Perrine Paris-Sidibé,
Coordinator of the project « Life Defence Nature 2mil » (CEN Rhône-Alpes) and
Lieutenant Raphaël Cogné, Chief of the Environment Unit EMZD Lyon ( MINDEF)
 « Awareness of military staff on air base 278, Ambérieu-en-Bugey and on the
la Valbonne training camp », Corine Trentin, Project Manager (CEN Rhône-Alpes)
16:00 – 16:15
BREAK
16 :15 – 16:30
16 :30 – 17:00
AWARDING THE WINNERS OF POSTER SESSION
3-day SEMINAR CONCLUSION
17:00
CLOSING OF THE SEMINAR
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PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Journalists must register with one the press contacts above and mention the day chosen to visit.
An identity card or passport and a press card (document certifying journalist status) are required to enter the
site.
Meeting point
On Tuesday, 28 June, and Thursday, 30 June:
Ecole nationale de police de Nîmes
286, avenue Clément Ader
30 000 Nîmes.
On Wednesday, 29 June:
We will be meeting at 7h30 a.m. at the Nîmes bus station, or at 8 a.m. on the parking outside the Garrigues
camp. We’ll come back to Nîmes downtown around 6 p.m.
Press Contacts
Conservatoire d’espaces naturels Rhône-Alpes
Nathalie Melcion
Tél : (00 33) 4 72 31 84 50
(00 33) 6 18 52 75 44
[email protected]
Secrétariat général pour l’administration (SGA) du ministère de la Défense
Romain David
Tél : (00 33) 9 88 68 62 36
(00 33) 6 31 18 93 14
[email protected]
Délégation à l’information et à la communication de Défense (DICoD)
Centre de presse
Tél : (00 33) 9 88 67 33 33
[email protected]
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