18
BIODIVERSITÊ ET ENVIRONNEMENT
Deliberate efforts in research on biodiversity and its social, economic and cultu—
ral inferences are now necessary.
Present problems consecutive to biodiversity erosion demand immediate
action. In order to obtain tangible results and prepare future changes operators
must be guided by the necessity of extending our knowledge of protecting biodi—
versity, allowing it to evolve and of careful management of resources. Success in
the field will come if society is informed and has approved the objectives, if
legislation and financial investments are adapted to the dimensions of the goals.
In France individuals, associations, companies, public institutions have
already tackled the biodiversity problems sometimes for years, usually separa—
tely. However the levels of awareness and of tangible achievements as well as the
nancial efforts are low and the domain suffers an obvious lack of coordination.
The French Government must set up au National Policy of Biodiversity in
connection With that of Environment. A specific board, Coordination Natio—
nale de la Biodiversité, should bring it into operation with five priorities:
ll) Initiate a network of Biodiversity Observatories
These bodies will carry the necessary inventories and the ecological recur—
rent survey of the territory. Under the authority of the Ministère de l’Environne—
ment they should be an acting part of the Institut Français de l’Environnement
and get their financial support from it.
2) Set up a National Research Programme on Biodiversity
Its elaboration by the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la
Recherche aims at a development and a rationalisation of the operations
conducted by the public research institutions, the universities and the various
bodies in charge of local management (national parks for example).
3) introduce Biodiversity as a cultural theme in the education and in the
media
The Ministère de l’Education Nationale as well as the Ministère de l’Ensei—
gnement Supérieur et de la Recherche must prepare changes in the education
system.
Students should be introduced to the diversity of the living world, its
or1gms and its intimate contribution to environment. The French Académiedes
sc1ences and the Ministère de la Culture have responsability to develop in
connection
With the media the scientific information the public deserves. Scien—
tists themselves should pay more attention to the social and cultural stakes of
their research.
4) Improve the Management of Biological Resources
Management
should take care of biological resources as a whole. Conse—
quently the implementation
must be carried on at national level by the Minis—
teres de l’Agriculture et de l’Environnement and at local levels by the Regional
Institutions.
5) Bepresent France in international Assemblies and Institutions
Ihe
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères has responsability in the field as well
as in the development of bilateral collaborations. It should be the vector to carry
out the contributions
and the specific proposals of French institutions at a time
when Biodiversity has become a global concern.
BIODIVERSITÊ ET ENVIRONNEMENT
Deliberate efforts in research on biodiversity and its social, economic and cultu—
ral inferences are now necessary.
Present problems consecutive to biodiversity erosion demand immediate
action. In order to obtain tangible results and prepare future changes operators
must be guided by the necessity of extending our knowledge of protecting biodi—
versity, allowing it to evolve and of careful management of resources. Success in
the field will come if society is informed and has approved the objectives, if
legislation and financial investments are adapted to the dimensions of the goals.
In France individuals, associations, companies, public institutions have
already tackled the biodiversity problems sometimes for years, usually separa—
tely. However the levels of awareness and of tangible achievements as well as the
nancial efforts are low and the domain suffers an obvious lack of coordination.
The French Government must set up au National Policy of Biodiversity in
connection With that of Environment. A specific board, Coordination Natio—
nale de la Biodiversité, should bring it into operation with five priorities:
ll) Initiate a network of Biodiversity Observatories
These bodies will carry the necessary inventories and the ecological recur—
rent survey of the territory. Under the authority of the Ministère de l’Environne—
ment they should be an acting part of the Institut Français de l’Environnement
and get their financial support from it.
2) Set up a National Research Programme on Biodiversity
Its elaboration by the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la
Recherche aims at a development and a rationalisation of the operations
conducted by the public research institutions, the universities and the various
bodies in charge of local management (national parks for example).
3) introduce Biodiversity as a cultural theme in the education and in the
media
The Ministère de l’Education Nationale as well as the Ministère de l’Ensei—
gnement Supérieur et de la Recherche must prepare changes in the education
system.
Students should be introduced to the diversity of the living world, its
or1gms and its intimate contribution to environment. The French Académiedes
sc1ences and the Ministère de la Culture have responsability to develop in
connection
With the media the scientific information the public deserves. Scien—
tists themselves should pay more attention to the social and cultural stakes of
their research.
4) Improve the Management of Biological Resources
Management
should take care of biological resources as a whole. Conse—
quently the implementation
must be carried on at national level by the Minis—
teres de l’Agriculture et de l’Environnement and at local levels by the Regional
Institutions.
5) Bepresent France in international Assemblies and Institutions
Ihe
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères has responsability in the field as well
as in the development of bilateral collaborations. It should be the vector to carry
out the contributions
and the specific proposals of French institutions at a time
when Biodiversity has become a global concern.