News from March 2024:
Environmental study and fauna/flora inventory
Progress of the work • Published on March 26, 2024
Starting in 2023, the Compagnie des Mines Arédiennes has initiated environmental studies. This involves a three-year study of the flora and fauna and wetlands, an inventory of the species present within the PER perimeters, and habitat mapping.
The program announced for 2024
| Update March 2024 | Realized | In progress | Coming soon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digitization and interpretation of historical archives | |||
| Geological and structural mapping of PER | |||
| Hammer sampling and rock analysis | |||
| Geological reconnaissance drilling campaign | |||
| Environmental studies over three years (from 2023 to 2025) |
Environmental studies and fauna/flora inventory
Environmental studies: what are they for?
Environmental studies precede geological research. They make it possible to establish a ecological diagnosis in the area of research permits by carrying out:
- A fauna and flora inventory with identification of protected species present in the research area.
- A habitat map locating meadows, forests, type of plantations, wetlands.
This diagnosis allows to: identify sensitive areas by their fauna, flora or habitat and to direct geological research towards other less sensitive areas.
Environmental studies: what do we do?
1. Identify ZNIEFFs near exploration permits
The ZNIEFF (Zones Naturelles d'Intérêt Écologique, Faunistique et Floristique) are an inventory of sectors of the national territory presenting rare or remarkable spaces or habitats of great ecological interest.
There is no ZNIEFF listed on PER allocated to the Compagnie des Mines Arédiennes.
2. Identify Natura 2000 sites
These sites aim to take better account of biodiversity human activities. They are designated to protect a number of habitats and species representative of European biodiversity.
There is no Natura 2000 site listed on the PERs allocated to the Compagnie des Mines Arédiennes.
Map of continental and marine ZNIEFF type 1 ©PatriNat 2020
Map of Natura 2000 areas in Metropolitan France (source)
3. Inventory and mapping of natural habitats
This involves identifying habitat types and plotting them on a map: crops, meadows, chestnut, beech and mixed hardwood forests, orchards, moorland, roads and paths, wetlands, urban areas.
Habitat mapping in progress at PER Pierrepinet
4. Bibliographic research
Bibliographic research by consulting data from fauna and flora observatories for inventory the species possibly present in the research permit area.
- Fauna: 75 protected species have been identified: 13 fish, 2 amphibians, 4 bivalves, 25 butterflies, 19 dragonflies, 11 mammals and 1 bird
- Flora: 400 species identified including 3 exotic species, 29 protected species and 84 wetland species
Bibliographic research was carried out on the following databases:
Remarkable fauna and flora identified during bibliographic research:
Pearl mussel
Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758)
4.0 | David NAUDON
Great Murin
Myotis myotis (Borkhausen, 1797)
4.0 | Perrodin Joana
Agrion de Mercure
Coenagrion mercuriale (Carpenter, 1840)
4.0 | Gilles BAILLEUX
Mountain Potentilla
Potentilla montana Brot.,. 1804
Environmental studies: in the field
Following the bibliographic studies, an initial visit to the field was carried out in June 2023 and a program was established for the year 2024 targeting protected species:
- 3 passages for flora in spring and summer
- 7 wildlife crossings between January and September.
These passages, which will be completed in 2025 depending on the results obtained, will make it possible to carry out a precise inventory of the species identified in the field and map sensitive areas, due to the presence of protected fauna or flora species.
The scheduled passages will therefore cover several climatic cycles, over three years from 2023 to 2025.
In the field: wildlife survey in a peerage
In this way, environmental data is integrated upstream to direct future research towards less sensitive areas.
Environmental studies for Compagnie des Mines Arédiennes are carried out by ECOSPHERE.