Serge Wilmes, the Minister for the Environment, presented a new draft law to the members of the ad hoc committee on Wednesday, which he claimed would better balance the demands of housing construction with the need for environmental protection.
Minister of the Environment Serge Wilmes presented a new draft bill on Wednesday afternoon, aimed at amending the Nature Protection Act. The bill was introduced to deputies during a public parliamentary commission session earlier that day.
Wilmes explained that the proposed changes to the Nature Protection Act aim to strengthen the connection between urban areas and nature. A key feature of the bill is the introduction of an 'urban woodland cover' target. The goal is to encourage local authorities to incorporate more green spaces within urban building perimeters by simplifying the process. Currently, around 40% of municipalities already meet the 20% target for urban woodland cover.
In this context, a tree is defined as a plant that is taller than 1.5 meters, 1.5 meters wide, and covers an area of 1.5 meters by 1.5 meters. If a municipality achieves the 20% urban woodland coverage target, no compensatory measures will be required if the land is built on. These compensatory measures primarily concern European protected species living in the biotopes.
"Today, the fact remains that you have to look after it yourself. It's not the state that buys this land. You have to find land on which you can implement these compensatory measures, so that these species can thrive there. And that's a tough job – you have to find a plot of land where you can recreate the biotopes. And here, we're simply saying that we're taking this on as a community by ensuring that there are enough trees throughout the municipalities, and that they form a network to ensure that these species can survive there," explained Minister Wilmes.
A key measure of the project is the introduction of the possibility for biotopes to develop on a plot for up to 15 years. If the land is left fallow for that period, the biotope can be removed without compensation. This change will eliminate the need for regular mowing of building plots, allowing biotopes to grow naturally. Should the owner decide to build, they will be able to remove the biotope without the need for an ecological balance sheet, ecological points, or compensation.
However, Wilmes pointed out the "other side of the coin" by introducing a new provision in the law on municipal planning. This stipulates that for any special development plan (PAP) for a "new district" with a surface area of more than 20 ares, 10% of the area must be allocated as green space. This obligation is a new requirement not previously in place.
In the past, private individuals often removed vegetation from their land to avoid the need for compensatory measures. Under the new bill, they will now be able to keep vegetation for up to 15 years and remove it without obligation if they wish to build. This provision is designed as a "temporary benefit" for biodiversity, allowing natural habitats to develop over a longer period.
For plots smaller than 10 acres, the ecological assessment will no longer need to be conducted by a professional at the owner's expense. Instead, the Administration de la Nature et des Forêts (ANF) will handle the assessment, and the State will cover the cost. Additionally, if a tree in a public space is diseased and needs to be removed, no ecological assessment will be required. The tree must simply be replaced at another location, and permission for this will need to be requested.
Minister Serge Wilmes emphasised that the aim is not only to accelerate housing construction but also to protect nature more effectively within local communities. "The impression that we want to destroy everything in nature is fundamentally wrong," he asserted.
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