National Biodiversity Strategy for 2030

Context

 

The National Biodiversity Strategy is part of an international framework that includes the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Aichi Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

It has been incorporated into French domestic law in the Article L.110-3 of the Environemental Code.

The previous and second National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS2) was adopted on 2010 for the period 2011-2021 and set 6 major strategic orientations gathering different objectives with the ambition to strenghtening the commitment of stakeholderes and to integrate biodiversity in all activites and public policies.  However, its results are mixed, given the persistent decline of biodiversity that demonstrates the limits of the policies and strategies implemented to protect biodiversity.  

The new National Biodiversity Strategy for the decade 2021-2030 must therefore reverse the trajectory of biodiversity decline.  

The first part of the NBS 2030 was adopted and published in March 2022. It is the result of a process of co-construction with stakeholders in metropolitan and overseas territories and of a citizen consultation launched in spring 2021. 

The new Strategy (NBS3) is based on three principles :

  • "Sobriety" in the use of natural resources; 

  • Coherence of actions ;

  • "Operationality".

The objectives of this Strategy have been elaborated in line with the Aichi Targets and are also based on the direct pressures on biodiversity identified by the IPBES. 

The NBS3 is based on a triple objective: to protect biodiversity, restore it, and live with it by enhancing its benefits. 

 

Main measures

 

The Strategy is organized in 5 structuring pillars grouping together different objectives. For each objective, targets are identified, some of which correspond to those of the United Nations Global Biodiversity Framework. These objectives are supported by operational measures specifying the associated goals, stakeholders and levers to facilitate their monitoring and evaluation.  

 

Overview of the five pillars and objectives that structure the NBS3 

Pillar 1 : "Protected, restored and resilient ecosystems"

  • Objective 1 : Strengthen policies to protect and restore biodiversity 

  • Objective 2 : Ensure the protection and restoration of ecological continuity 

  • Objective 3 : Fight against all types of pollution, giving priority to reducing them at the source 

  • Objective 4 : Increase the resilience of territories and figh against the artificialization of land

  

Pillar 2 : "Natural resources and ecosystem services used sustainably and equitably"

  • Objective 5 : Promote biodiversity-friendly economic activity

  • Objective 6 : Promote the agro-ecological transition of agricultural production and food systems 

  • Objective 7 : Integrate biodiversity into business strategies

Pillar 3 : "A society that is aware, trained and mobilized"

  • Objective 8 : Mobilize citizens, local authorities and companies

  • Objective 9 : Educate and train on biodiversity

  

Pillar 4 : "Cross-functional management supported by knowledge and focused on results"

  • Objective 10 : Strengthen and enhance knowledge on biodiversity 

  • Objective 11 : Make public policies consistent with national biodiversity objectives 

  • Objective 12 : Mobilize a governance system and a framework that guarantees the full implementation of the NBS over the long term

  • Objective 13 : Guarantee the implementation of measures through a monitoring-evaluation and accountability system. 

  

Pillar 5 : "Financing to support biodiversity policies"

  • Objective 14 : Improve the relevance and efficiency of existing budgetary and fiscal instruments

  • Objective 15 : Facilitate the financial contribution of private stakeholders 

  

 

Implementation

 

To implement this new Strategy, France has planned:

  • Multiple levers to be activated, whether they are normative, fiscal, financial or incentive-based;

  • Operational and concrete measures, supported by scientific knowledge and the precautionary principle;

  • Consistency and complementarity with other internatinal, European, national and local strategies; 

  • A complete steering, monitoring and evaluation system that is transparent, pluralist and equipped with relevant indicators. 

Following the adoption of the GBF at COP15, this first part of the third NBS should be amended to integrate the latest modifications of this framework. 

To read the complete document of the NBS3, please go here.