ZNIEFF 1 and 2 of the department of Orne

Launched in 1982, the inventory of Natural Areas of Faunistic and Floristic Ecological Interest (ZNIEFF) aims to identify and describe the sectors of the entire French national territory (land, river and sea) of particular ecological interest, particularly because of the balance or richness of the ecosystems they constitute, the presence of rare and threatened plant or animal species. This inventory has been the subject of a modernisation programme initiated by DREAL Midi-Pyrénées since 2002. This update makes it possible to have a better knowledge of our natural wealth, named ZNIEFF 2nd generation. There are 2 types of ZNIEFF: —type I ZNIEFFs: areas of great biological or ecological interest; —type II ZNIEFFs: large, rich and unmodified natural ensembles, offering significant biological potential. The ZNIEFF inventory is a knowledge tool, indicating the presence on certain spaces of ecological interest requiring further attention and study. ZNIEFFs can be proof of the ecological richness of natural spaces and the opportunity to protect them. The inventory itself has no direct legal value and does not constitute an instrument for the regulatory protection of natural areas.