Governance mechanism

The success of the green and blue infrastructure (TVB) initiative requires the involvement of all relevant actors, which relies on a new form of governance.

A collaborative effort from the Grenelle environment forum

In December 2007 at the Grenelle environment forum, a "Trame verte et bleue" operational committee (COMOP) was charged with the task of defining the ways, means and conditions of implementing the TVB. This task, which was completed in September 2010, laid the legislative groundwork for the TVB and led to the production of documents that would constitute the basis for national guidelines on the conservation and enhancement of ecological continuities. In particular, the work of COMOP led to the creation of three documents: the first on strategic choices that would contribute to preserving and enhancing ecological continuities, the second on national and cross-border issues relating to preserving and enhancing ecological continuities and producing the SRCEs, and the third on applying the national guidelines for preserving and enhancing ecological continuities to major linear infrastructures of the French government and its public bodies.

Further information:

New committees established

The national "Trames verte et bleue" committee

Tasks
The main tasks of this national committee, which reports to the Minister for the environment and the Minister for urban planning, are:

  • To be a forum for information, discussion and consultation on all subjects relating to ecological continuities, their preservation and enhancement;
  • To be involved in developing, updating and following up on the national guidelines for preserving and enhancing ecological continuities;
  • To make recommendations following revision of the SRCEs where necessary;
  • To be aware of draft bills, orders and decrees, as well as planning documents and projects of national geographical importance that relate to ecological continuities or are likely to affect their preservation or enhancement;
  • To be aware of scientific research on ecological continuities, their preservation or enhancement.Composition

Composition

This committee includes five types of body with ten representative members each:

  • Elected officials;
  • The government and its public bodies;
  • Socio-professional organisations, land owners and users;
  • Associations, organisations and foundations working towards biodiversity conservation, and managers of natural areas;
  • Scientists, research organisations, organisations that support public policy, and qualified experts.

Members are appointed for a three-year term.

Further information:

The regional "Trames verte et bleue" committees

Regional TVB committees report to the regional public bodies. They are closely involved in drafting the SRCEs and provide advice on implementing green and blue infrastructure within their region.

Tasks
The tasks of the regional committees, which report to the chairperson of the regional council and the Prefect (regional head) and are co-chaired by these two authorities, include:

  • To be a forum for information, discussion and consultation on all subjects relating to ecological continuities within the region (including initiatives of neighbouring and cross-border regions);
  • To be involved in developing, updating and following up on the SRCEs;
  • To be available for consultation on any regulatory measures, planning or project documents relating to the ecological continuities identified in the SRCEs, or affecting said continuities, before any decisions have been made or opinions given by the chairperson of the regional council or the Prefect (regional head) concerning these projects or documents;
  • To be available for consultation on any subject relating to the regional and local biodiversity strategies;
  • To be aware of scientific research on ecological continuities, their preservation or enhancement within the region and neighbouring regions.

Composition
This committee includes five types of body, whose members are appointed jointly by the chairperson of the regional council and the Prefect (regional head) for a period of six years, with a minimum representation threshold for each type:

  • Local authorities and groupings of authorities (30%);
  • The government and its public bodies (15%);
  • Socio-professional organisations and land users (20%);
  • Associations, organisations and foundations working towards nature conservation and managers of natural areas (15%);
  • Scientists and qualified experts (5%).

The chairperson of the regional council and the Prefect (regional head) must also be joined by a certain number of mandatory members:

"representatives of the relevant local authorities and groups of authorities, including those of all the departments in the region, representatives of regional natural parks in the region, of the government and its public bodies, interested socio-professional organisations, land owners and users, associations, organisations and foundations working towards biodiversity conservation and managers of natural areas including the region's national parks, as well as scientists and representatives of research organisations, organisations that support public policy, and qualified experts."

It should be noted that there is no intention of establishing these committees in Corsica and French overseas departments, where governance bodies for land-use planning, sustainable development and regional planning exist already, as these are considered equivalent to SRCEs.

System

A totally completed legislative system


Green and blue infrastructure affects polices relating to urban planning. Urban planning documents must now take the SRCEs into account and specify the ecological continuities in their territory.