Chambord and Natura 2000
The National Estate of Chambord is part of the NATURA 2000 European ecological network.
The decree of 7 March 2006 on designation of special protection area (SPA) Natura 2000 sites, under the EU Bird Habitat Directive.
The decree of 13 April 2007 on designation of special conservation area (SCA) Natura 2000 sites, under the EU Bird Habitat Directive.
All such SPA and SCA sites together make up the Natura 2000 network.
The main objective of the two directives is to ensure maintenance of biodiversity, while taking account of economic, social, cultural and regional constraints.
The listed surface area represents 4,694 hectares (out of the Estate’s 5,440 hectares). Its listing as an SCA is well justified by the presence of rare migratory and breeding species of birds, including:
- Ospreys: 6 couples
- Short-toed eagles: 3 couples
- Booted eagles: 2 couples
- Northern goshawks: 4 couples
- Honey buzzards
- Common kingfishers
- Nightjars
- Black, grey-headed, and middle-spotted woodpeckers
- Woodlarks
- Dartford warblers
- Red-backed shrikes
Its listing as an SCA is also well justified by the diversity of natural milieus it contains, including wetlands, peat bogs, heathland and old oak groves.
The most unusual species to be found here are:
- Barbastelle bats, Bechstein’s bats, greater mouse-eared bats, and greater horseshoe bats
- Crested newts
- Dainty damselflies
- Floating water plantains
- Round-leaved sundews (carnivorous water plants)
Studies of the natural environment are to be carried out in 2008/2009, as a basis for drawing up the “document of objectives” (DOCOB), which will define major rules for nature management applicable to the National Estate of Chambord under the forest development plan.
