Are nature conservation laws adapted to climate change? : towards integrated spatial planning and land use instruments to implement biodiversity conservation objectives

Abstract

Despite the fact that many policy measures and legislation were taken in order to implement conservation objectives and real protected areas networks such as the European Natura 2000 network, they do not succeed to reverse the current biodiversity decline. Some scholars suggest that conservation laws are insufficiently implemented or protected areas and legislation are badly-suited to face climate change. Can we therefore consider that conservation legislation is no more adapted to today's global threat? Indeed, they were drafted when climate change was not placed on the top of international agendas and they were more flag-species and specific habitats-focussed without facilitating species movement, the condition sine qua non for adaptation. In order to meet conservation targets, climate change adaptation needs a particular policy attention to help species adapt in this conservation threat context. As part of numerous biodiversity adaptation measures, connectivity conservation is known as a potential and verified scientific solution to enhance the ability of species to adapt to the impacts of climate change by building natural resilience and therefore, to reverse the increasing biodiversity decline. This concept aims at halting the changes being made in natural connectivity and ruptures of conservation plans by preserving or restoring linkages between and outside protected areas, protecting habitats, maintain critical ecological processes and facilitating natural migration through natural landscapes. This paper discusses the potential and shortcomings of these nature conservation laws to addressing terrestrial connectivity conservation in the context of Climate Change.