Sciences, Eaux & Territoires (Oct 2010)
Que peut-on attendre de la directive cadre européenne sur l’eau en matière de connaissance sur la biodiversité ? Impact of the European Water framework directive on knowledge of biodiversity
Abstract
La directive cadre sur l'eau (DCE) impose l'observation et la caractérisation de certaines communautés biologiques pour évaluer le bon état écologique des milieux aquatiques. En quoi la DCE a-t-elle contribué à la connaissance et à la mesure de la biodiversité aquatique ? Que peut-on en attendre en termes de suivi ?The concept of biodiversity is complex and difficult to describe in an exhaustive manner. The Water Framework Directive (WFD), through its aquatic ecosystem monitoring network, aims to assess the ecological and chemical status of water bodies. This assessment requires observations on certain biological communities in a definite number of European sites representing continental, transitional and coastal water bodies. Consequently, the WFD contributes to improving knowledge on biodiversity. Nevertheless, genetic diversity and some communities are clearly not targeted and the monitoring networks are not well designed to assess changes in biodiversity. However, we may expect improvements in scientific knowledge of ecosystems and in the monitoring programmes that will make possible better convergence of environmental objectives.
