Ecological corridors in spatial planning: lessons from over 10 years of contract-based experiences in the French Alps

Abstract

Ten years after the laws enacted after a national consultative process (Grenelle de l'Environnement) in which ecological connectivity was strongly promoted, what can we say about the creation of "corridors" as new objects in spatial planning? In analyzing some major experiences from the French Alps, we draw lessons on the opportunities and challenges of introducing corridors as a new "common" and ensuring their protection or restoration. We investigate the diverse modes of governance and the legal and financial tools that have been used, at various spatial and temporal scales. We also discuss the links between planning for ecological corridors and the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy at the landscape scale. We show that the creation of a new "common" (the corridors) requires a multi-faceted and multi-partner approach, at multiple scales, but its success for biodiversity ultimately rests in its capacity to protect actual interconnected pieces of land, step by step.