Justice validates the reintroduction of the largest wild land bird in Europe in the Vosges – Liberation
Victory for the forest bird. The reintroduction plan of the great tetras in the Vosges, of which a new operation is scheduled for the end of April-beginning May, can continue: the administrative court of Nancy, seized by environmental associations, refused this Friday, March 28, to suspend the prefectural decree in this direction. The results, almost a year after the first reintroduction operation, is « In the negative state »had advanced the applicants, five environmental associations, to justify this new referral to the jurisdiction which had already refused, last year, to suspend the decree. They notably relied on the death of seven birds on the nine captured in Norway and released in the Vosges massif in the spring of 2024.
But the judge in summary proceedings did not consider this argument sufficient to suspend the execution of the decree of the prefect of the Vosges authorizing the reintroduction of the most Large wild land bird of Europe in the massif. Concerning the mortality rate of reintroduced birds, « The sample is insufficiently significant to invalidate the relevance of the project »notably considered the judge of summary proceedings in his order. He also considered that the execution of the decree was not « Not likely to undermine sufficiently serious and immediate damage to environmental protection in the Vosges massif and the protection of birds that the applicant associations are intended to defend ». This reintroduction also responds to a « Reason of general interest »noted the judge.
Twelve nights of capture will take place soon in Norway to then allow the routing of around forty birds to the Vosges. The agreement with the country allows the capture of a maximum of 50 birds per year, and 200 over five years. In total, Norway has 200,000. The annual cost of the operation is around 230,000 euros.
The SOS Massif des Vosges association, one of the applicants, explained « Think about an appeal to the Council of State » To challenge certain points of the order. The latter, however, recalls that she does not « No prejudice of the decision which will be subsequently rendered to the tribunal on the appeal to the cancellation of this decree ». Dominique Humbert, president of SOS Massif des Vosges, warns: « Things are not over. »
