2012 Activity and sustainable development report - RTE

A NEED FOR INNOVATIONThe preservation of natural habitats and biodiversity is a major priority in RTE’senvironmental policy. The company signed up to France’s National Strategy forBiodiversity (SNB) 2011-2020 as soon as it was launched, and it was awardedthe SNB label in December 2012 for its proactive commitment.INNOVATING TO…PRESERVE NATURAL HABITATSAND BIODIVERSITYRTE respects local life. It makes every effort to increase thecapacity of the existing transmission network by improvingmanagement and equipping it with cables capable ofconveying more energy. It has undertaken not to increasethe total length of overhead lines and to bury undergroundat least 50% of new high voltage lines and new 225 kV linesin urban zones when they are unable to follow existingcorridors.81% of new 90 kV and 63 kV lines in the period 2010-2012were buried underground, as against 29% ten years earlier.When new lines are needed, RTE designs landscapes thatallow the infrastructure to blend into its environment, andit strives to protect biodiversity.COMMITTED TO BIODIVERSITYLine corridors are favourable habitats for biodiversityand ecological continuity. RTE has made the preservationof biodiversity one of its priorities. “Biodiversity and landscaping”is the principal post for spending on the environment(approximately 30% in 2012).In the framework of the SNB, RTE has made severalcommitments: increase knowledge of the impact of itsactivities on biodiversity and communicate on this to stakeholdersand employees; develop methods of managing land that arefavourable to biodiversity; reduce the risk of collision for birds.PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXPERTSRTE relies upon partnerships with experts and naturaliststo improve the management of the land it occupies, conductexperiments and carry out inventories. These include: theNational Museum of Natural History, the National ResearchInstitute of Science and Technology for Environment andAgriculture (IRSTEA, formerly CEMAGREF 1 ), the National ForestryOffi ce, the National Federation of Conservatories ofNatural Areas (FCEN), the French Research Institute for Exploitationof the Sea (IFREMER), the Bird Protection League,France Nature Environment, the National Federation of RegionalNational Parks, the Pyrenees National Park, the NationalHunting Federation and numerous local organisationscommitted to biodiversity. RTE is also a founder member ofthe Linear Infrastructures and Biodiversity Club, which consistsof seven major operators who are eager to coordinate theirinitiatives and share their good practices to promote biodiversity,and the green and blue infrastructure in particular. •1. An applied research institute in the environment and agriculture.44