2012 Activity and sustainable development report - RTE

A NEED FOR INNOVATIONclose-up on…Actions to promotebiodiversityPROJECTS WITH THE “LIFEBIODIVERSITY” LABEL /In the framework of a project presentedwith Elia, RTE’s regional projects receive50% European funding for thedevelopment of emprises thatencourage biodiversity. The overallbudget totals €2.5 million over fi veyears, in France and Belgium. Initiativesgiven support include using landbeneath towers and lines as grazingpastures for cows in one region ofeastern France or for sheep in another;and the planting of heritage speciesin the Hautes-Alpes beneath two newlines in 2016.TREASURES OF BIODIVERSITY /Such rare and protected flowers as theutricularia australis, the dianthus superbusand the tufted milkwort thrive under very highvoltage lines. Botanists from the NationalBotanic Conservatory of the Paris Basin, partof the National Natural History Museum, haveidentified more than 700plant species on landowned by RTE. This is around half of the knownplant biodiversity in the Île-de-France region.SOWING WILD FLOWERS /RTE is supporting a project initiatedby not-for-profit organisation Hommes etTerritoires, promoting biodiversity in farmingregions, particularly on cereal-growing plains.The project involves sowing wild flowersalong the borders of fields and in areasat the feet of towers. Studies began in 2012.COMBINING PRODUCTIONAND BIODIVERSITY / RTE supports thenational flowering meadows competition,an initiative of the Federation of NaturalRegional Parks and National Parks thatrecognises the meadows of farmers whocombine farming yield and flourishingbiodiversity.46