1 March 2012: The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) has announced that the Government of France has designated two new Ramsar Sites: the Marais d’Orx in the Basque county; and the Leyre river delta sector of the Bassin d’Arcachon tidal bay.

The Marais d’Orx is a nature reserve consisting mainly of lakes, ponds, marshlands, wet meadows and surrounded by a network of canals. It provides habitat for numerous species of waterbirds as well as a large number of insect, amphibian, reptile, fish and mammal species, including threatened species such as the European Eel and the European Mink, both listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List. The site plays a major role in flood control. Activities carried out on the site include: recreation; education; agriculture; and research.

The Bassin d’Arcachon – Secteur du delta de la Leyre, which is located on the Atlantic ocean near the city of Bordeaux, is of importance to many species dependent on the intertidal zone, including threatened fish species. The site is composed of various habitat types, and provides habitat for: migratory bird species, many of them protected; and numerous species of insects, reptiles and mammals, some of them threatened globally. The site plays an important flood regulation role and acts as a buffer zone between Arcachon Bay and its watershed. Activities carried out on the wetland include tourism, as the Ornithological Park ‘Le Teich’ forms part of the site, aquaculture, salt production, agriculture and hunting.

France’s designation contributes to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]