An Orne farmer tried for destroying the habitat of a protected animal species

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Ce Tuesday November 12, 2024and agricultural operator the Gouffern and Eye (Orne) appeared before the Argentan criminal court for alteration or degradation of the habitat of a protected non-domestic animal species. Biodiversity officers noted that the operator had halved a pond sheltering two protected animal speciesincluding the great crested newt. The judgment was put under advisement.

Alteration of the habitat of protected species

The June 29, 2023in the former commune of La Cocherebiodiversity officers observed a pile of rubble surrounding a pond on a plot of land. As they approached, they noticed that the surface of this pond had been reduced to 175 m², whereas it initially measured 329 m². Their investigation revealed that the pond was home to great crested newts, an endangered species. The operator explained that he wanted to be of service to a neighbor by agreeing to restore the pond before the end of winter, which he did not do despite reminders from agents.

He admitted to having put soil in the pond, but claimed to be unaware of the presence of protected species.

I admit to having put soil in this pond, but I did not know that there was a protected species, I am not a biologist

However, he finds it absurd to find himself in court for this case. For him, a simple reminder of the law would have been sufficient without adding a conviction.

The 30-year-old also explained that the work could not be carried out before the end of September, a period necessary for amphibians to reproduce, and that his agricultural activities and bad weather had prevented him from restoring the pond.

The farmer: “We can't take any more of this administration”

We, the farmers, can no longer stand all this administration, these procedures and when I see what some big farmers like the Haras du Pin are doing, I am disgusted.

The public prosecutor recalled the catastrophic situation of biodiversity and required an internship on the environment to be carried out within a period of six months or a fine of €1,000 in the event of non-execution, as well as the restoration from the pond within six months, under penalty of a fine of €10 per day of delay.

For the defense, there was no guilty intent. His client, “concerned with the preservation of the environment”, had and never intended to harm the animal species living in or near this pond which results from human work.

The judgment was reserved and the decision will be rendered at the hearing on December 3, 2024.

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