France grants protected status to Western Capercaillie and Rock Ptarmigan

France has officially added the Western Capercaillie and the Rock Ptarmigan to its list of protected species, marking the first addition of new bird species to the registry since 2009.

Under the new decree published in the Journal Officiel, these mountain birds are no longer subject to hunting. The protection extends beyond the birds themselves to include their eggs, nests, breeding sites, and resting areas, which may not be destroyed, altered, or degraded.

The Western Capercaillie, which inhabits old-growth forests between 1,000 and 1,800 meters, has already disappeared from the French Alps and persists only in specific massifs such as the Pyrenees, Jura, and Vosges. The Rock Ptarmigan, adapted to high altitudes and cold climates, typically lives above 2,000 meters. Both species face significant threats from habitat fragmentation, tourism, mountain infrastructure, and climate change.

Minister of Ecological Transition Monique Barbut stated that reinforcing protection is a necessary decision given the concerning decline of these emblematic species. The new status is expected to facilitate easier access to funding, particularly from European sources, to support a ten-year protection plan.