Universal Registration Document 2020

 The French and English nuclear sites are engaged in a programme to preserve and restore environments in partnership with local stakeholders:

• in St Alban, EDF made a commitment in 2020 with the Conservatoire des espaces naturels (Conservatory of Natural Areas) (CEN) of the Isère department to restore and manage the Malessard wetland (20 hectares). The 2020-2024 management plan drafted by the CEN calls for the reinforcement of wildlife inventories (beavers, amphibians, dragonflies, etc.) and the implementation of the initial actions from 2020, including the creation of ponds to accommodate amphibians, the management of invasive alien species, and eventually the implementation of eco-grazing;
• in the United Kingdom, EDF is implementing action plans to conserve and enhance biodiversity on its undeveloped land properties. Each site has a Biodiversity ActionPlan with performance indicators that are reviewed annually. By the end of 2019, 89% of the indicators had been met. All results are analysed, with recommendations made when improvements or alternatives are identified. The Biodiversity Action Plan will be updated in 2021.

3.2.1.3.2 Protected areas and endangered species

In France, the Group contributes to a number of national action plans for the Bearded Vulture, the Zingel Asper and Bonelli’s Eagle, and takes part in the regional variants of these plans, such as the European otter project in the Centre region, the Angelica Heterocarpa project, or the one for Odonata, which was the topic of a thesis defended in 2018.

In Europe, several EDF sites contribute to achieving the preservation objectives in the Natura 2000 areas and to implementing the Natura 2000 contracts. The Group participates in "Life+" programmes, in particular EDF Hydro for the Pyrenean Desman (2014-2019), Luminus for migratory fish, or Enedis⁽¹⁾ with "Life Gypconnect 2015-2021".

In Laos, NTPC is maintaining its policy of protecting biodiversity in the river basin in conjunction with the WMPA, the authority managing it. The EDF subsidiary is committed to having Nakai Nam Theun National Park put on the IUCN Green List of Protected Areas by the end of 2022. In 2020, the Government of Laos validated the park’s candidacy for this list.

3.2.1.4 Improving and sharing knowledge

3.2.1.4.1 Research and biodiversity

For over 50 years, EDF has equipped itself with a dedicated R&D department working on the environment, in partnership with external bodies. The current biodiversity research programme has mobilised €21 million, 25 researchers and technicians, and a number of partners. Their work helps improving the Company’s practices for biodiversity and contributes to scientific knowledge⁽¹⁾.

The subject of biodiversity was at the heart of the discussions at the September 2020 session of the EDF Scientific Council. Since 2009, EDF’s R&D and INRAE have set up the joint HYNES team in order to collaborate on the development of ecological approaches to aquatic environments. Renewed in 2019, the themes of the HYNES team have been extended to land environments. To date, ten doctoral theses and seven post-docs have been initiated, 30 publications written and eight doctoral theses defended.

In partnership with the MNHN, INRAE and its other research partners, EDF contributes to the development of knowledge and decision support tools such as the “Biodiversity Toolbox” (BOB) and “Ecoval” (ecological equivalence evaluation). These tools will provide the necessary elements to develop the land strategy of sites and strengthen their connections with the territory.

Collecting and processing data is essential for more effective biodiversity conservation action. EDF is therefore committed to several actions in this area:

• as from the commissioning of nuclear power plants, EDF has been monitoring surface water on all its sites as part of a hydro-ecological monitoring programme validated by the ASN. Since the end of the 1990s, EDF has been conducting studies to understand the influence of water temperature on aquatic organisms in the context of climate change. In 2020, EDF produced two publications on this programme;
• in order to improve knowledge about wildlife, EDF makes available its high points (e.g. pylons) for the installation of biodiversity data acquisition devices (e.g. in 2020 for the Guiana dolphin);
• EDF Renewables is committed to conducting a data acquisition programme on the conservation status of species, environmental quality and ecosystem services in the Strait of Dover (Dunkirk offshore wind project).

Knowing the ecological quality of land 3.2.1.4.2

The vast majority of EDF production sites are located close to protected sites and remarkable natural areas (in France, 80% of hydropower sites are situated in or near a Natura 2000 site). These preserved sites, located close to waterways, bring together several factors that are conducive to biodiversity.

Mandated by the Company, UNEP – WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre) carried out a vast study to assess the ecological sensitivity of places where the Group’s industrial sites are located⁽²⁾. The Company integrates biodiversity as one decision-making criterion in its industrial choices.

In France, EDF voluntarily transmitted to the INPN⁽³⁾ data from inventories collected between 2013 and 2017 on 20,000 hectares, i.e. approximately 50,000 occurrence data, in addition to the 15,000 occurrence data available under SINP (Nature andLandscape Information System)⁽⁴⁾ stemming from the EDF’s contribution to the FrenchState’s biodiversity data repository (Depobio). Since the Biodiversity Act of 2016, all project owners have been required to enter the raw data from their impact studies in Depobio.

3.2.1.5 Strengthening biodiversity governance and awareness

3.2.1.5.1Biodiversity governance

Biodiversity governance, which extends to the entire EDF group, is currently being overhauled following an in-depth diagnosis conducted in 2020. EDF group is involved in local biodiversity governing bodies, such as: River Basin Committees, River Committees and Regional Biodiversity Committees in France. It is developing a policy of cooperation with the associative, scientific and institutional world, which is strongly anchored at the territorial level and has biodiversity expertise:

• Think tanks: EDF has regular discussions with think tanks like OREE, EPE, CILB and the working group of CDC Biodiversité for the definition of the global biodiversity score;
• Partners: