Airport operator the 'Société d'Exploitation des Aéroports de Rennes et Dinard' is to join the Aero Biodiversity association.
The two Breton airports, whose shareholders are the Ille-et-Vilaine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and VINCI Airports, have committed to the deployment of the latter’s environmental action plan since 2016. Both are already ISO 14001 certified and hold Airport Carbon Accreditation (level 2).
By joining Aero Biodiversity, the airports hope to assess the flora and fauna at the two sites, using proven scientific protocols, and to gain a better understanding of the wildlife found there in order to better protect it. Aero Biodiversity's scientific teams will visit the airports several times a year and volunteer employees from both facilities will be trained to carry out surveys.
The data collected under the authority of the association's scientific committee, many of whose members come from France’s National Museum of Natural History, will provide a better understanding of biodiversity. In addition, the data collected will be shared in order to enrich the existing databases in this field, particularly in Brittany.
This initiative represents a new stage in the deployment of VINCI Airports' environmental strategy at Rennes and Dinard airports. While an airport is made up of around 70% of green spaces and uncultivated grasslands, VINCI Airports is systemising, throughout its network, the carrying out of biodiversity inventories and working in partnership with scientific experts such as the French Beekeepers' Union.
Rennes and Dinard airports have also implemented a mowing plan for grassy areas and favour late mowing to encourage the development of biodiversity. A previous study highlighted the movement and nesting habits of the various mammals and birds present on the two platforms.
