The environmental engineering and consultancy firm Biotope has been awarded a contract by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB) to map natural habitats across the Occitanie region. The project, part of the national CarHAB program, aims to create a detailed inventory of natural and semi-natural environments to inform conservation policies.
Biotope, headquartered in MΓ©ze, HΓ©rault, specializes in biodiversity studies and ecological engineering. The mapping work will utilize field surveys, aerial photography, and satellite data to classify habitats according to the European EUNIS system. This standardized data is crucial for assessing the conservation status of species and habitats under EU directives.
The initiative supports regional planning and environmental impact assessments, helping authorities and developers avoid ecologically sensitive areas. The contract underscores the growing demand for precise ecological data in land-use planning and biodiversity protection efforts in France.
