Protection status, rules and regulations

Hermann’s tortoise is statutorily protected at international, european and french level.

It is on the list of protected species in France, is part of the European priority species, and several international conventions.

 

- Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES - Appendix II).

- Berne Convention (Annex II).



Species of wild fauna listed in Annex II of the Bern Convention shall be subject to appropriate legislative or regulatory provisions, to ensure their conservation.

Are prohibited:

- all forms of capture, detention or deliberate killing
- the deliberate damage to or destruction of breeding sites or resting
- deliberate disturbance of wild fauna, particularly during the period of breeding, rearing and hibernation
- the deliberate destruction or taking of eggs from the wild or keeping
- the possession of and internal trade in these animals, alive or dead, including stuffed animals, or any part or product, obtained from the animal.
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- Fauna-Flora Habitat Directive (Annex II / Annex IV)

- Regulation No 338/97 (Annex A)

 

 

 

Directive "Fauna-Flora-Habitat" 1992 (Directive 92/43/EEC):

This European directive concerning the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna flora in the territory of the Member States of the European Community and thus complements the Birds Directive. It aims to give Member States the creation of a "coherent European ecological network of special areas of conservation" (SAC), known as "Natura 2000".

- Annex II includes animal and plant species of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation (SACs).

- Annex IV lists animal and plant species of Community interest in need of strict protection: it concerns the species to be strictly protected. This list has been prepared on the basis of Annex 2 of the Berne Convention.

 
Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of the Council of Europe of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade. This Regulation shall apply in accordance with the objectives, principles and provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It describes the level of protection and types applicable to the species concerned trade measures.

- Order of 19 November 2007 establishing the lists of protected amphibians and reptiles throughout the territory and how to protect them.

- Decree of 10 August 2004, which sets out the general operating rules of breeding facilities for approval of non-domestic species.

- Decree of 10 August 2004 fixing the conditions for authorizing detention of non-domestic animals of certain species in the breeding, sale, rental, transit or public presentation of non-domestic species (see part trade and detention).

Article 2 of the Ministerial Decree of 19 November 2007 prohibits, under specific conditions:

- The destruction or removal of eggs or nests, destruction, mutilation, capture or removal, intentional disturbance of animals in their natural environment
- The destruction, alteration or degradation of their breeding sites and their resting
- The possession, transport, peddling, offering for sale, sale or purchase, using specimens taken from the wild in France after May 12, 1979 and in Europe after the date of entry into force of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive.

Since 24 July 2006, these bans (except for the prohibition of naturalization) shall not apply to specimens born and bred in captivity or lawfully introduced in France, but the provisions of EC Regulation 338/97 (including trade provisions) apply.