Vosges. Capercaillie: Associations appeal administrative court decision

The administrative court of appeal (CAA) will have to decide on the future of the capercaillie in the massif.

Several associations ( SOS Massif des Vosges , Avenir et Patrimoine 88, Paysage Nature et Patrimoine de la montagne vosgienne) have announced that they are appealing the decision of the Nancy administrative court handed down in June to authorise the continuation of the capercaillie reintroduction programme, led by the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park .

"We have assessed the legal situation and we believe we have a good chance of winning, " Dominique Humbert, president of SOS Massif des Vosges , explained by telephone. "We have a solid case, with interesting elements that we were unable to present before the administrative court."

In June, before the administrative court, the associations could only challenge the order issued by Prefect Valérie Michel-Moreaux authorizing the reintroduction of the bird, a symbol of the Massif. However, Dominique Humbert asserts, they will now be able to point out "the repeated failures of a ridiculous operation, carried out at a forced pace, which everyone can see is poorly managed."

Of the last seven birds released in the spring , "we can estimate that four are already dead (three safe, the fourth has disappeared, editor's note)." Last year, nine were reintroduced and only two were still alive a year later. "This is breaking the national and international averages," notes Dominique Humbert sarcastically, who also intends to demonstrate before the court that " the announced price of the project (€230,000 per year, editor's note) will ultimately be much higher."

The average time taken to issue a decision by the Court of Appeal is approximately two years. An appeal does not have a suspensive effect.