Free access to nature, even if it is on private land: this was the demand of demonstrators this Sunday in the Chartreuse massif. Are we going to see a right of free access to nature in France? We take stock with NOWU, the environmental digital media from France Télévisions.
This Sunday, October 15, in the Chartreuse massif, 500 people gathered to contest the decision of a private owner, taken this summer, to prohibit access to his land to hikers.
In short, a more global demand: that of creating a right that guarantees access to nature for all…
This right of free access already exists elsewhere in Europe, in several countries such as Finland, Estonia or Sweden, where it has even been enshrined in the Constitution since 1994. Its content is generally the same, despite some regional particularities: that of allow every citizen to enjoy natural spaces for free, forest and beach alike, regardless of whether these spaces are public or private.
What is the situation in France?
This right does not currently exist in France. The walker can access public natural spaces, as well as private natural spaces as long as their owner does not explicitly prohibit access (with the exception of beaches and certain lands subject to special conditions).
There law of February 2, 2023 even makes you liable to a 4th class fine for entering a private space without authorization!
Two environmentalist deputies announced on Friday October 13 their intention to table a bill to repeal the contravention introduced by the law of February 2, 2023. “This bill will be a first step in common work towards a real right of access to nature“, they indicated in a press release.
A right of free access to nature, for what purpose?
Accessing nature is important for physical and mental health → studies have proven that contact with nature leads to less stress, better sleep, fewer cardiovascular diseases, better recovery after an operation, etc.
And last point: allowing everyone to freely access natural spaces means knowing nature better, loving it and having a greater desire to protect it.
What precautions should be taken?
Be careful, the idea is not that open-access natural spaces are transformed into lawless areas!
In Sweden, and in most countries that guarantee this right, citizens can only exercise this right of access to nature on the condition of respecting the privacy of the potential owner of the premises and not throwing their waste on the ground. , not to cut down trees…
Some also fear that opening these spaces to free access will generate a risk of overexploitation of resources (with people helping themselves too generously to flowers, berries, etc.).
For the record, Sweden experienced a controversy at the beginning of the 19th century over the picking of a berry at the beginning of the 19th century: Politicians of the time denounced the excessive picking of cranberries in the forest by people from the city, suspected of destroying the environment in the process. IThere has ultimately never been any revelation about overexploitation of berries in Swedish forests…
NOWU it’s the positive media to get informed and take action for the planet! Its mission: to enable young Europeans to become actors in the face of environmental challenges through guilt-free and solution-oriented content.