which already generate strong economic activity

Small birds, wild grass, insects, mosses, shellfish are no longer smile, they bring money. "We will save 120 growth in the first quarter after an increase of 50 last year", says Serge Rochepeau, the founder of the Asconit Consultants firm. "OGE conducts 10-15 growth for a few years and 2010 looks even better, thanks to the stimulus plan that overwhelms us working", provides Jean-François Asmodé, the Director of this Office. Same growth to two digits in Biotope (read below), the Dean of the naturalistic studies offices. "Since the end of 2009, these are companies that come to us," said another firm.

Expert SMEs in the protection of fauna, flora and their habitats through the crisis with the insolence of fast-growing niche markets. Biodiversity could even run out of his situation of poor parent of sustainable development, on the other green components (greenhouse, waste, water...) which already generate strong economic activity.

Hardening of the Act

If naturalistic expertise has long been the case of associations and scientists, it is rapidly gaining the business world, as much by the development of the traditional occupation of the offices by the creation of new markets. Today, impact studies (see below) take advantage of the hardening of the Act. "Environmental regulation becomes mature," translated Frédéric Melki, biotope. Since the first texts of 1976, the State and Europe continued to impose more in addition to precautions to the planners of the territory to the environments they operate.

Today, Natura 2000, those on the water, the laws Grenelle guidelines continue to arm the legal arsenal, via more specific ministerial circulars. "A few years ago, you could construct a subdivision on a plot by simply filling out a form. Today, the list of species inventory grew up in each circular and is only endangered species but also the ordinary nature. "It enough of a Robin or tits on a prairie to complicate a record of the development," said Jean-François Asmodé. Other small regulations come take water firms, as this new European obligation to close for safety of the thousands of kilometres of track. OGE has thus been consulted by networks Ferrés de France to limit the discomfort of the animals.

To toughening of laws also said the increasing intransigence of the regional directorates for the environment. They require a superior quality of studies, under the pressure of the associations, but also because the new generation of public officials is more competent. "To put their projects, owners have realized that should treat their record", j. Jean-François Asmodé. Result, studies complex: "in quatre-cinq years, a 15,000 euro invoiced study fell to 20 000-25. 000 euros", continues the contractor. "Amounts are sometimes 10 times higher and the studies spread over two or three years for large projects," confirms Serge Rochepeau. Some regional branches are even of ayatollahs in consultants. "They demanding compensation higher than the recommendations of the experts and eventually turn some customers but of goodwill originally, said one of them. We are mediators.

Added value for projects

But regulation is no longer the sole engine of naturalist studies. "Taking account of biodiversity is becoming our customers added value and only a constraint," said Florent Yvert, who heads the small ecological Engineering Office Biodiversita. Including in the private sector. Jean-François Asmodé tells the story of the tourist complex of the "great wood" in the Nièvre Department, a test case. Proponents of Axon investment had imagined a classic set golf, residence and hotels on the 211-hectare domain. "Following the ecological site inventory, we have caused a meeting of all partners on the ground." We showed them the richness of the site they had not seen, the Oaks of 300 years, water sources, etc. They were then reviewed fully their copy to an ecological project exceeded our expectations.

Florent Yvert sees him, spend more and more tenders of masters of work incorporating some ecologists alongside architects and landscapers. He works for example on a new building of the University Paris VI in Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours (Seine-et-Marne) to provide the development of cavities and shelter for wildlife. There the same approach in many public projects such as the restructuring of the historic district of downtown Lille or responses to tenders of the many lines TGV project funded by the recovery of the State plan.

New manna

Unlike the marred a firms cite Total, Rhodia and Lafarge and best customers: "they ask very detailed on their projects in China, to the Viet Nam studies or elsewhere", provides Serge Rochepeau. A few large groups have even decided to integrate these issues into their strategic thoughts. Suddenly, a new Council, less technical than economic activity, taking foot. Véronique Dham has created this niche in his small Gondawana firm that conducted audits biodiversity in several large accounts, such as Thales or Michelin to evaluate the sensitivity of some of their sites.

The next boom of these firms is already registered in the Grenelle of the environment. The development after 2012 of the frames green and blue, fight urban sprawl of the natural environment, unleashed the creativity of the ecologists.