As part of the development of Place du Promenoir (Place de la Libération) and the upcoming demolition of the Bernand building, potential habitats for protected species like swifts and bats will be destroyed. To aid in their preservation, nesting boxes have been installed on the roof of Jean-Monnet school.
Six bat houses and two swift houses, facing only the rooftops, have been put in place. The 27 students from the CM1 class shared a moment with the association Demain, c’est ici et maintenant (DIM) for an exchange on biodiversity preservation.
Bats and swifts are protected species, and the law prohibits their destruction, capture, disturbance, transport, commercialization, or habitat degradation. The list of these species is established by official regulatory texts.
Bats, in addition to habitat loss, are affected by light pollution, collisions with vehicles or wind turbines, and the fear they can sometimes evoke. Contrary to popular belief, they do not attack humans and are very rarely disease vectors in Europe. Their decline is an alarming indicator of ecosystem degradation, as bats are particularly sensitive to the slightest environmental disturbances. They feed mainly on insects, making them valuable allies in controlling mosquito and agricultural pest populations.
Each year, numerous swallow and swift nests are destroyed or relocated during development work, often to avoid droppings. This practice contributes to the decline of these species, which tend to return to their nests after migration.
