Compagnie des Alpes - 2017 Registration Document

4 SOCIAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION Group environmental information

4.3.3 BIODIVERSITY AND SOIL USE This section relates to the nine Ski areas and seven Leisure destinations only. It does not include the museums or tertiary sites which do not have a significant impact on biodiversity. Nature 2050

z partnership with the French National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Agriculture and Environment (IRSTEA): Les Ménuires is a pilot site for research into the receptiveness of the Ski areas to the green and blue open systems; z re-establishing vegetation after work, by trialing the removal of seeds to be resown with local seeds after work is completed, or via an experimental process which aims to recreate a herbaceous environment at altitude suitable for the habitats, in conjunction with HEPIA (the university of applied sciences in Geneva); z showing protected areas on piste maps or by creating corridors to direct skiers away from habitats and seedling zones. As regards soil use, only a very small part of the concession is used (the slopes cover an average of 9% of the total area in six of the Group’s nine Ski areas (1) ), with the remainder left in its natural state or used outside the winter season by farmers, mainly for pasture. Lastly, Ski areas raise their customers’ awareness of biodiversity protection: z in les Menuires, Sevabel has created a wetland trail with information panels; z Grand Massif offers a fun trail for children to discover wildlife, and a geological trail. It also runs a summer-winter initiative during which guides are available to introduce and talk about the fauna; z in the summer, at La Plagne, SAP displays information on fauna and flora for its customers; z at Tignes, STGM set up an exhibition in conjunction with the Vanoise National Park, and took part in the “echo day”, the main objective of which was to raise awareness about the environment and the initiatives in place (landscape integration, introduction to the environmental observatory, green behaviour, etc.); z SCV, which operates the Serre Chevalier ski area, posts reports on the site’s observatory on Facebook. The Leisure destinations The Leisure destination sites also have a natural environment that they can use to increase visitors’ enjoyment: on average, more than a third of their sites are preserved in their natural state with forest or marshland areas. The concrete surface area of Leisure destinations only represents 33% of the total surface area (at five out of seven sites (2) ). Parc Astérix, the Leisure destination site which is most affected, works in collaboration with the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels de Picardie (Picardy Natural Spaces Conservatory – CENP) to preserve the fauna and flora by means of z observation campaigns and counts (birds, insects); z maintenance aimed at restricting the spread of bracken to promote the growth of heather, cutting back and removal by horses (carried out by CENP staff or agricultural colleges); z the creation of corridors to facilitate the movement of animals and vegetation from one area to another. Some parks also raise visitor awareness with biodiversity teaching material: z Parc Astérix has created a “discovery trail” for hotel guests to enable them to discover local flora and fauna. The site includes, for example, the Morrière forest, which is home to protected plant species, such as the marsh Saint John’s wort; z France Miniature has created installations about bees and biodiversity protection;

Biodiversity protection is therefore a major environmental challenge for Compagnie des Alpes. All of the Ski areas and three Leisure destinations operate close to protected zones: Natura 2000, ZNIEFF (Natural area of interest for ecology, flora and fauna), National Park, RNN (National Natural Reserve), Regional Natural Park, or Protective Forest or APB (Biotope Protection) zone. In late 2016, Compagnie des Alpes became a member of the Nature 2050 programme. This programme, the brainchild of CDC Biodiversité, runs nature-based initiatives, with quantifiable results, aimed at adapting the land to climate change and restoring its biodiversity. At the end of 2017, Compagnie des Alpes became particularly involved in a project linked to mountain areas and activities. This project, managed by the Ligue de protection des Oiseaux (League for the Protection of Birds – LPO) in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region, is adapting a mountain forest to climate change in the Partias Regional Natural Reserve (Briançonnais), which is adjacent to the Serre Chevalier Ski area. Ski area observatories Because they are located in a natural environment, the existence of threatened or protected species is of particular importance to each of the Group’s Ski areas. Following the success of the Flaine Observatory (2007), the Group has developed nature observatories in each of its Ski areas. They allow the Group to monitor the impact of its operations and development on all aspects of the environment, on flora, fauna, landscape and specific biotopes. They are now very useful tools in the effort to preserve biodiversity. For a development project, for example, the Observatory provides environmental data about the area, enabling environmental considerations to be factored in during the draft project phase. It contributes to the monitoring of repair and compensation measures undertaken during development projects, but also to optimise works based on habitats and reproduction periods. The Observatory also provides a discussion forum for a number of stakeholders: z French National Forestry Office and Mountain Galliforme Observatory: bird observation systems on cable sections of sensitive ski lifts, galliforme display and breeding areas, species counts, etc.; z Vanoise Natural Park: protection of the black grouse; sectioning off protected areas; z farmers, shepherds: pastoralism assessment, concerted clearing of the undergrowth to provide mating areas for black grouse and to encourage pastoralism;

(1) Does not include STVI, SCV, Méribel Alpina. (2) Does not include Grévin et Cie (Parc Astérix) or Walibi Holland.

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Compagnie des Alpes I 2017 Registration Document