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Les Cévennes: Escape the daily hustle and bustle with the beauty of untouched French mountains
Explore the timeless allure and hidden gems of the secluded Cévennes mountains
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Bordeaux's pine tree experiment to tackle drought
A decade-long study aims to cultivate drought-resistant maritime pines in Europe's largest forest, adapting to a drier future
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MAP: Wolves have returned to most French departments
Gironde is the latest department to confirm the presence of the animal after a century of absence
Using natural 'bio' mosquito repellent may kill birds
A scientist is demanding a review of the use of natural bio mosquito control, claiming it is harmful to some birds.
The bio insecticide Bti is based on bacteria and is sprayed from planes and by pump teams across the south of France, from the Carmargue national park to the Spanish border.
Dr Brigitte Poulin, a director with the Tour du Valat research institute which concentrates on Mediterranean research, said: “At first, people believed that it was a miracle solution, compared to the ‘kill everything’ insecticides used before. Our research has shown that there is a negative effect, especially on house martins, which feed mosquitoes to chicks, and on other birds and dragonflies. But when we published it, the anti-mosquito body which works with local authorities did not want to take any notice.”
Read more: gardeners in France asked to help hedgehogs in new campaign
Dr Poulin said people should learn to live with mosquitoes better, saying it is tourists who complain, not locals. Another idea is traps with a bait that gives off carbon dioxide and smells known to attract mosquitoes, as these target specific areas, such as towns.
Shopping local: France's AMAP farm basket scheme explained
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