Farmers' blockades: “We demand the disarmament of OFB agents when they come to our farms”

Les agriculteurs en colère ont bloqué l'entrée de l'OFB vendredi après-midi. M. P

The Lozère Rural Coordination took action against the premises of the French Biodiversity Office in Mende in Lozère, Friday February 2, 2024.  

Farmers from the Lozère Rural Coordination (CR 48) carried out a new action in Mende, this time aimed at the French Biodiversity Office (OFB). controls its agents against operators. At the beginning of the afternoon, a long procession of tractors, escorted by the national police, moved from the entrance to the town to the streets. nbsp;premises of "environmental police".

This is the car park of the nearby Aldi supermarket which served as parking for tractors and trailers. The farmers then operated the machines. Bales of straw were placed against the gates of the establishment, before manure was dumped. Then, tires, tarpaulins and finally whey straight out of a tank were unloaded, before sprinkling everything with sprayed straw. Under the eyes of law enforcement.

Collapse of biodiversity, decarbonization

The convoy then returned to town before stopping along Boulevard Henri-Bourrillon, opposite the prefecture, causing some congestion. A delegation was received by the chief of staff of the prefect, the director of the Departmental Directorate of Territories (DDT) and the head of the brigade of the OFB.

"We demand the disarmament of these agents when they come to our farms. We don't want to see the sheriff side anymore. The brigade will be directly under the control of the prefect. He will have the latitude to train them in civility and so that they no longer feel invested with a divine mission, argued< strong> Alain Pouget, former coordinator of CR 48, before entering the premises. "The environmental police are a heresy, a Franco-French thing", he added. Also regretting the lack of progress on predation on cattle. 

A traffic jam later, the delegation left the prefecture. "We were listened to. Between being listened to and being heard, the future will tell (…) OFB agents lack training. And it is intolerable that an additional hectare is included in the environmental registrations (Regional parks, Natura 200, etc…)." Before targeting the issue of the collapse of biodiversity, decarbonization "a sham, since the Lozère meadows capture carbon" , believes Alain Pouget. S'also taking into account the Egalim law "which doesn't work". "We will have the opportunity to meet again. We remain vigilant" concluded the activist before the tractors left the city in the early evening. 

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