In a statement that has been stirring global controversy, the POTA board has said that it has begun a review of thousands of French ZNIEFF-recognised parks which, according to board members, may not be qualified to continue under POTA's rules. The statement explained that the board is looking at the "legal and administrative authority behind the designation," which is the core argument behind the review. ZNIEFF, which stands for Zone Naturelle 'Intérêt Écologique, Faunistique et Floristique, is a national designation given to ecologically important sites featuring biodiversity.
According to the statement, if a park loses its designation, activations that have already taken place will remain credited for both hunters and chasers. The POTA board said, however, it has no intention of continuing to maintain former status for any parks that do not meet POTA's eligibility. The statement said: [quote] "Historical operating credit can be preserved without requiring an ineligible reference to remain active indefinitely." [endquote]
POTA said that France is not being singled out, as some public statements have suggested. Although different nations have different government frameworks and manage their parks differently, other countries' parks could likewise come under the same scrutiny. The board said that [quote] "the challenge is making sure that growth occurs within a framework that can be applied fairly and sustainably around the world." [endquote]
