It comprises the entire length of the Antenne from its source at Fontaine-Chalendray and the major streambed from Prignac to Cognac.

[4] This Natura 2000 area also includes a natural zone of ecological, faunistic, and floristic interest (ZNIEFF) of the same name.

The difference in altitude is therefore 40 meters, although very slight in the second part of the river, which explains the meanders, multiple arms, and marshes.

North of Prignac, only the minor beds of the Antenne and part of its tributaries (the Briou) have been included in the Natura 2000 zone, as the presence of summer droughts is detrimental to its good conservation status.

[citation needed] From Prignac to its confluence with the Charente, the river has numerous secondary branches and a large floodplain, making it one of the best-preserved alluvial sites in the region.

[2] The procedure is managed by the Saint-Jean-d'Angély sub-prefecture, with the Rochefort-based Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux (LPO) as operator.

[citation needed] A holm oak (Quercus ilex) forest covers 37.01 ha or 3% of the site in Cherves-Richemont, between the river and the D731 at "Bois d'Ouillat".

[citation needed] Lowland hay meadows form the seventh natural habitat of Community interest.

[2] The Antenne Valley Natura 2000 site is home to nineteen species of community interest as defined in the Habitats Directive, Annex II.

Also present are the southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale), the orange-spotted emerald (Oxygastra curtisii), Graslin's gomphe (Gomphus graslinii), the great capricorn (Cerambyx cerdo) and the european stag beetle (Lucanus cervus).

The official list includes five migratory diurnal birds of prey: the black kite (Milvus migrans), the european honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), the marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) and the short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus), which specializes in snake hunting.The European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), a nocturnal butterfly hunter, two wading birds, the black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), and the common crane (Grus grus), as well as the kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and a passerine bird, the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), complete the list.

[1] Studies by Charente-Nature (France nature environnement association) also confirm the presence of numerous other species, including diurnal birds of prey: common buzzard (Buteo buteo), eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), which returns in late spring, and nocturnal raptors: tawny owl (Strix aluco), barn owl (Tyto alba) and long-eared owl (Asio otus).

[citation needed] Other species include eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis) and red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa), wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) and turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur).

[citation needed] Among the most common water birds we find the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), white stork (Ciconia ciconia), mute swan (Cygnus olor), little egret (Egretta garzetta), grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and purple heron (Ardea purpurea), moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), summering common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), and dense colonies of passing western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis).

[citation needed] The regeneration of riparian zones is action E2 of the DOCOB, carried out in partnership between: Following a diagnostic study of the entire drainage basin, a "multi-year restoration and maintenance program" (PPRE) was set up.

Working in partnership with volunteers from Charente Nature and the Société Française d'Orchidophilie (French Orchid Society), since 2006, it has been carrying out appropriate biennial maintenance of the calciform lawn (with the agreement of the owners).

The aim is to keep the site open and favourable to rare species such as the sweet-smelling orchid (Anacamptis coriophora subsp.

Exhaust hatch kits to bring trap cages into compliance are supplied free of charge to trappers.

Collisions are to be prevented by the gradual installation of benches under bridges, enabling the mink to cross the road without climbing onto the carriageway.

[16] A Natura 2000 charter is signed on a parcel-by-parcel basis for a five-year period, and enables the landowner to contractually commit to good management practices in return for an exemption from the communal share of the Taxe sur le Foncier Non-Bâti (TFNB) on the parcel.