The Varne Bank along with its neighbouring bank Colbart, the Vergoyer bank, the ridens (fr) de Boulogne and the French side of the Bassurelle bank, form part of a 262 sqmi Natura 2000 protection zone listed under the name « Ridens et dunes hydrauliques du Pas de Calais » ("ridens and sub-aqueous dunes of the Pas de Calais"). [