http://www.mab-france.org/en/biosphere/reserve-de-biosphere-du-luberon-lure/88//
Introduction
ImprimerThis Biosphere reserve comprises two inhabited islands (Ouessant and Molène), as well as the Molène archipelago which consists of around twenty smaller islands, plus the waters between the islands.
All the major ecosystems of the Atlantic biogeographical region (island, coastal and marine) are represented: the marine environment, beaches, cliffs with Atlantic coastal vegetation, heathlands and grasslands.
Island communities have developed and maintained unique cultures, both on land and at sea. The Reserve’s exceptional landscapes and biodiversity are a popular destination for researchers, tourists and artists alike.
Administrative authorities: Armorique Regional Natural Park and Iroise Marine Natural Park
Located within the boundaries of the Armorique Regional Natural Park, the Biosphere reserve has been under the administration of this organisation since its inception in 1988.
As part of the MAB review process, the Reserve is currently in a reflective phase to redefine the initial project and its management methods. The challenge is to get a large number of natural area managers working together, and to integrate two complementary management systems: Iroise Marine Natural Park for the sea, and Armorique Regional Natural Park for the terrestrial parts of the inhabited islands. Also under consideration is an extension of the Biosphere reserve’s boundaries on the Île de Sein and its associated marine areas.
In the heart of the Antilles, the Guadeloupe Archipelago Biosphere Reserve encompasses Basse-Terre Island and nearly all of Grande-Terre. Basse-Terre is home to the volcanic mountain massif La Grande Soufrière, and is surrounded by a tropical rainforest with high biodiversity.
The inlet of the Rivière salée (literally ‘salt river’) separates it from Grande-Terre, a low-lying limestone formation. To the north, between the two islands, Grand Cul-de-sac Marin Bay contains mangroves, freshwater swamp forests, and wet meadows. The Reserve’s marine section consists of seagrass beds and coral reefs, and is populated by many animal species including cetaceans. The Reserve also includes some islets (e.g. Pigeons, Fajou, Kahouanne, Tête à l'Anglais).
The wealth of the Reserve’s cultural heritage is reflected in local customs and knowledge, as well as strong artistic traditions. This wealth is drawn from important events in Guadeloupe’s history, such as the presence of the Amerindian civilizations, and the slavery era.
Administrative authorities: Guadeloupe National Park
Guadeloupe National Park and Biosphere Reserve occupy the same area and share the same management, an arrangement which aims to optimize the complementary objectives of the two networks.
Presentation
The Commune of Fakarava Biosphere Reserve is located in French Polynesia, in the Tuamotu archipelago, 360 kilometres northeast of Tahiti.
It is made up of seven low-lying coral islands and atolls: Aratika, Fakarava, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau, which are very different from each other. They vary greatly in size, shape, population, the activities carried out there, and whether they are open or closed to the ocean. This diversity makes the Commune of Fakarava Biosphere Reserve unique in its composition and characteristics. Those that are closed to the ocean include Taiaro which has a hypersaline lagoon, and Niau which has a brackish lagoon. Those that are open to the ocean include Fakarava, which has the largest pass in French Polynesia, at 1,600 metres wide.
The Reserve offers a great diversity of landscapes, including coral formations, Phanerogam seagrass beds, ‘Kopara ’ ponds (formed by living cyanobacteria, algae, and bacteria, as well as organic matter resulting from their decomposition), primary forests of ‘Puatea’ (Pisonia grandis), coconut groves and other vegetation typical of the atolls of French Polynesia.
In addition to the species inhabiting the coral reefs, the Reserve is home to remarkable flora and fauna including rare, protected and endemic species. To give an example, the Tuamotu Kingfisher or ‘Koteuteu’ (Todiramphus gambieri niauensis) is completely endemic to Niau Atoll.
The reserve also has a rich cultural heritage, including legends and many archaeological remains such as marae, old cultivation pits or maite, etc.
By becoming part of a well-known international network, the municipality and inhabitants of the commune of Fakarava wish to make known the importance they attach to the preservation and development of the rich natural and cultural heritage they inherited from their ancestors. They thus show their commitment to allowing sustainable development of the islands’ activities, especially those relating to tourism and use of the natural resources on which they depend.
Administrative authority:
Management of the Commune of Fakarava Biosphere Reserve is entrusted to a management committee chaired by the Mayor of the commune, a scientific council, and five associations based on various permanently inhabited atolls.
In Management Committee meetings, decisions are made on priority projects for each atoll, and any propositions from the people are put forward. The various associations of the Biosphere reserve also report on their actions and projects. These meetings are held two to three times a year on different atolls, with a view to allowing all members of the Management Committee to discover the entire Reserve.
A real concentration of Alpine and Mediterranean habitats, Mont Ventoux Biosphere Reserve centres on the “Géant de Provence” (giant of Provence – Mont Ventoux), and is characterized by an impressive overlapping of flora and fauna species. Mediterranean habitats and species are juxtaposed with their Alpine counterparts, due to a steep elevational gradient, in addition to strong contrasts between the southern and northern slopes.
Mont Ventoux is a land of contrast, in terms of both its altitude (1909 m) and its geographic location – midway between temperate and Mediterranean climates. The massif thus has a surprising diversity of habitats which are home to many plant and animal species, some of which are extremely rare.
Administrative authority: Syndicat Mixte d’Aménagement et d’Equipement du Mont Ventoux (authority on development of the Mont Ventoux region)
Since 1990, this authority has been in charge of planning, coordinating and implementing Mont Ventoux Biosphere Reserve projects.
Since 1996, a Management Committee, comprising elected representatives, administrators, managers, users of the Reserve and local associations, has been assisting the administrative authority in its choices. The Committee drafted the Reserve’s management plan, planning the projects to be implemented to protect and enhance natural heritage sites and landscapes, and support sustainable economic development and education. Finally, a Scientific Council, composed of representatives from both natural sciences and human sciences, also provides the Biosphere reserve with guidance.
In 1997, the Luberon, that is the Natural Regional Park, in existence since 1977, became part of the Biosphere Reserve network. It is bordered to the south and east by the synclinal fold of the Durance, one of the largest rivers southeast of the Rhône which feeds important wetland habitats. The site is made up of Mediterranean plains and hills irrigated by several rivers whose flow regimes are irregular and torrential (Calavon, Largue, Lauzon, etc.). The east-west-oriented mountain ranges of Provence dominate, with some influence from the Alps. These are the Luberon massif (1,125 m) and the Vaucluse Mountains (1,256 m).
The area is well known for its biological and geological heritage. This long-inhabited region has a rich human history, and many remnants remain in its superb heritage – villages, castles and religious buildings, industrial heritage, vernacular architecture, etc. – but also in the traditional practices and knowledge still alive today, especially in the varied agricultural practices: viticulture, arboriculture, cereal, vegetable, and aromatic plant cultivation, as well as livestock farming, particularly sheep.
Over the past few years, relationships have been developing between stakeholders of the Luberon and those of the northeast, on the southern slopes of the Montagne de Lure (1,826 m), which is virtually a continuation of the same range with many features in common, particularly its significant biological and cultural value. In 2009, during the periodic review of the Luberon Biosphere Reserve, it was found that a new partnership could be forged by expanding the Biosphere reserve – the plan was approved by UNESCO in June 2010.
Administrative authority: Luberon Regional Natural Park
The Biosphere reserve comprises the Luberon Regional Natural Park and the municipalities of the cantons Banon and Saint-Etienne-les Orgues (on the southern slopes of the Montagne de Lure, represented by their intercommunal organisations), and the course of the Durance, left bank, which is managed by the Syndicat mixte d’aménagement de la vallée de la Durance (SMAVD; authority for the development of the Durance valley).
An "Operational Committee" is currently being established which will provide coordination between the various local authorities and stakeholders.
Traditionally, the people of this region have relied on the same resources – taking nourishment from Mother Nature to live and survive, drawing the energy and resources needed to establish their industries, and coming up with skills, traditions and recipes for living in harmony with each other as well as with the land.
But here, use of the word frontier is not insignificant. The wealth of the Vosges du nord–Pfälzerwald Biosphere Reserve does not just lie in a homogenous geology and heritage. It also comes from the converging influences of ocean and continent, creating a border area influenced by two climates whose habitats and species (some of the most remarkable in Europe) are unique to this region.
Here more than elsewhere, the history of mankind has left its mark. From the Celtic hordes to Roman legions, medieval lords to modern emperors, these conquerors have all fought over and shared this land between the Rhine and the Moselle. The great European tragedies took place here, including the most recent and costly in terms of human life, the Second World War.
The very foundations of Europe were built on these ruins and these nightmares. How can you transcend borders without resorting to war? It is not enough to simply forget and move on. We must also build a future, recognizing and valuing what unites us: the same landscapes, common heritage resources, similar languages, cultures and traditions, and a shared vision of future challenges.
All this forms the foundation of the Vosges du nord–Pfälzerwald Biosphere Reserve, a modest but valuable contribution to Europe’s grand design, and the removal of an artificial frontier to the benefit of Nature rediscovered.
On either side of the border, you find the same sandstone, the same streams, and the same forest – similar natural habitats with identical plant and animal species.
In December 1998, the Vosges du nord–Pfälzerwald Biosphere Reserve was recognized by UNESCO, as part of its Man and the Biosphere programme. It was formed by the merging of two bordering national biosphere reserves, Vosges du nord (northern Vosges), founded in 1988 and Pfälzerwald (Palatinate Forest), recognized in 1992.
Administrative authorities: Parc naturel régional des Vosges du NordParc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord (Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park – France) and Naturpark pfaelzerwald|Natürpark Pfälzerwald (Palatinate Forest Nature Park – Germany)
The Biosphere reserve "Vosges du Nord-Pfälzerwald" is not yet owned and operated by an independent organisation. Based on a Memorandum of Understanding, established in 1996 and regularly revised, the Reserve is managed by a Coordinating Committee, which comprises:
- representatives from the two former national Biosphere reserves, the cooperative union for the Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park (SYCOPARC) on the French side, and the Naturpark Pfälzerwald (Palatinate Forest Nature Park) on the German side,
- representatives from their partners and most notable sponsors.
Presidency alternates: the Administrative Committee is chaired by the President of the SYCOPARC or the President of the Naturpark Pfälzerwald e.V., alternating every two years.
The committee makes decisions about policies and actions to be implemented across the Reserve. Depending on circumstances, these are implemented by one or other administrative authority or by third-party organisations.
On its own initiative, a transfrontier working group on biodiversity was created. Together, and in consultation with French and German scientific teams from the Biosphere reserve, the two parks publish a Franco-German scientific journal.
The Biosphere reserve is operated by the SYCOPARC and Naturpark Pfälzerwald. It does not have its own staff. Projects and actions are funded by the financial partners of the two national administrative authorities, as well as the European Union, particularly through its Interreg programmes.
Fango Valley Biosphere Reserve encompasses the Fango catchment area, a mountain stream flowing into the Gulf of Galeria, Corsica. It extends from the Mediterranean Sea up to an altitude of 2,556 meters, covering the whole mid-elevation range of a Mediterranean valley.
Flowing through majestic surroundings, the River Fango is known for its crystal clear water (which has excellent chemical composition and is low in mineral salts), and for its endemic trout. The mountainous upper valley is home to the European Mouflon, the Bearded Vulture and the Golden Eagle. The Holm Oak forests of the Fango Valley are remarkable groves considered to be amongst the oldest in the Mediterranean. The mouth of the Fango River is a mosaic of biologically rich habitats, including many species of birds, amphibians and reptiles.
Administrative authorities: Parc Naturel Régional de Corse (PNRC)
Corsica Regional Natural Park
The Biosphere reserve is one of the PNRC’s eleven operational areas.
The Management Committee, which coordinates local stakeholders, is in contact with the Scientific Council to encourage development of a research component, with applications in habitat and local resource management, as well as sustainable development.
The Management Committee, chaired by the PNRC, includes representatives of the three municipalities, as well as key organisations, administrative bodies, associations, and local business owners in the valley. The Help guide for managing the Reserve was developed based on propositions from four now permanent working groups: Water / Forests–Fires / Agropastoralism–Land ownership / Tourism–Heritage.
Presentation
The Camargue Biosphere Reserve lies between the Rhône River and the Mediterranean Sea, and since its review in 2006, now covers the entire biogeographic region of the Rhône delta. It is an immense natural area located between two densely populated regions, and is bordered by the cities of Montpellier, Nîmes, Arles and Marseille and the Fos-sur-Mer Industrial Zone.
The Camargue’s predominantly flat landscape actually has numerous pockets of diversity: alluvial ridges along the former and present branches of the Rhône, dune ridges formed by sea currents, and the historic shores of the Mediterranean. In the depressions between these still partly-wooded ridges can be found low-lying lagoons fringed by salt steppes, reed marshes – parts of which are harvested – and ponds, the largest of which, Vaccarès, occupies 6,500 hectares.
The high salt content of the soil and water, great variations in flooding conditions and the whims of the Mediterranean climate all contribute to the biological wealth of the Rhône delta.
The agricultural landscapes of the Camargue are diverse: the wet grasslands and sansouires (Salicornia steppes) are used for breeding bulls and horses, former marshes have been converted into rice fields, lagoons have been developed for salt production and fruit and vegetable crops, and vineyards can even be found on the dune ridges. The water necessary for this agriculture is conveniently found all around. This natural irrigation system determines the management of the agricultural areas and indirectly determines that of the surrounding natural environment.
Administrative authorities: Camargue Regional Natural Park (PNRC) and Joint Committee for the management and protection of the Camargue in the Gard department (SMCG)
Many managers, users, research organizations, and administrations are involved at various levels throughout the Camargue. The Biosphere reserve provides a framework for collaborative projects across the entire Delta. Operational decisions are made by the Management Committee, the Technical Committee (made up of partners and stakeholders of the site), and the Scientific Council (involving local researchers).
Located just 60km south of Paris, this Biosphere reserve is divided into three sections: the larger, predominantly agricultural western section, the iconic Fontainebleau forest in the centre, and the Val de Seine in the east. Both the forest and the region’s remarkable cultural heritage, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Château de Fontainebleau, attract millions of visitors every year.
The Reserve is home to a rich biodiversity (around 5,000 known plant species and 6,600 animal species) and diverse habitats – wet heaths, calcareous grasslands, ravine forests, peat bogs, ancient woodlands including beeches, sandstone flats, etc. – which depend on varying soil types, the geographic layout of the land, and diverse climatic influences.
These landscapes have been shaped by human activities such as forestry, agriculture and extraction of mineral resources. Other activities, such as tourism, outdoor sports, hunting and fishing make this Biosphere reserve a place of intense interaction between people and nature.
Administrative authorities: Association of the Fontainebleau – Gâtinais Biosphere Reserve
The Association is governed by an administrative Board that comprises voluntary stakeholders from the area, and is led by a coordinator. A Scientific Council contributes its expertise, and an Education Council (unique to French Biosphere reserves), coordinates educational and participatory science programmes.
Presentation
This Biosphere reserve, located in the south of the Massif Central, offers majestic contrasting landscapes – from the limestone plateaux of the Causses, to the granite formations of Mont Aigoual and Mont Lozère, to the schist slopes of the Cévennes. These formations originate from geological, topographical and climatic diversity, but also from human activities, including agriculture and grazing, which have been practised in the area for centuries.
Biodiversity in this Biosphere reserve is rich but fragile, and is dependent on diverse low-intensity human activities. These activities help to maintain and even restore open spaces, as well as contributing to the preservation of rare and protected plant and animal species.
It was this recognition of the role of human activities that led to its designation as a Biosphere reserve in 1985.
Administrative authority: Cévennes National Park.
The National Park and Biosphere Reserve occupy the same area and share the same management, taking the complementary objectives of both networks into account.
The Park’s administrative board makes decisions on both internal policy directions (budget, organization, etc.), and external ones relating to the site (allocation of financial and technical assistance, partnership opportunities, and drafting of strategic and planning documents).
In particular, it supervises preparation of the Park’s charter, giving approval for key stages and adopting the draft. To do this, the board relies on the work of its thematic committees, elected officials, the Scientific Council and National Park teams.
The Charter, which is currently being drafted, will be the official document outlining joint management of the National Park and Biosphere Reserve.
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http://www.mab-france.org/en/biosphere/reserve-de-biosphere-du-luberon-lure/88//
Territory
Imprimercarte du territoireHuman activity is very low-key, with 400 inhabitants distributed across various hamlets of the municipalities Galeria, Manso and Caledon. The economy is mainly based on livestock farming, local produce, and tourism in the summer which is concentrated along the coast and the Fango River. Controlling tourist numbers is a major issue, with a need to spread visits over the season by diversifying tourism products and managing the industry’s impact on the more popular sites, such as the swimming areas of the Fango River and outlet.
The Biosphere reserve is a centre for research and monitoring, particularly related to the site’s natural and cultural heritage. This work includes a Holm Oak forest regeneration programme, an inventory of archaeological heritage, a study of water resources, scientific monitoring of atmospheric particulate matter including long-range pollutants, and long-term research on bird populations. The Reserve is also a leader in improving agropastoral techniques and in environmental education.
Biodiversity on the islands of Ouessant and Molène is rich and unique. The importance of some coastal habitats is recognized by the European Union, and many species of high natural heritage value can be found there, including the Marsh Harrier, Dartford Warbler, Red-billed Chough, Land Quillwort, and Least Adder’s Tongue. The islands are a stopover and nesting place for sea birds (storm petrels). The beaches are home to a wide variety of algal and benthic species. A colony of grey seals and a sedentary group of bottlenose dolphins also call the Molène archipelago home.
The current challenge is to maintain balance in the various ecosystems of the Biosphere reserve, in the face of developing human activities on the larger islands and at sea.
On Ouessant Island, rural activities like small-scale cultivation and livestock breeding have almost disappeared. The Reserve strives to preserve its characteristic landscapes – moors criss-crossed with dry stone walls (which protect crops from the wind, sea spray, and from livestock left to graze freely on the hillsides over the winter months), and dotted with small stone shelters.
On the Île de Molène, the tradition of commercial fishing remains small-scale.
Traditional algae production in the Molène archipelago has been modernized, and is the largest algae “field” in Europe harvested for use as raw materials in nutritional and cosmetic products.
Today, the main economic activity of the islander population is tourism. This results in significant population growth over the summer months, which has consequences for the environment.
With an average density of over 200 inhabitants per km2, Guadeloupe Archipelago Biosphere Reserve has a relatively large population living in close proximity to nature.
Frequented by hikers, the tropical forests of Basse-Terre are home to a great diversity of tree and shrub species, high altitude shrub vegetation, and altimontane savannas and peat bogs. In addition to pressures from tourism, this forest that used to dominate the region has also been under agricultural and urban pressures.
In recognition of the richness of biodiversity in these protected areas, Guadeloupe National Park and Biosphere Reserve, established in 1989 and 1992 respectively, introduced programmes aiming to allow the wealth and fragility of these areas to be experienced in a respectful way.
The coastline of Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin and its protected islets are very popular with tourists and the local population alike, especially for water sports and activities. Like the forest areas, the coast is no stranger to high anthropogenic pressure which has led to urbanization of the environment and fragmentation of the coastal landscape. Climate change also plays a role in the degradation and erosion of the land.
The challenge for land-use planning is to achieve a balance between protection of the various protected areas and the island’s social, economic and cultural development.
The Biosphere reserve and Guadeloupe National Park are working together with many stakeholders, communities, the Conservatoire du littoral (French coastal conservation authority) and the Office national des forêts (French national board of forestry), to implement programmes which will address this challenge.
Territory
The Commune of Fakarava Biosphere Reserve is characterized by geomorphological diversity in all 7 of its atolls, and covers a total area of 2,682 km2, of which 89% is occupied by the lagoons.
Visiting the whole of this Reserve is possible only by sea, and only the atolls Aratika, Fakarava, Kauehi Niau and are served by scheduled air carriers.
The 1,575 residents who inhabit the Reserve are not evenly distributed. They are generally grouped into villages, and Fakarava Atoll, which is the most developed, is home to more than half of the total population. Fakarava now relies mainly on tourism which is oriented towards diving, fishing, coconut cultivation, and the sale of handicrafts made from natural products (shells, plant fibres, etc.). Pearl culture was strongly influenced by the crisis in the industry, which led to the closure of the majority of pearl farms, and forced some of the population to return to other activities.
The population’s dependency on the natural environment and its resources requires the implementation of targeted and tailored management measures, fully consistent with the objectives of the MAB programme.
The site has been significantly shaped by the human hand, as evidenced by the extensive reforestation of the massif initiated in the late 19th century. Its foothills are decidedly rural, dominated by agriculture (vineyards, fragrant plants, fruit, etc.), tourism, and the service sector. Yet the future of the agricultural economy remains uncertain, following the wine industry crisis, the decline in lavender cultivation, international competition, etc. The challenge for agriculture now is the development of links between the production of quality local products (both in terms of taste and "health effects") and a strong relationship with the landscape and environmental awareness, across all industries.
Spared from mass tourism, Mont Ventoux Biosphere Reserve prefers “active tourism”, which is respectful of the environment and its inhabitants. Development of this sector depends on natural resources (i.e. outdoor physical activities), which is reinforced by its image as an excellent cycle tourism destination.
The remarkable nature of the species and habitats that make up the Biosphere reserve allowed it to be nominated for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network.
The main conservation objectives of Natura 2000 sites, which cover more than 4,000 hectares in total, are preservation of open spaces, maintenance of forest dynamics in reforestation areas, conservation of semi-natural forest habitats, compatibility of recreational activities with conservation of habitats and species, as well as improving public awareness and visitor experience.
Various programmes have thus been established to meet the sites’ environmental challenges:
- redressing scrub encroachment by clearing, cutting down, and chipping trees or controlled burning
- maintaining open spaces created by livestock farming
- designating old growth management areas and/or senescent tree management areas
- monitoring habitats and species
- providing facilities for outdoor sports and protected species conservation
- maintaining a network of nest boxes for bats
- conducting public awareness and communication campaigns
Gateway to the Mediterranean Lower Provence, and confined by the Alps, this vast region has many and varied landscapes, whose quality attracts a large number of tourists. Key resources include its agricultural land and landscapes. The issue of land preservation, and thus control of urban sprawl, has emerged as a priority in the face of rising land prices, urbanization of agricultural land, increased population and expansion of urban areas.
Although a general awareness of the threats faced by ecosystems is already taking hold, the need to create new opportunities for local agriculture means that environmentally conscious perspectives must be encouraged.
The main risk is habitat overuse and its impact on living conditions. Water resources and maintaining diversity and quality of natural habitats are key issues.
If these challenges are to be met, the issues must be collectively addressed on a social level by changing individual behaviour. The Biosphere reserve could serve as an ideal space for individuals to try to improve "living together" conditions.
If population growth is seen as a key factor, changes should be monitored – ageing population, varying unemployment rates, increasing poverty, inefficient public transport systems, and more generally, declining public services. Obviously this all hinges on how well the region is able to provide acceptable living conditions to its inhabitants, in terms of employment and income, housing and services. As a laboratory for sustainable development, the Biosphere reserve should take up these issues to test solutions in line with society’s expectations.
The Biosphere reserve’s dominant landscape consists of temperate forest that covers nearly three-quarters of the total area, making it the largest contiguous forest area in Western Europe, on both sides of the border between France and Germany. The dominant species are beech, Scots pine and oak.
Ponds, rocks and cliffs, streams and adjacent wetlands provide rare breaks in this vast forest landscape. Traditional orchards and vineyards can be found near the villages.
Given this dominance of Nature, the urbanized area of the Reserve is very small. These conditions partly contributed to the rich and diverse natural heritage being preserved. The same goes for cultural heritage – the Reserve boasts more than 95 castles.
The economic activities of the Biosphere reserve are strongly linked to its natural resources.
Timber harvesting thus still plays a big role. Sandstone is mined in a dozen or so family-owned quarries. The combination of incline, soil and sunshine provide the right conditions for orchards and vineyards on the outskirts of the Reserve.
Forest, water and sand have fostered more industrial activities, such as glass and crystal manufacture (Lalique, Saint-Louis) and metallurgy.
In this region which is ultimately more industrial than agricultural, workers have often been peasants too – reaping the scarce grass at the bottom of the valleys, picking apples and pears, and collecting chestnuts and mushrooms.
Beside these heritage-related activities, other more specific industries have flourished, such as shoe manufacturing in Pirmasens, all of which face the great challenges of the global economy.
The heritage value of the Fontainebleau forest has been shaped by a history rich in customs and traditions, as well as pressures from human activities – forest management, extraction of sand and sandstone, royal hunting followed by modern hunting, art retreats, pastoral activities, and more recently the development of family and sports tourism. Today, the forest attracts nearly 17 million visitors per year.
88% of the Biosphere reserve’s land is rural, 45% is woodland. However, due to its proximity to the capital, the Biosphere reserve is experiencing urbanization and an increase in human activities along the valleys (Seine, Essonne and Loing), as well as major development of transport links (the A6 motorway, RER D, etc.). Natural areas and low land rates make it an attractive area, and the population is increasing significantly, as is the number of tourists.
The region is located on a major European freight transport route, and is also the source of Paris’s drinking water, with the Vanne aqueduct carrying water from the upper part of the catchment.
The core area of the Biosphere reserve is made up of different types of protected natural areas, representing 22.7% of the total area. These areas are host to varying activities depending on the location, including hunting, mushroom and fruit picking, forestry, outdoor sports, tourism, environmental education and scientific research. As a result of a hunting tradition that dates back to the kings of France, Fontainebleau Forest is criss-crossed by more than 300km of marked trails, and places left untouched are relatively rare.
Territory
The history of the Cévennes’s forests and pastures has meant an exceptionally rich natural heritage. It features around 200 habitat types, is home to over 2,400 animal species, and accounts for 40% of France’s plant diversity. Currently, several habitats – scrub, wasteland, and heathland – are steadily becoming overgrown, at a rate of around 1% per year.
Agricultural and grazing activities, forestry, handicrafts and tourism are all essential to the site. They have shaped the Cévennes landscape into what it is today, and are the basis for economic development. Hunting and fishing are also widespread.
The site’s outstanding architectural heritage is characterized by three types of rocks: granite, slate and limestone, which were used for both the houses themselves and their petit bâtis – small structures built next to the houses, typical of southern Lozère and the Gard part of the Cévennes.
More than 150 sites and monuments are heritage listed, either on a national or regional level.
In addition, 3,000 items of cultural heritage have been identified, a few hundred of which are considered of great interest. The limestone plateaux are of more archaeological interest than elsewhere on the site, particularly with regard to prehistory.
Territory
Those who have worked in the Camargue over the centuries have managed to maintain a high spatio-temporal diversity in their cultivation and development of natural environments.
The challenge has been preserving these environments in the face of changes in the land and population, development of extensive livestock farming, agriculture and salt production, appearance of new types of leisure activities, and restructuring of industrial activities at the port of Fos-sur-Mer, located just beyond its southeastern corner.
The preservation of 300 migratory and semi-sedentary bird species (75% of all bird species identified in France), some of which are endangered, depends on this maintenance of diversity.
Their habitats are a result of the balance between natural environments and those used for economic or recreational purposes.
Rice and salt production help to maintain many canals, which are important habitats for some species, whether directly or indirectly.
Extensive farming of Camargue bulls and horses is practised in the site’s ‘high’ wetlands, a technique that is highly appropriate to the ‘wild’ expanses of the Camargue, one which could be seen as the cultural soul of the Rhône delta. Grazing land supports a high level of biodiversity which requires open habitats to be maintained.
Hunting is a core activity of the site’s identity. It maintains the connection between humans and nature, a love of the marshes and a desire to preserve it and pass it on to future generations. It is also an important economic resource in preserving the wetlands on the large private estates. Fishing and reed harvesting, or sagne, are also resources that can be sustainably managed if the natural environment remains intact.
Like extensive livestock farming, these cultural and economic activities are indicators of the health of the Delta and should be maintained in balance.
Nature discovery tourism is booming. This also helps to promote the wetlands and is therefore seen as a healthy alternative to other forms of economic activity which would be less ideal from a heritage point of view. This trend should therefore be encouraged, preserving the quality of the sites for the benefit of visitors, locals and nature alike.
This desire to maintain the balance between humans and nature is reflected in the implementation of contractual agreements with the site’s economic stakeholders (agri-environmental measures and Natura 2000 charters, labels and voluntary commitments), and of conservation programmes for Protected Natural Areas (national nature reserves, sensitive natural areas of the region and department, and coastal conservation authority land).
http://www.mab-france.org/en/biosphere/reserve-de-biosphere-du-luberon-lure/88//
Actions
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Actions
Given available human and financial resources, the expanse of the Reserve and the state of knowledge on its ecosystems, the number of studies and projects that can be funded on each of the atolls is very limited. For these reasons, priority is given to studies and projects chosen by local people, in order to meet their needs and questions. These are thus often focused on resources which are exploited, emblematic and/or vulnerable.
Identifying shells
Inventories of the Biosphere reserve’s fauna and flora are far from complete. However knowledge of this natural heritage is important if the aim is maintaining biodiversity. As shells are frequently used in local crafts and research on this topic is limited throughout French Polynesia, priority has been given to conducting a malacological inventory in the atolls of the Reserve. This work began in 2008 and is due to be completed in late 2011.
Establishing a sustainable fishery of ‘Kito’ on Raraka Atoll
The Camouflage grouper, called ‘Kito’ (Epinephelus polyphekadion), is a significant additional source of income for the people of Raraka. The fish are caught by angling, and only in the breeding season, at the atoll's pass. Despite this, fishing during this period is known to threaten their numbers. Implementing a programme has thus proved necessary to find out actual numbers and assess the impact of fishing. It aims to help local people adopt appropriate management measures and establish a monitoring system.
Identifying and protecting outstanding cultural and natural sites in the Biosphere reserve
The islands of the commune of Fakarava have many cultural and natural sites that need to be identified, cleaned or maintained, and equipped with amenities and/or signage. To promote this heritage, facilitate the transmission of knowledge and make it more accessible, a programme has been initiated on Niau Atoll. The programme includes collecting knowledge from the past, establishing walking tracks to facilitate access to certain sites, and clearing sites that are obscured by vegetation.
Regenerating coconut groves
Activities involve clearing all land (claimed, alleged state-owned and state-owned) and replanting with non-hybrid coconuts (of designated origin) in accordance with studies conducted by the Sustainable Development Service, while avoiding destroying patches of original Tuamotu vegetation and any protected species.
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Ensuring scientific monitoring of the Biosphere Reserve
The Biosphere Reserve Scientific Committee is proposing to identify parameters and indicators which are simple and relevant enough to be able to measure changes in the Camargue relating to biodiversity, water, human activities, coastal issues, etc. The information will be stored in a joint observatory for the entire Delta. Six discussion workshops have already been established with a dedicated facilitator for each. The project may be able to find funding under the quality-resources-biodiversity section of the interregional Rhône Plan contract.
A large number of scientific organizations are currently working in the Camargue. They are attempting to identify (or generate) benchmarks for Biosphere Reserves in relation to biodiversity, as well as indicators of its overall condition.
Biosphere Reserves
Getting to know the Camargue Biosphere Reserve
A collection of 15 annotated maps, published in the form of a small atlas, presents the key features of the Biosphere reserve: zoning, coastal development, flooding, irrigation systems, natural environments, human activities and land use. Co-published by the Camargue Regional Natural Park (PNRC) and the Joint Committee for the Camargue in the Gard (SMCG), the atlas is available upon request for educational purposes, and is on sale at the Reserve’s visitor centres.
Camargue from Above, aerial views of a Biosphere Reserve.
This photographic exhibition by Jean Roché shows the Rhône delta from an aerial perspective. It accompanies the book Camargue Land'Art: la Camargue vue du Ciel (in French, published by Actes Sud) which presents the site through its unique characteristics – the connection between humans and nature, and the landscapes which result from this relationship. The exhibition travels to each of the communes of the Biosphere reserve and further afield.
Public awareness in schools and for visitors
In partnership with the French Federation of Camargue Races, school activities are offered to Biosphere reserve students on the theme of Camargue races and the role of the herds in maintaining biodiversity. Many other activities and guided tours are offered to schools and the general public.
Supporting agri-environmental projects
A fairly substantial proportion of the Biosphere reserve site is part of the Natura 2000 network of European sites of particular environmental importance. The Biosphere reserve’s administrative authorities are in charge of drafting and implementing objectives documents.
They also oversee contractual arrangements between farmers and the State according to specific terms. These arrangements involve livestock farmers, rice growers, wine producers, reed cultivators and salt producers, and the agreements range from Natura 2000 contracts to agri-environmental measures and/or charters.
Actions
Supporting agropastoral activities
Agropastoral activities (agriculture and grazing) help maintain a dynamic agricultural sector without sacrificing the ecological value of the land, by developing extensive grazing and by fighting against scrub encroachment. Cévennes National Park – Biosphere Reserve supports and encourages these activities.
On Natura 2000 sites, it is working with volunteer farmers to implement agri-environmental measures in the area. These agreements apply to species and habitats that have been identified as priorities, and aim to prevent overgrowth and scrub encroachment.
For many years now, rural land managers in the Causses have been teaming up with research organizations, as on the Fichade estate (at Cros Garnon), to optimize grazing strategies, aiming to find a balance between production and conservation objectives in these areas.
The French government, regional authorities and Europe co-finance programmes that help land owners with conservation management work such as felling pine trees.
In encouragement of the practice of transhumance, there are programmes to build and restore pastoral huts, add features such as fences and water access points, restore tracks and troughs, and clear vegetation.
Raising public awareness thanks to the Nature Festival
For the last twenty years or so, the Park’s annual Nature Festival has offered walks and varied activities such as exhibitions, workshops, shows, etc., all related to natural and cultural heritage. Organized throughout the year, they are designed for adults and children, locals and holidaymakers alike. The programme is rich and diverse.
- For further information : Festival nature
Teaching children to recognize the effects of climate change
As part of the partnership between the National Park and the French national education system, schools involved in the Biosphere reserve’s volunteer programme work together to collect data for the Seasons observatory. Over 300 students from five schools and one college participate in the Phénoclim science programme, supervised by their teachers and nine park rangers.
Open to all age groups, with a twofold scientific and educational objective, the Phénoclim programme monitors changes in the vegetation due to climate change. It is conducted by the Alpine Ecosystems Research Centre (CREA), and is based on phenological observations of plants in mountain areas. Phénoclim began in the Alps in autumn 2004, and was implemented in the Massif Central in 2008 at the initiative of Cévennes National Park.
Phenology is the study of the annual cycle of the stages of growth and development of living things (flowering, shedding of leaves, arrival of migratory birds, etc.). Phenological events are climatic markers but they are also key elements in the adaptation of living things to climatic fluctuations.
- For further information : Phenoclim
Preserving old fruit varieties
The Biosphere reserve has a rich fruit heritage. Preservation of this heritage is the subject of numerous local initiatives. ‘Old’ fruit varieties can be selected according to many different criteria: seasonality (early or late), maximum storage time, mild or sharp taste, climate adaptation which is sometimes very localized, whether they are to be used fresh or cooked...
The Park is currently involved in the development of a global plan to build a network of conservation orchards for local fruit varieties.
This project will be in partnership with the pomology centre in Ales, which is well-known throughout France for its tree-growing expertise. It will also involve local stakeholders, orchard owners and farmers. Old fruit varieties will be identified and listed by valley or homogeneous area, and a cartographic database of this heritage will be created. In addition, a network of fruit biodiversity conservationists will be developed, and programmes of recovery, exchanges, training, and environmental education will be defined.
http://www.mab-france.org/en/biosphere/reserve-de-biosphere-du-luberon-lure/88//
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