The Camargue Biosphere Reserve was in keeping with the limits of the National Reserve of Camargue since its naming in 1977. Between river and sea, Europe and Africa, the great biological richness of this area is especially illustrated by 272 birds species. Its 13000 hectares of naturals environments are constitued with a kaleidoscope of ponds, which the greatest, the "Vaccarès", occupy 6500 hectares of lagoons, sandhills and fossils, of beaches and an original ecosystem where species deals with strong salinity : a "halophilic steppe" with saltwort called "sansouire".
The reserve's summer desert changes to a huge flooded area during the winter. That is why fauna and flora are restricted. However, thousands of species find there their predilection habitat during a part of the year. Migrating-birds (tens of thousands of wintering wild ducks), half-sedentary (more than 40000 pink flamingos), or fishes (tens of fresh-water, marine or briny-water species) constitue these vertebrates greatest part. Boars, foxes, rabbits and Camargue wild horses occupy the highlands of the area. Sansouire is the typical landscape of Camargue. Trees and thickets are rare but saltwort, which is very suitable to salted soil, grows there.
This area, which biological richness is undeniable, does not fulfil UNESCO's criterions anymore to be a full-fledged biosphere reserve. On the other hand, it could become the central area of the new biosphere reserve of Camargue, greater and consistent with the statutory scope of the worlwide network. This reserve revision has been started in june 2004. If it does not lead to success, the reserve will be removed from the worldwide network.
Co-ordinations to aim at extend the territory are still in progress. This revision is in the hand of the Parc Naturel Regional of Camargue.
Département : Bouches-du-Rhône (13) Latitude : 43° 30' north Altitude (min/max) : 0 m / 4 m Central areas: Approximate population:
Region : Alpes-Provence-Côte d'Azur and Languedoc-Roussillon
Longitude : 4° 30' eastMain ecosystems: salt marshes, salt steppes, dunes, lagoons
Buffer areas:
Cooperation area:
The Current Biosphere Reserve corresponds to the National Reserve
Protected areas of the Camargue
Address :
Société Nationale de Protection de la Nature
La Capelière
R.D. 36D
13200 Arles
France
Tel : 04 90 97 00 97
Fax : 04 90 97 01 44
E-mail : info@parc-camargue.fr
Web site : www.parc-camargue.fr
Links to other sites :
Fédération des Parcs Naturels Régionaux : Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue
© MAB-France, 2004
Contact : webmestre