Gouvernance
According to the Charter for the management of French properties on the 2010 World Heritage List, “The State (Ministry of Culture and Communication and Ministry of Ecology) is in charge of:
- developing policies and regulatory frameworks for the safeguarding, protection and enhancement of the architectural, urban, archaeological, landscape and natural heritage concerned by the Properties registered on the World Heritage List,
- ensuring the nationwide consistency of their implementation with regard to the general territorial planning policy, in consultation with the local authorities responsible.”
Since the Causses and Cévennes property is registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an example of the Mediterranean agropastoral cultural landscape, it requires expertise and governance for a thorough understanding of the particular concept of a cultural landscape, drawing simultaneously on the fields of nature and culture. The Ministry of Ecology is responsible for the enhancement and preservation of the Causses and Cévennes Property, supported by the services of the Regional Directorates for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL) of Languedoc Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées, and the Regional Directorates for Cultural Affairs (DRAC) of the same regions.
Representing the State’s responsibility towards the Property, a Coordinating Prefect was appointed by ministerial order in January 2013. Today, the Prefect of Lozère fulfils this mission.
In accordance with UNESCO guidelines that encourage party States to ensure the participation of a wide variety of actors, site managers, local and regional authorities, local communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), other stakeholders and interested partners, a system has been in place since 1 July 2012.
It is organised around three authorities:
A Scientific Counci and working groups assist the The Steering Committee.
