Le Parc national des Cévennes
Aire de batage – Bellecoste ©EICC
Created on 2 September 1970, the Cévennes National Park is remarkable for its inhabited, cultivated core area. Thus, human activities have always been part of its existence and contribute to protecting the environment.
Managed by a national Établissement public à caractère administratif (public establishment of an administrative nature), it comes under the tutelage of the Ministry of Nature Conservation and its administrative centre is in Florac in Lozère.
Its core territory of 93,500 hectares encompasses Lozère, Gard and Ardèche, and is part of the Causses and Cévennes World Heritage Site.
The park was also designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1985, meaning that it was chosen to be part of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere programme. The aim is to promote an economic and social development mode based on conservation and development of local resources, in which citizens are encouraged to participate.
The State has set the Cévennes National Park seven main missions for its territory:
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territorial monitoring and environmental policy
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monitoring of cultural and natural heritage
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consulting and public engineering for the benefit of communities and individuals
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creating or supporting the creation of amenities aimed at preserving biodiversity, natural environments, vernacular architectural heritage and landscapes
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creating or supporting the creation of tourist reception infrastructures
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organising activities in the territory and providing sustainable development education for young people
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production of books and exhibitions presenting its diverse and valuable heritage.
The Cévennes National Park is one of the major management bodies in the territory and thus works with the Entente Interdépartementale des Causses et des Cévennes to manage and protect this exceptional territory by working towards its own objectives.
To this end, it recently drafted its new charter, approved by decree on 8 November 2013. This planning document, resulting from the Law of 14 April 2006, pertains to a joint territorial project shared by the core area and its surrounding areas, i.e. with the area now called the “membership” area (“aire d’adhésion”), which municipalities can freely choose whether or not to join.
Valid for 15 years, the charter develops measures that directly concern World Heritage Property themes, such as promoting heritage, developing sustainable planning, supporting agriculture, managing water, protecting nature, landscapes, etc.
To find out more, download: « Les Causses et les Cévennes, paysage culturel de agro-pastoralisme méditerranéen inscrit sur la liste du patrimoine mondial en 2011 – Contribution de la charte »
To find out more about the Park: www.cevennes-parcnational.fr
