Brochure Parcs Nationaux de France Anglais

8/2/2019 Brochure Parcs Nationaux de France Anglais

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France is now home to nine flagship areas which set a global example.These areas serve to underline and highlight the exceptional quality of the country’s regions and

landscapes, its desire to safeguard biodiversity and its commitment to ensuring sustainabledevelopment. These unique natural gems are France’s national parks with the extraordinarydiversity they display: the mountain landscapes of Vanoise, Ecrins, Mercantour and thePyrenees, the marine environment of Port-Cros, the highlands of Cévennes, the tropicalsetting of Guadeloupe, and the Amazonian forest of French Guiana and Réunion.

At a time when the concept of nationhood is being reawakened in the French nationalconsciousness, it is impossible to ignore that our landscape is just as important a part of this asour language and our history. This is because the educational pioneers of the French Republictaught us, showed us, and celebrated natural wonders such as the peaks of the Alps,Gavarnie, the Tarn gorges, the Mediterranean and the Piton de la Fournaise, and the fact thatwe are proud to be French, or rather, that we have a sense of shared ownership of andresponsibility for a natural environment that belongs to everyone who loves it.

The world has seen many changes since the law establishing our national parks was

introduced in 1960. The administration of French territory has been revolutionised by a processof decentralisation. The reduction in working hours, increased life expectancy andtechnological innovations have given rise to new leisure opportunities, and our uniquenatural landscapes are a popular place to enjoy this new-found leisure. Above all, theFrench people have an ongoing desire to participate, to play a part in their own history, to beactively involved instead of simply witnessing, and this is gradually giving rise to a commitmentto ecology where the need to protect is compounded by a need to share.

The act which came into force in April 2006 aimed to introduce more democracy to the running of

the national parks, more coherence in the definition of their scope, and more respect for thepreservation of local traditions and customs.

Above and beyond the actual wording, the fundamental principles we will be presentingdescribe the spirit of the law. Terms like ‘core zone’, ‘partnership zone’ and ‘national parkcharter’ will soon be part of your vocabulary. It is now up to you to develop these concepts asyou see fit but with due respect for the intentions of the law to produce an end result which isappropriate to the identity of each of France’s nine national parks.

Jean Pierre Giran Chairman o e Board of Administration of the public institution Parcs Nationaux de France,

Law Reporter to the National Assembly for the act of 2006

The national parks of France:reference areas



UNIQUELY FRENCH

A national park is an area with manyoutstanding characteristics, a remarkablecombination at national or international levelof geology, biodiversity, the dynamics of

ecosystems, human activity and landscapes.In these areas, the state establishes anorganisation whose aim is to achieveexcellence in the preservation andmanagement of the area.

The classification of an area as a nationalpark indicates a political will to make thearea clearly stand out at national and

international level, to implement aexemplary, integrated policy of conservation and management, and also toeducate people about nature, providerecreational opportunities, and to preserveour heritage for future generations.The character of a national park is ofteninseparable from the communities whohave left their footprint on the biodiversity

and landscape of the area, particularly inthe form of pastoralism and forestmanagement, and have contributed tocreating a genuine balance.

The creation of a national park requires aregional development project founded on ashared, integrated and vibrant vision of thevalue of natural environments andlandscapes:

•

A shared vision because the aim of creating a national park is to shape thefuture of an area in a partnership involvingthe state and local communities;

• An integrated vision because the areas inquestion constitute a coherent whole, ageographical and ecological unit, and theproject highlights ecological interdependencies.This is why each national park consists of acore zone and a partnership zone withdifferent but complementary managementconcepts;

• A vibrant vision because this regionaldevelopment project must be vested withdynamism. It involves all concerned parties inthe management of the park. The charter, themanagement document of the national park,

represents shared governance and a sharedvision.

The national park:

a reference area



THE CHARTERThe charter establishes a regionaldevelopment project, a collaborative effortbetween the state and local communities,after consultation with those involved. The

charter links the ‘core’ zone or zones of thepark and local communities invited to join thepartnership zone in different ways and in linewith the principle of ecological solidarity. For the core zone it defines the conservationobjectives for the natural, cultural andlandscape heritage of the area, and for thepartnership zone it sets out guidelines for conservation, enhancement and sustainable

development. The key aim is to take accountof ecological continuity while preserving aliving space and place for sustainabledevelopment. This is a new concept of anational park, based on a shared, integratedand vibrant vision of an area composed of different parts but forming a coherent whole,requiring a new kind of governance.By committing themselves to the charter, theparties involved acknowledge theexceptional value of the core zone of thenational park and choose to give preferenceto conservation-based management. Theycommit themselves to providing

the means to consolidate the ecological,economic, social and cultural solidarity thatexists between this zone and thesurrounding areas, based on a concept of sustainable development.

The national park charter, drawn up in acollaborative process and adopted after public consultation, is intended to set out the‘regional development project’ of the nationalpark as a whole and to structure the policy of this public institution.

The fact that activities and facilities are takeninto consideration means that, occasionally,

some objectives are in conflict with others –which means that choices have to be made.Different choices may be made dependingon local circumstances. Thus, even in thecore zone, further subdivision of the area is justified whereby emphasis can be put ondifferent needs according to a set of priorities specific to each zone.This is particularly true of wilderness areas,

which can be established in the core zone toprotect particularly important referenceareas.



ECOLOGICALSOLIDARITY

The ecological solidarity between the corezone and the partnership zone exists on twolevels, for the mutual benefit of the twozones, reflecting the reality of a living spaceand sustainable development.

The national park as a public institution andthe national park charter are intended todevelop and enhance forms of land use thatare compatible with conservation, naturalhabitats and species residing in the corezone, and to a lesser extent in thepartnership zone, and to prevent negativeimpacts on the core zone.

The preservation or restoration of natural or semi-natural environments in the core zonerequires us to take into account the large-scale functioning ecological units they are

part of, together with certain environments,comparable or not, in the partnership zone.

Conservation management of the core zoneoften serves to reinforce and preserve thenatural resources in the partnership zone, interms of quality and quantity, such as water,

certain game, or the increase in numbers of animals that spend the summer in the corezone. The proximity to a rich natural, culturaland landscape heritage improves the qualityof life for residents in the partnership zone,making the area around the core zone moreattractive. High demand for visitor access tonational park core zones is favourable to the

development of tourism, the management of which is an aid to sustainable developmentfor the partnership zone.



THE CHARACTEROF A NATIONAL PARK

The core zone constitutes a vital part of thecharacter of a national park. This character is based on physical aspects, such as a rich

natural, cultural and landscape heritagewhich can be concretely and objectivelydescribed, but also non-physical aspects:everything that stirs human emotion,respect, inspiration, or an opportunity for personal reflection. It comes down to thespirit of a place, the fascination of the wholerepresented by the core zone of thenational park, and its particular attraction.

This character is deeply rooted in thehistory of the region, yields many differentinterpretations of the area, and continues toassert itself during the course of natural,economic and social changes. The charter identifies the key elements that make upthe character of a national park.

MANAGEMENTOBJECTIVES

The core zone of a national park is an areaof excellence in conservation management.

This approach to management aims topreserve, develop or restore ecologicalfunctions and avoid the fragmentation of natural environments. In certain cases,particularly wilderness areas, all humanactivity is prohibited in order to allowecological processes to take place withoutany kind of interference.

The core zone is a reference area whichmust allow us to study long-termdevelopments, for example in relation tomajor issues such as climate change or bycomparison with neighbouring areas whichare in ‘ecological decline’.

In the core zone, long-term conservationefforts must guarantee the survival of our

natural heritage, biodiversity, the dynamismof land-based and marine ecosystems, our cultural and landscape heritage, thecharacter of the national park and regionalidentity.

The national park core zone:

an area of high standards



Where it is inhabited by people, the corezone is also a reference area for recordingthe traditional practices of local people andthe links they have forged with their naturalenvironment in order to satisfy their needs,while respecting the need for conservation.

In the core zone, management must take intoaccount the presence of traditional activitiesand ways of life. These traditional activities arepermitted by special dispensations, andtraditional skills and knowledge are recognisedand valued while respecting the conservationobjectives of the park’s core zone.

The core zone is also a place of discovery,tranquillity, reflection and inspiration, wherehuman use of the landscape is controlled. Itencourages the values of respect and sharing.

Measures taken in the partnership zonethrough the charter must enable local bodiesand communities to make appropriate use of the valuable heritage of the core zone in order to guarantee long-term protection.

The consequences of certain facilities andactivities in the partnership zone for the corezone must be carefully managed, with duerespect for ecological solidarity to ensure thatthe core zone is not affected.

MANAGEMENT APPROACHES

In the core zone, the national park as a publicinstitution has a responsibility to ensurecompliance with regulations andimplementation of the management objectives

set out in the act passed on 14 April 2006, thedecree of application of 28 July 2006 and theindividual decree of each park. This is how thepublic institution ensures the management anddevelopment of the area. The practicalimplementation of management objectives isensured by different parties, the publicinstitution being charged with overall steeringwithout directly influencing the process, unlessit is tasked with doing so by the owner, or isitself the owner.Measures relating to the natural environmentand biodiversity are intended to preserve our natural heritage in the diversity of its differentcomponents. This protection is dynamic, andthe free development of ecosystems is one of the key objectives of a national park. In national

parks where forestry, farming and pastoralismare practised, it is appropriate to selectmanagement approaches and measures thatencourage biodiversity and avoid the decline of the landscape.Management interventions in the core zonemust preserve the diversity of ecosystems andlandscapes, taking as a reference a detailed,global analysis developed on



a small scale and drawing on a whole range of intervention measures.

The various state services and publicinstitutions must contribute to the objectives of the national park, support the regulations thatapply in the core zone and accept anyconsequences – particularly financial ones –associated with their actions.

ACTIVITIES

Certain activities are permitted within the corezone, under certain conditions, because theyare compatible with the objectives of thenational park or even converge with theseobjectives. Thus, the parties involved arepartners in the protection policy.

In all cases, human activities must be managedin such a way that they do not result in negativeconsequences for our heritage. Any activitieswhich would harm the natural, cultural or landscape heritage of the core zone must beprohibited. Accommodation and visitor facilitiesin isolated areas must continue to functionwithout road access and with independent

energy supplies, with strong preference beinggiven to renewable energies.The charter will define the framework and goodpractice for projects undertaken in the corezone of a national park. Good environmentalpractice

relates primarily to agricultural, pastoral andforestry activities. Facilities considered for approval must take into account qualityrequirements and also the issues of integration,reversibility or rehabilitation. Regional identity isreinforced by aesthetic considerations, whichalso apply to artistic works. Techniques andmaterials are selected to harmonise with thenatural and cultural heritage. Preference is

given to traditional customs applied in acontemporary context.

The charter must pay special attention topressures, pollution and various nuisanceswhich would rob the natural environment of itsbeauty. Particular emphasis will be given toprojects initiated by multiple parties in theregion, which, taken individually, would seem to

involve little effect on the landscape andenvironment but taken together, if uncontrolled,would significantly alter the character andquality of the protected heritage in the corezone.

Where a core zone is home to communitieswhich traditionally make their living fromforests, the charter must pay particular

attention to the protection of their culture,traditional ways of life and activities, and mustinvolve the customary authorities in thedevelopment of those aspects of the charter which affect them.



The partnership zone:

an area of commitmentTHE CHARTER

The national park charter is based on ananalysis and common vision of key challengesaffecting the region, shared by the state andthe various parties involved. In the partnership

zone, it describes in concrete terms the aims of protection and sustainable development. Itbenefits and contributes to the value of theheritage in the core zone.

It is developed in a collaborative processconsisting of numerous discussions,consultations and repeated phases enablingprogressive acceptance by local communities

and the provision of detailed information.It is implemented and evaluated by regionalbodies, the most important of which is thenational park as a public institution.

The partnership zone is an area of coherenceand partnership. It offers local communities aframework for exemplary, harmonious andsustainable local development.

For the partnership zone, the aim of thoseinvolved in implementing the charter, with asolidarity and shared responsibility, is tosafeguard the fragile, dynamic balancebetween nature, culture and landscape and tocontribute to the harmonious development of

these areas. They are committed

to an ambitious regional development projectbased on the principles of sustainabledevelopment and drawing on the ecologicalsolidarity between the core zone andsurrounding areas.

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

The partnership zone is an area of sustainabledevelopment based on the preservation andenhancement of the natural, cultural andlandscape heritage. The preservation of harmonious interactions between people and

the environment, and the diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and the species wholive in them are a vital aspect.

The partnership zone is an area of coherenceand partnership which offers local communitiesa framework for harmonious development.

Facilities and activities in the partnership zonemust reflect the aims of the national park as a

whole. They must not have a negative impacton the protective measures established in thecore zone of the park. Decisions relating todevelopment in the partnership zone must becoherent with the policy observed in the corezone.



In the partnership zone of a national park,the charter offers both local communitiesand the state an opportunity to:

•preserve harmony between human activitiesand the natural environment,

•protect the quality and diversity of landscapesand natural habitats,

•ensure the compatibility of human activities withthe unique character of these areas and theobjective of protection of the core zone,

•support lifestyles and promote economicactivities which are in harmony with the quality of the natural and cultural heritage, as well astraditional social and cultural events,

•promote tourism and leisure activities which

respect the essential qualities and character of these areas, encourage people to explore themand educate them about the environment,encourage responsible behaviour on the part of visitors,

•encourage scientific and educational activitieswhich contribute to the long-term well-being of local communities and the development of public

support for environmental protection within thepartnership zone,

•benefit and contribute to the well-being of inhabitants by promoting natural and culturalproducts and services,

•contribute to a new identity which stronglyconveys the unity of the region,

•ensure coherence between policies in theregion, both in and between communities.

NATIONAL SOLIDARITY

The partnership zone is an area of solidarity. Thecharter expresses the collaborative choice infavour of enhancing the natural and culturalheritage of the region concerned.Based on the concept of ecological solidarity,communities in the partnership zone can benefitfrom national solidarity in exchange for their voluntary cooperation with conservation effortsand their commitment to the implementation of the charter to which they have freely subscribed.They can benefit from technical assistance fromthe national park as a public institution. Their projects, as described in the charter, will bespecifically provided for in contracts for stateregional projects, and they can benefit from the

protected designation of ‘national parkcommunity’.



The creation of a national park is alsobased on a collaborative process whichconsists of:

•the awarding of subsidies by the nationalpublic institution to projects that contribute to the

implementation of the charter;•technical assistance from the national publicinstitution;

•the option of using a collective national parkbrand designed to enhance products andservices that come within the scope of anecological process, particularly in terms of thepreservation or restoration of flora and fauna;

•tax incentives for individuals and organisationswho subscribe to management commitmentsand are based in the partnership zone or corezone of the national park.

The national park benefits from nationaland international recognition, contributesto the development of the region andbenefits from national solidarity,expressed by:

•the endowing of the prestigious label of ‘national park’;

•being accorded due consideration in guidelinesand measures defined by the state relating to themanagement of the area, natural and culturalheritage, and regional planning;

•an equal contribution in addition to the globaloperating grant for communities situated wholly

or partially within the core zone;•due consideration of the particular features of these areas in state financial programming;



Ministry of Ecology and SustainablePlanning and DevelopmentORDER OF 23 FEBRUARY 2007 ENACTING THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES APPLICABLETO ALL NATIONAL PARKS

The Ministry of Ecology andSustainable Development,Having regard to resolutions713 and 810 of the Economicand Social Council of theUnited Nations of 22 April1959 and 24 April 1961relating to national parks;Having regard to theConvention on BiologicalDiversity adopted in Rio deJaneiro on 22 May 1992,published by decree no. 95-140 of 6 February 1995,

particularly decisions V/6 andVII/28 of the Conferences of the Parties;Having regard to theEuropean LandscapeConvention, adopted inFlorence on 20 October 2000and published by decree no.2006-1643 of 20 December 2006;Having regard to theInternational Convention for the Safeguarding of theIntangible Cultural Heritage,adopted in Paris on 17October 2003 and approvedby law no. 2006-791 of 5 July2006;Having regard to the

Environmental Code, notablyarticle R. 331-1 thereof;

Having regard to theguidelines on managementcategories for protectedareas defined by the WorldConservation Union in 1994;Having regard to the reportentitled ‘Fundamentalprinciples applicable to allnational parks’, approved bythe Board of Administrationof the public institution ParcsNationaux de France on 5December 2006; Havingregard to the opinion of the

Inter-Ministerial Committeeon National Parks of 15January 2007; Having regardto the opinion of the NationalNature Protection Council of 16 January 2007;Having regard to the opinionof the Board of Administration of the publicinstitution of Parcs Nationauxde France of 24 January2007;Considering that theemblematic policy of nationalparks falls within the scope of an ethic of responsibility andrelates to the implementationof the constitutionalenvironmental charter;

Considering that theinternational recognition of national parks in Francedepends on the compatibilityof the fundamental principleswhich apply to them with theguidelines on managementcategories for protectedareas defined by the WorldConservation Union;Considering that thepromotion by the state of local governance of nationalparks in relation to regional

development projects,designed on the basis of areas requiring protection,must be reconciled with arespect for internationalcommitments relating to theprotection of natural andcultural heritage andinternational standards for national parks of which it isthe guarantor, Has adopted:

Art. 1. “The creation of anational park is intended toprotect an outstandingnatural, cultural andlandscape heritage, thecomposition of which isdetermined in part by certain

human activities

The legislation introduced on 14 April 2006 declares that “eachpart of the national park charter comprises a general aspectrelating to the fundamentalprinciples applicable to allnational parks by virtue of their great heritage value, and anaspect specific to each nationalpark consisting of objectives or guidelines and measuresdetermined on the basis of itsparticular regional, ecological,economic, social and cultural

circumstances” (extract fromarticle L 331-3 of theEnvironmental Code).In accordance with article R.331-1 of the Environmental Code,the fundamental principlesapplicable to all national parkswere finalised on 23 February2007 by the Ministry of Ecology

and Sustainable Developmentfollowing the approval of theBoard of Administration of ParcsNationaux de France.



which are compatible withthe natural spaces thatcontribute to the park’scharacter, taking into

account the ecologicalcontinuity between theprotected areas in the corezone and surrounding areasaffected by a policy of protection, valueenhancement andsustainable development.The state undertakes to

provide exemplaryintegrated protection andcollaborative managementon the basis of a regionaldevelopment project in order to guarantee natural,economic and socialdevelopment compatiblewith the character of the

park.Art. 2. “The charter of thenational park represents aregional development projectfor the core zone and thearea belonging to thosecommunities invited tosubscribe to the national

park charter in accordancewith different frameworks for these two different areas. Ittakes into account large-scale functioning ecologicalunits in order to define for this living space a concerted,exemplary policy of protection and sustainable

development, in a sharedvision adapted to the

classified areas, to beadapted in the course of periodic evaluations. Itpromotes forms of land use

which are compatible withthe protection of landscapes,natural habitats, flora andfauna, and cultural heritage,and prevent negativeimpacts on the heritage of the core zone of the park.It defines zones, their aimand their management

priorities by evaluating theimpact of each form of useon our heritage. It alsoprovides a structure for thepolicy of the national park asa public institution.Art. 3. “The core zone of thenational park constitutes aprotected area and a

scientific reference area, of national and internationalinterest, providing anopportunity to monitor theprogress of naturalprocesses, particularly in thecontext of monitoringbiodiversity and climate

change. It is also an areawhere people can learnmore about nature and enjoypersonal reflection andtranquillity. The conservationof physical and non-physicalaspects of the park’scharacter, and particularly, inthis context, the

conservation of fauna, flora,geological formations, the

cultural heritage of the corezone and the preservation of the associated plurality of perceptions and values

offers present and futuregenerations a source of inspiration, culture and well-being protected by the state.Art. 4. “The conservation-based management of theheritage of the core zone isintended to maintain, inparticular, a good state of

conservation of naturalhabitats, fauna and flora,ecological functions and thedynamism of ecosystems,to avoid a fragmentation of natural environments and toguarantee the preservationof a regional identity. Thecontrol of human activities,

including tourism, must besufficient to guarantee theprotection of the heritage inthe park’s core zone and toguarantee the conservationof its character. In thiscontext, the national parkcharter must more

particularly:1o Identify the main aspectsthat make up the character of the national park; 2oIdentify important naturalreference areas in the corezone which could beclassified as wildernessareas;

3o Limit activities to ensurethat they are compliant or

compatible withthe objectives of protectingthe heritage of the corezone, promoting respectful

treatment of the naturalenvironment;4o Define and enhance goodenvironmental practiceconducive to the maintenanceof biodiversity, particularly inthe agricultural, pastoral andforestry sectors;5o Define aesthetic regulations

in the core zone in accordancewith the cultural and physicalheritage;6o Prevent any significantimpact upon the heritage of thecore zone, consisting of analteration in the character of the park by the cumulativeeffect of individual

authorisations;

7o Take into account, asnecessary, the culture,traditional ways of life,activities and needs of localcommunities residing in thecore zone and traditionallymaking their living from natural

environments, particularlyforests. The national park as apublic institution undertakes topractise conservation-basedmanagement of the core zoneof the park and organises itsimplementation with thecollaboration of the partiesconcerned.. It is

des parcs nationaux



responsible for implementingthe objectives of protection

and the regulation of humanactivities. The state and itspublic institutions contributeto the implementation of theobjectives of protecting theheri tage of the core zone,through scientific, technicaland (if necessary) financialinvolvement.

Art. 5. “The involvement of adel iberat ing body f rom acommunity in the guidelinesand measures relat ing toprotection, enhancement andsustainable developmentdefined in the national parkcharter for communi ti es

invited to subscribe to thenat iona l park char ter isintended to maintainharmonious in teract ionbetween nature and culture,p rese rving the natura llandscape and guaranteeingthe preservation of traditionalland uses and construction

methods, as wel l as theexpression of sociocultural

circumstances. It is alsointended to contribute to theprotect ion of the f ragi le,dynamic natural balances inthe core zone and the localcommunities invited tosubscribe to the national parkcharte r wh ich defines,particularly for the

partnersh ip zone, bothquantitatively andqualitatively, themaintenance andimprovement of the standardof living and naturalresources. In joining thepartnership zone, a

community:1o Commits to ensure thatactivities planned within thelocal area are compatiblewith the regionaldevelopment project definedby the charter and to takeinto account the key impactsof these act iv it ies on the

heritage of the core zone;

2o Benefits from the protecteddesignation of ‘national park

community’, associated witha wealth of he ritage of international importance,thus enhancing the value of the local area and theproducts and services thatcome within the scope of anecological processparticipating in the

preservation or restoration of natural habitats, fauna andflora;3o Benefits from technicalassistance and subsidiesfrom the national park as apublic ins ti tution for theimplementation of actions

designed to put into practicethe guidelines and measuresset out in the charter;4o Benefits from specialconsideration of thepartnership zone status instate financial programming,part icular ly with regard tocontracts for state regional

projects;

5o Entitles individuals andorganisations based in the

local area and involved ingood environmental practiceto certain tax incentives.Art. 6. “The partnershipzone, by reason of itsgeographical continuity andecological solidarity with thecore zone, contributes to theprotection of the core zone,

while enjoying the option of being an exemplary area interms of sustainabledevelopment.Art. 7 . “The Nature andEnvironment Di rector ischarged with the execution of this order, which w il l be

pub lished in the o ff ic ia l jou rna l of the FrenchRepublic.

Paris, 23 February 2007

NELLY OLIN



Les parcs nationaux et Parcs Nationaux de France sont des établissements publics du Ministère de l’écologie, du développement et de l’aménagement durables.

Brochure Parcs Nationaux de France Anglais

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