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Mercantour National Park celebrates 30 years of working for nature and humankind
- Date :
- 16/06/2010
- Keywords :
- Biodiversity Cooperation France Management Italy Research
An exceptional area and model partner
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The Mercantour National Park is celebrating its 30th birthday but also over 20 years of cross-border cooperation with its Italian neighbour, the Alpi Marittime Nature Park. The two Alpine parks cover a mountain range where the natural resources have long been divided by a national border – a division that has been overcome through partnership. The Mercantour National Park is an outstanding area in terms of environmental value, landscape and its unique culture: it is one of the world's 34 biodiversity hotspots. |
Sharing 35 km of border, the Mercantour National Park and Alpi Marittime Nature Park have common aims (UNESCO heritage site, first European natural park established by forming a European grouping of territorial cooperation) and together form a protected area extending over almost 2,500 km² and marking the last link in the chain of the western Alps, spilling into the waters of the Mediterranean.
One big biodiversity survey
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In 2007, the Mercantour National Park, the Alpi Marittime Nature Park and the French National Museum of Natural History (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle ) launched the most ambitious survey of flora and fauna ever undertaken in Europe (second largest in the world): several hundred specialists from more than 15 countries are working with local naturalists and over several years will all contribute to a survey of the plant and animal species found in the two parks from 300 to 3,200 metres above sea level. An article describing the project can be found on pages 49 to 52 of the latest eco.mont journal (June 2010) . |
50 years of national parks in France
In 2010, the French national parks will also be celebrating their 50th anniversary (law of 1960 establishing the French national parks). France currently has nine national parks, three of which are in the Alps (Vanoise, Ecrins, Mercantour) and is processing the proposal for a national park in the Calanques.