Protected areas

Contractual protections

INPN - National parks

A national park is a protected remarkable terrestrial or maritime area with exceptional natural heritage, culture and landscape.The main priorities are the protection of biodiversity, good governance, as well as the excellent management of heritage and tourist centers.National parks are typically composed of two areas:the heartland area and the area of adherence.

A national park's area of adherence is defined as all or part of a commune or district's territory that, wanting to become part of the national park particularly because of its geographic continuity or because of their ecological solidarity with the heartland, has decided to adhere to the national park's charter and, thus, voluntarily contribute to its protection.

When the area of adherence is a maritime area, it is also designated as the adhered maritime area of the national park.This type of area is intended to be a model space for sustainable development.Areas of adherence are classified under the IUCN Protected Area Category V 1.

1 Category V: Terrestrial or marine protected landscape
A protected area where the interaction of people and nature has produced, over time, an area with a distinctive personality and significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic values, and where preserving the integrity of this interaction is vital to protect and maintain the area, the conservation of the nature associated and other values.

 

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National Parks in France

INPN - Regional natural parks

The regional nature parks are designed to promote large areas of high cultural and natural interest; and to ensure sustainable development of these territories whose rural nature is often very prevalent. These are created following the desire of local authorities (municipalities, municipal associations, departments, regions) to implement a regional project materialised in the drafting of a charter. A park is certified for a period of 12 years by the State, and may be renewed. It ranks in IUCN category V1 (protected landscapes).

 

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Regional natural parks

1 Category V: Terrestrial or marine protected landscape
A protected area where the interaction of people and nature has produced, over time, an area with a distinctive personality and significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic values, and where preserving the integrity of this interaction is vital to protect and maintain the area, the conservation of the nature associated and other values.

INPN - Marine natural parks

The marine nature parks are designed, like the regional nature parks, to reconcile the protection and sustainable development of vast maritime areas whose natural heritage is remarkable. they rank in IUCN category V1 (protected landscapes).

 

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Network of French Marine Natural Parks

1 Category V: Terrestrial or marine protected landscape
A protected area where the interaction of people and nature has produced, over time, an area with a distinctive personality and significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic values, and where preserving the integrity of this interaction is vital to protect and maintain the area, the conservation of the nature associated and other values.