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Natura 2000 site under pressure

Aug 16, 2022 / Delphine Ségalen, CIPRA France
Too many visitors are putting a strain on nature in the Trois Becs/F area and pushing the infrastructure to its limits. A study by CIPRA France proposes measures, including on-site personal sensitisation and greater communication.
Image caption:
The dry pastures of the Trois Becs, a rich ecological habitat that should be preserved. (c) Communauté de communes du Val de Drôme en Biovallé

Closing hiking trails is not enough: at the beginning of 2022, the association of municipalities of the Val de Drôme en Biovallée (CCVD) commissioned CIPRA France to conduct a study on the consequences of the large numbers of visitors to the Natura 2000 site, Trois Becs. What challenges do the various actors in the region perceive as a result of the high level of tourism? How do they assess coexistence in the summer pastures of Trois Becs? In order to answer these questions, CIPRA France staff conducted individual interviews with local representatives from such fields as politics, tourism, the local department, hunters, hiking associations, cattle breeding and mountain sports. They also organised workshops to jointly develop solutions on the topics of mobility, equipment and communication. The result is a report with possible measures, the implementation of which will now be decided politically by the municipalities.

In order to raise awareness of both waste disposal and behaviour in pastoral areas, there should be more staff and a greater presence in the main parking area. Other possible measures are to develop instruments for counting visitors or to penalise illegal parking. Some proposals triggered controversial discussions: some stakeholders want to increase the size of the car park, while for others this would lead to even more visitors. Furthermore, more communication should take place in the low season. Closer monitoring of flora and fauna and communication of this data could increase shared knowledge among stakeholders and allow for better decision-making.

 

Sources and further information:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVsr2pHMTus (fr), www.valdedrome.com/6531-deux-sites-natura-2000-et-une-reserve-naturelle.htm#par45248 (fr), https://inpn.mnhn.fr/site/natura2000/FR8212018 (fr)