Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Nature Reserves

Regional nature reserves have the same management characteristics as national nature reserves, except that they are created by the Regions. They are now both a vector of regional biodiversity strategies and a tool for the valorisation of territories. A new competence for the Regional Councils In 2002, the Proximity Democracy Act gave the Regions competence to create regional nature reserves and administer the former voluntary nature reserves. Many Regional Councils have seen this transfer of management as an opportunity to engage in their nature protection policy. With regional nature reserves, the Regions have a regulatory tool equivalent to those of the State to protect remarkable natural areas. According to the terms of Law No. 2002-276 of 27 February 2002 on local democracy, “the Regional Council may, on its own initiative or at the request of the owners concerned, classify as a regional nature reserve properties of interest to fauna, flora, geological or paleontological heritage or, in general, to the protection of natural habitats”. They are mainly aimed at preserving biodiversity-rich sites. As such, they are key elements in regional nature protection schemes and will be part of the “biodiversity reservoirs” of the future national green grid.