IUCN Green List Regional Natural Park of the Northern Vosges

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Regional Natural Park of the Northern Vosges
Parc Naturel Régional des Vosges du Nord

france

Première liste

2018

Area
1276.71km²

Pourquoi la liste verte ?

The NRP has a population of 81,784 (2018 INSEE RP excluding Phalsbourg and Wissembourg). More than 2/3 of the territory is underlain by a 235-million-year-old sandstone substratum that determines vegetation type, hydrography and landscapes. The NRP is characterized by a high forest cover of 66%, 49% of which is state-owned. The NRP is characterized by a wealth of natural flora and fauna associated with remarkable ecosystems (moors and acidic peat bogs, forests, sandstone streams, traditional high-stem orchards, rocky outcrops). This territory is also marked by an exceptional cultural heritage at the convergence of multiple influences (architecture marked by the use of natural resources and in particular pink sandstone, archaeological heritage, regional language and culture, places of remembrance of major conflicts).

Attributs du site

ID WDPA

6307

Taille

1276.71km²

Désignation(s)

Regional Nature Park

Catégorie UICN

V - Protected Landscape/Seascape

Année de création

1975

Zone de protection marine

Non

Type de gouvernance

Gouvernance collaborative

Agence de site

Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement durable, des Transports et du Logement (MEDDTL) 

Responsable du site

Gabriel HIRLEMANN

Application

09 Jul 2023 (Relisting)

Évaluation de l'EAGL

21 Jun 2024

Soumission du Comité GL

30 Jul 2024

Président de l'EAGL

Jean-Philippe Siblet

Réviseur ASI

Mounia Essefiani

Résumé du site

The PNR has 85,000 inhabitants. More than two thirds of the territory is based on a 235-million-year-old sandstone substrate that determines the type of vegetation, hydrography and landscapes. The PNR is marked by an important forest cover of 62% of which 49% of state statute. Important faunistic and floristic natural resources linked to remarkable ecosystems (acidic moors and peat bogs, forests, sandstone streams, traditional orchards with high stems, rocky outcrops) characterize the PNR. This territory is also marked by an exceptional cultural heritage with the convergence of multiple influences (the architecture marked by the use of natural resources and in particular pink sandstone, the archaeological heritage, the regional language and culture, the places of memory of major conflicts). Summary in a few figures: – 84,000 inhabitants on 128,000 hectares – 81,200 hectares of forest, nearly 63% of the Park’s territory – 2,350 hectares of orchards – Highest point: the Grand Wintersberg 581 m – 1 natural reserve of 335 ha – 5 Natura 2000 sites (12% of the territory) – 4 integral forest reserves (515 ha) including a cross-border – 1,200 km of watercourses – 111 municipalities of which 2/3 in Bas-Rhin and 1/3 in Moselle – 41 castles listed or listed as historic monuments – 1 citadel – 28 museums and equipment – 5 works of the Maginot line – 110 historical monuments – 2,600 km of marked hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and cycling routes, of which 1,700 km are made by Club Vosgien

1. Valeurs naturelles

LE SUIVI DES VALEURS

SEUILS DE RÉUSSITE

ÉTAT DES VALEURS

SUMMARY OF TRENDS AND RESULTS

1-Evolution of the ecological status of rivers and wetlands (QEC1 Evaluative question charter n°=1).

Evolution of the number of "strategic thresholds*" hindering ecological continuity (free movement), by removal or development (IC2 = Charter indicator n°=2)

Starting value: 84 thresholds Target Goal: 59 thresholds (minus 30%) 2019 value: 63 thresholds

Over the centuries, humans have reshaped waterways and their wetlands to meet their domestic, agricultural and industrial needs. These activities have resulted in the multiplication of hydraulic structures and ponds along the waterways, which disrupt their proper functioning and naturalness. For example, in the Moder catchment area, a hydraulic structure is observed every 400m, and in Natura 2000 sites, a pond is present every 600m. 1Thus, recovering the natural dynamics of watercourses appears to be a priority in order to fight against silting up and maintain the habitats that are home to the Park's emblematic species. This restoration of the ecological continuity of the courses involves in particular the reduction of the number of strategic thresholds, by removal or by specific development. A strategic threshold is defined as an isolated or stringed hydraulic structure, which has a great impact on the natural functioning of watercourses and ecological continuity. Their removal or development generally makes it possible to restore several kilometres of watercourses. The target objective for the end of the charter is to reduce the number of strategic thresholds listed by 30% in 2012, from 84 thresholds to 59 in 2025.

2-New protected natural sites (QEC3)

Evolution of natural areas protected by regulation (RNN, APPB, RBD, RNR) (IC9)

Starting Value: 0.65% Target Goal: 2% 2020 value: 0.89%

Due to their rich heritage, the Pfälzerwald Biosphere Reserve and the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park were classified as Transboundary Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO in 1989. This territory is intended to be managed in a differentiated way according to its own zoning differentiating the space into 3 zones: buffer zones where resources can be mobilised under certain conditions, transition areas made up of urbanised areas and central areas with strong protection. The latter are home to species and natural habitats that constitute an important part of the natural heritage of our territory. As such, they are preserved as a priority in order to be able to pass them on to future generations. In 2012, the natural areas protected by regulation represented 768 ha, or 0.60% of the surface area of the Park. The objective for the end of the Charter for the natural areas protected by regulation is to increase from 0.65% (825.1ha) to 2% of the Park's territory, like the German part of the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve which has increased from 2.1% to 3%.

3-Evolution of the structuring environments of the Green and Blue Belt (QEC5)

Evolution of the surface in islands of senescence in public forests (CI15)

Starting values: 10.7 ha or 0.06% of communal forests 73.9 ha or 0.18% of state forests Target Objective: 186.7 ha, or 1% of communal forests, 630.7 ha, or 1.5% of state forests, 2020 values: 158.69 ha or 0.48% of the communal forests 204.8 ha or 0.49% of state forests

In the Northern Vosges, the nature protected by regulations is a string of small sites, all of which represented 0.65% of the Park's territory in 2012. These areas alone are not sufficient to maintain biodiversity everywhere and guarantee connections at the level of fauna and flora dependent on their ability to circulate over large areas. It is therefore essential to ensure the distribution of the key elements of the green and blue network throughout the territory, in line with the Regional Ecological Coherence Schemes (SRCE). In forest environments, the challenges of the green belt are particularly linked to the presence of old (large wood) and senescent (dead wood) stages. To respond to this, the Charter provides for the creation of a network of old-growth forests, distributed coherently throughout the Massif, by 2025, as well as the preservation of the forest matrix linking these islets. The purpose of indicator 15 is to monitor the evolution of the areas in islands of senescence in public forests.

4-Monitoring of the main bat wintering site - Rosteig/Soucht tunnel

Evolution of bat numbers during the winter in the tunnel

Starting values: 145 individuals in 2004 before securing the site Target value: 280 individuals (median 2004/2024) 2017: 333 indv 2018: 287 indv 2019: 471 indv 2020: 261 indv 2021: 495 indv 2022: 193 indv 2023: 253 indv

Trend towards an increase in numbers since 2004 with an increasingly marked winter thaw effect which complicates the implementation of annual monitoring and impacts the numbers of wintering bats downwards (2020, 2022, 2023). During very mild winters, forest species (the majority of which are present in this site) remain in arboreal roosts and do not necessarily take shelter in underground cavities.

5-Nesting of rock raptors - peregrine falcon

Annual monitoring of rocks during the nesting period

Target value: +/- 10 breeding pairs 2017: 12 couples 2018: 12 couples 2019: 12 couples 2020: 13 couples 2021: 12 couples 2022: 10 couples 2023: 7 couples

A rather favourable situation of the species on the territory over the period, however, acts of destruction by stocking have been suspected on some sites (a European trend organised a priori by pigeon racing enthusiasts) since 2021. The parallel development of the eagle owl leads to an increase in predation cases. We also observe regular conflicts of cohabitation with the common raven which can in some cases be the cause of reproductive failure.

6-Monitoring of lynx numbers

Opportunistic monitoring by photo-trapping carried out by the correpongants of the Wolf Lynx Network and other observers Indicator: attendance map according to a 10km/10km grid

Initial value: virtual extinction of the Vosges population Target value: Vosges population in a good state of conservation in a sustainable manner and as quickly as possible (details of the terms and conditions provided for in the viability study at the scale of the National Action Plan for the Boreal Lynx in progress) Fragile Vosges population: 10 individuals observed regularly in the Vosges mountains with an unbalanced sex ratio. 4 to 5 individuals are regularly observed in the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park

Increase in lynx sightings in the Vosges population in direct connection with the reintroduction of the species in the Palatinate in Germany. The situation remains precarious given the small number of individuals observed, including very few females.

2. Valeurs des services écosystémiques

1-Evolution of the use of mediation structures (QEC7)

Evolution of attendance at permanent nature and environmental education structures (CI18)

Starting values: 20,885 participant days 24,296 days Target value: Maintain 2018 value: 32,435 participant-days 37,569 days

The Northern Vosges territory is particularly rich in places of welcome and discovery activities, which serve the objective of knowledge and understanding of the territory. A particular place is given to the educational action of the actors of nature and environmental education (ENE) which is based on several dynamics: the presence of a network with a strong associative character (ARIENA) supported by local authorities, actions carried out in dedicated structures and in the field, partnerships with other actors and thematic diversification, which has been largely open to current issues in terms of energy, land and housing. However, these structures, whether associative or not, remain fragile and their sustainability is not guaranteed, as their activity is largely financed by public funds. In recent years, there has been a greater search for networking, a search for pooling, in particular to reduce certain expenses related to overheads, and a search for coherence for a better use of public funding. Indicator 18 of the Park's charter aims to monitor the annual attendance of nature and environmental education structures, in number of participants and number of days/participants.

2-Valorization of the exploitation of public forests in the local economy (QEC10)

Evolution of the volumes by species processed locally (extended perimeter of the Park) (IC25)

Starting values: Oak : 3685 m3 Beech : 40400 Sapin-Epicéa : 42230 m3 Pin sylvestre : 26779 m3 Total : 119730m3 Target Value: Observation and Monitoring Indicator 2015 values: Oak: 2801 m3 Beech: 47346 m3 Sapin-Epicéa : 9106 m3 Pin sylvestre : 18191 m3 Total : 84172m3

The forests of the Northern Vosges represent the emblematic natural environment of the park, by their surface area and by the habitats and species they contain. But they also have a long-standing economic vocation which is reflected in the existence of a major wood-related employment sector, comprising a hundred companies and more than 1000 jobs. However, the lack of investment in recent years, in a context of an increasingly competitive and globalized wood market, weakens this fabric of small and medium-sized enterprises, and in particular primary wood processing companies. To revive this wood economy, while promoting the evolution towards a more natural forest, the territory is mobilizing to develop high value-added wood production, focused on the use of local species of large and very large wood. Indicator 25 aims to monitor local trends in sawnwood production by species. In particular, it allows us to appreciate the volumes of sawn timber for the flagship species of the Vosges forests such as beech and Scots pine. This is an observation and monitoring indicator: no target value is set.

3-Evolution of the Park's landscape units (QEC17)

Evolution of the main types of land cover by landscape unit (in ha/year) (CI37)

Artificialisation evolution 2000-2008 (with LGV): +36.5 ha/year Piedmont: +12.4 ha/year Wooded massif: +4.6 ha/year Wooded plateau: +12.0 ha/year Open plateau: +7.5 ha/year Artificialisation evolution 2008-2012 (with LGV): +58.8 ha/year Piedmont: +21.0 ha/year Wooded massif: +11.3 ha/year Wooded plateau: +18.3 ha/year Open plateau: +8.3 ha/year Target value: Halving the evolution of surface areas artificialized Artificialisation evolution 2002- 2018: +37.6 ha/year Piedmont: +14.5 ha/year Wooded massif: +8.3 ha/year Wooded plateau: +8.2 ha/year Open plateau: +6.6 ha/year

From the 1950s onwards, the artificialisation of land accelerated sharply, with a peak in land consumption over the period 1970-1990. Since then, artificialisation has continued to gain ground, but at a slower pace. This artificialisation is mainly to the detriment of agricultural areas, but also of forest and semi-natural areas. This evolution is not homogeneous throughout the territory of the Park, it presents significant differences depending on the landscape units considered. Indicator 37 thus makes it possible to quantify, qualify and locate, by landscape sector, the evolution of artificialized territories, agricultural territories and forest and semi-natural areas over the period 2000-2012. The objective for the end of the Charter is to halve the evolution of artificialised areas, taking into account the landscape specificities of the territory.

3. Valeurs culturelles

1-Mobilization of the territory to protect its cultural, tangible and intangible heritage (QEC4)

Completion rate of the number of records of objects inventoried in the Museums of France (IC12)

Starting value: 45% Target value: 60% 2020 value: 80,7%

The Northern Vosges territory is rich in an exceptional cultural heritage, some elements of which, due to their rarity, their historical value or their ability to bear witness to the past of the Northern Vosges, must be preserved as a priority. Even though since the creation of the Park in 1975, the safeguarding of the remarkable heritage has benefited from strong support from local authorities and stakeholders, some elements still need to be identified and protected in the long term. It is with this objective in mind that the inventory of the collections of the museums of France is inscribed, which aims to ensure the administrative conservation and preserve the identity of the objects acquired by the museums or deposited there. Because of their entry into a public collection, inventoried objects benefit from a legal regime specific to public heritage, which guarantees their inalienability and imprescriptibility. The inventory is also a specific administrative document, which allows the local authority to identify and manage its collections in good conditions. Indicator 12 makes it possible to monitor the progress of the inventory of the collections in the museums of France where the Park's conservation service operates. The starting value of this indicator in 2012 was 45% (in terms of achievement rate). The target value for the end of the Charter is to achieve a completion rate of 60%.

2-Evolution of the offer of cultural and mediation structures/events heritage (CIP, CINE, Musées de France, EDSA, festivals, etc.) (QEC6)

Evolution of the professionalisation of structures involved in mediation actions (CI16)

Starting value: 14.3 FTEs Target value: Observation and monitoring indicator 2018 value: 30 FTEs

The Northern Vosges territory is particularly rich in places of welcome and discovery activities, which serve the objective of knowledge and understanding and respond to the curiosity of inhabitants and visitors. These actors offer activities and animations often resulting from individual strategies. This privileged way of proceeding is to be seen in relation to a particularity of heritage facilities, the mode of operation of which is largely associative. Several EDSAs* in the area are managed entirely by the volunteer members of the management association. While this commitment of volunteers energizes the cultural network, it also conditions the level of involvement in mediation projects. The influence is particularly strong on the sustainability and frequency of opening, participation in the management of the collections, mediation around the collections and the implementation of a communication and tourism strategy. The objective of indicator 16 is to monitor the professionalisation of heritage mediation structures, through the number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) employed in them. At the beginning of the Charter, the value of the indicator was set at 14.3 FTEs. There is no set target as indicator 16 is an indicator of compliance. *Discovery facilities with public reception service

3-Enhancement of the specific know-how of the territory (QEC12)

Evolution of tools and initiatives for promotion, or knowledge of the specific know-how that has been the subject of a partnership with SYCOPARC (sandstone, glass, wood) (IC31)

Starting value: 12 actions identified Target Value: Maintain Value in 2018: 12 actions on average per year

The Park is marked by a prestigious industrial tradition and sometimes unique know-how linked to the development of local resources (glass and crystal, wood, sandstone, iron). Some of the industrial companies, still present in the territory, are internationally renowned. Crafts are also an important economic lung. The challenge is to perpetuate and keep alive this tradition of excellence by applying it through new know-how. 1In the future, the territory can still rely on the development of local resources and the know-how that results from them. Areas such as the exploitation and processing of stoneware, wood, glass and crystal manufacturing, prestigious gastronomy or renovation, construction and ecological housing can represent interesting development potential and sustainable local employment sectors over time. 1Support for the maintenance of this "heritage" and sustainable economy will involve the structuring of business networks, research and innovation. The challenge is to provide maximum added value in the transformation of local resources by local stakeholders. It will also depend on the emergence of new know-how and the ability to pass it on. 1Indicator 31 lists the actions carried out in partnership with SYCOPARC to promote know-how related to the development of local resources. The starting value observed in 2012 shows 12 actions undertaken. This is an observation indicator and there is no target value to be achieved.

Résumé de la conservation

After presentation of this assessment and discussions, the EAGL experts unanimously voted in favour of renewing the Green List label for the Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park. The EAGL congratulates the management team for the work carried out as part of this renewal stage on the Green List and more broadly for the high quality of the management actions conducted to preserve the exceptional natural heritage of the Park. The results achieved in terms of governance efficiency and equity are excellent, as demonstrated by the rate of adherence of the municipalities to the Park’s charter project. The professionalism of the management team and the achievement of conservation objectives are inspiring for the entire collective of French Regional Natural Parks. In addition to the recommendations made by the assessor in this report regarding compliance with the Green List standard, the EAGL would appreciate if the Park further promoted the label, notably by highlighting this international distinction in the Park house space and on its website. The label would also benefit from better promotion among local partners and among the general public (particularly schools). This positive deliberation will be communicated to the Green List Panel, which will subsequently decide on maintaining the Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park’s inscription on the Green List.