The Natural Reserve of Sainte-Victoire (140 ha) is located in the north-east of Aix-en-Provence, at the foothills of the famous eponymous mountain,. Created in 1994, the main objective of this national natural reserve was to protect our rich paleontological inheritage, mainly constituted by dinosaur eggs, whose reputation is international. Since 2016, the Department of Bouches-du-Rhône has conducted or authorized, as manager, a number of scientific missions in partnership with various national or international institutions (academics, associations or communities); using advanced methods and tools in an innovative way (isotopic geochemistry, 3D digital tools). This in order to increase our knowledge of our natural inheritage and to sustainably protect it.. The singularity of our management is characterized by an equal attention to the protection of the biological and geological inheritage. This approach is in line with the law of 8 August 2016 for « the reconquest of biodiversity, nature and landscapes », which includes geodiversity within biodiversity.
We are glad that efficient management and good state of conservation of 7 new French sites have been recognized by the Green List Program! I have no doubt they will constitute inspirational sources and new references for future applicants. Diversity and richness of habitats, species, governance systems and protection status of French Continental and Overseas territories are now well represented by those 22 Greenlisted sites. They will very soon be engaged in the creation of the Francophone Green List network and globally contribute to the international influence of the Green List
Conservation
Good governance
Community benefits
The Natural Reserve of Sainte-Victoire (140 ha) is located in the north-east of Aix-en-Provence, at the foothills of the famous
eponymous mountain. Created in 1994, the main objective of this national natural reserve was to protect our rich
paleontological inheritage, mainly constituted by dinosaur eggs, whose reputation is international. Since 2016, the
Department of Bouches-du-Rhône has conducted or authorized, as manager, a number of scientific missions in partnership
with various national or international institutions (academics, associations or communities); using advanced methods and
tools in an innovative way (isotopic geochemistry, 3D digital tools). This in order to increase our knowledge of our natural
inheritage and to sustainably protect it.
The singularity of this site management is characterized by an equal attention to the protection of the biological and
geological inheritage. This approach is in line with the law of 8 August 2016 for « the reconquest of biodiversity, nature and
landscapes », which includes geodiversity within biodiversity
Outcome of EAGL Vote on Site
Consensus
EAGL Summary
Pillar 1: Fair Governance The EAGL notes that the advisory committee of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain National Nature Reserve fairly represents the various stakeholders in the territory involved in the management of this site. In addition, the scientific council meets twice a year and makes the necessary recommendations for the management of this site in terms of the preservation of the remarkable geological and paleontological elements that justified its creation. Governance is also operational and complies with the French Environmental Code’s legislation requirements. The national nature reserve is integrated into a larger site which is the Grand Site de France Concors-Sainte-Victoire as well as within Natura 2000 zones, and would have deserved to describe the existing interactions between the different managers and operators. Indeed, there are complementarities between the objectives and issues covered by these different designations that it is important to include within the principles of governance of the applicant site. The EAGL considers that the National Nature Reserve of Sainte-Victoire Mountain has achieved all the standards of Pillar 1 of the Green List.
Pillar 2: Robust Planning The site management plan has been renewed and is operational until 2021. However, the dashboard methodology guide, which is well adapted to sites with the objective of biodiversity management is not so appropriate to specific values related to geological and paleontological heritages. Therefore, the site’s manager thought of it to adapt to the issues specific to the Sainte-Victoire. However, as the management objectives of the national reserve have now evolved towards the protection and enhancement of biological natural values in addition to geoheritage, the EAGL welcomes the reorientation work that is currently taking place as part of the revision of the current management plan, and the site’s manager training on the various methodologies of monitoring of populations and ecosystems, but also to take into account the cultural values and ecosystem services provided by the site. These last elements are already known and deserve to be the subject of dedicated chapters and objectives in the next management plan. The EAGL also acknowledges that the manager is fully informed of the threats to his site and the core values associated with it. The EAGL considers that the National Nature Reserve of Sainte-Victoire Mountain has achieved all the standards of Pillar 2 of the Green List.
Pillar 3: Effective Management Threats to the main values of the sites are well managed (massive attendance, egg plundering, etc.) and adequate responses in connection with the stakeholders of the territory and civil society are made there. The Departmental Council which is responsible for the management of this site, allocates significant resources and therefore enables the implementation of surveillance and police measures which the EAGL considers to be entirely adequate. The EAGL also demonstrates the significant efforts of taxonomic inventories carried out in recent years and can only encourage the manager to integrate the various issues identified in relation to these discoveries with the next management plan as it is already planned. Threats and responses to global changes are still undervalued by the current management plan and will be better considered in the next management plan. The EAGL considers that the National Nature Reserve of Sainte-Victoire Mountain has achieved all the standards of Pillar 3 of the Green List.
Pillar 4: Successful Conservation The EAGL welcomes the remarkable conservation efforts of the geoheritage that have been carried out by the manager for many years on the Sainte-Victoire National Nature Reserve. As the conservation status of the biological compartments is not a full objective of the current management plan, these elements have not been assessed but will be assessed in the next management plan, based on indicators and thresholds defined through ongoing work and the assistance of the local scientific community. The EAGL considers that the National Nature Reserve of Sainte-Victoire Mountain has achieved all the standards of Pillar 4 of the Green List. Decision Following the review of the application of the National Nature Reserve of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain, the EAGL welcomed the remarkable efforts of the team of managers for the conservation of the values of the site and underlined the quality and completeness of the file.
On the basis of these elements, the EAGL voted unanimously in favour of the inscription of the National Nature Reserve of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain on the protected areas green list. The sites’s visit report is available on another platform for the reviewer and Committee anytime.
Reviewer Summary
The Reviewer confirms that the GL process of the “Réserve naturelle de Sainte Victoire” (which includes the Sainte Victoire mountain, worldwide famous for being the favourite inspiration and “model” of French painter Paul Cézanne) is in line with the rules and procedures of the User Manual. All required information and documentation were recorded in COMPASS (the site visit report, which was shared with the EAGL members and the Reviewer prior to the EAGL meeting, will be provided to the Green List Committee through another platform). The site visit was conducted in line with the User Manual and all relevant stakeholders were consulted and their feedback considered. The site application was discussed during the EAGL meeting on March 4, which was attended by the site staff, mentor, and the Reviewer (remotely). As for all other candidate sites, the site representatives and mentor were given the opportunity to summarize their MoV and argumentation to demonstrate their site’s performance level. The site staff also explained the actions undertaken to reach some indicators that were not met at the beginning of their application process. The site visit report was then discussed, and relevant feedback given by the visiting EAGL member (in the absence of the site staff and mentor) before the EAGL unanimously voted for the nomination of the Site for the Green List, based on the above-mentioned elements. The Reviewer confirms that the EAGL report clearly reflects the outcome of the EAGL assessment and discussion on the site. The EAGL is required to follow up on the recommendations they made in their final report (related to some elements to be considered in the site next management plan) during the site mid-term review, should the site be Green Listed. The Reviewer validates the Green List process of the Réserve naturelle nationale de Sainte Victoire and submits the site to the Green List Committee for its final approval.
