Le Marais Poitevin is a unique place in France. Also called the Green Venice, this natural beauty is classified Regional Natural Park and labeled Grand Site de France. These commitments make this territory an exceptionally preserved place whose several actors and in particular locals, work daily to save this market gardening land.
Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park
Le Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park was created in 1979 to protect this unique and protected natural and cultural heritage, located in the departments of Vendée, Two Sevres and Charente Maritime, in the West of France. It covers an area of more than 100 000 hectares, distributed 92 Commons and is made up of marshes, canals, rivers, meadows and forests. Remember that it represents the first wetland on the Atlantic coast. He is recognized for his exceptional ecological wealth and is home to a wide variety of animal and plant species, as well as remarkable landscapes, as evidenced by the Grand Site de France label.
The Park is managed by a team of professionals under a mixed union, who work in close collaboration with the local populations to promote a sustainable development, of the region, for save, restore et valorize this natural and cultural heritage, while promoting economic and social development in the region.
Composition of the joint union:
- Both Regions: New Aquitaine et Pays de la Loire
- the three Departments: Charente Maritime, Two Sevres et Vendée
- to Public Intermunicipal Cooperation Establishments (EPCI), each for their skills, at their request, among those located partly or entirely within the perimeter defined by ministerial classification decree:
- to Chambers of Agriculture from Charente Maritime, Two Sevres and Vendée
- the 92 member municipalities.
In 2014, the Marais Poitevin became the 49th Regional Natural Park of France. This label represents an excellent lever to continue the environmental excellence and economical, through the numerous actions of preservation and revaluation undertaken by the Park and its partners.
The main missions of the Park:
- Economic development;
- Protection of natural heritage;
- Land use planning, energy and climate;
- Education for the environment and sustainable development.
Brand Values Regional Natural Park
Le Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park officially hands oversince 2016 la national brand “Regional Natural Park Values” for all the products, know-how and services of local professionals who are committed to protection of the environment, the well-being of residents and employees and the local economy.
To date, the Park has awarded the mark to more than 80 professionals offering agri-food products, traditional and innovative know-how and tourist services.
To consult all of the labeled structures “Regional Natural Park Values” on the 3 departments forming the Marais Poitevin, click here.
Grand Site of France
The Grand Site de France label is a distinction granted to the most remarkable natural or heritage sites in France. This label was created in 2003 to highlight the most exceptional and promote sustainable and responsible tourism.
The Grand Site de France label is awarded by a national committee composed of representatives of the Ministry of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Energy, the Ministry of Culture and Communication, as well as representatives of local authorities and scientific experts.
The label award criteria are based on:
- The quality of the site;
- Its management;
- The involvement of the local population;
- The capacity of the site to accommodate a large number of visitors while preserving its unique character and fragility.
Labeled sites must therefore put in place management actions to preserve their natural and cultural heritage, while developing environmentally friendly tourist activities.
This Grand Site de France label is a prestigious recognition for labeled sites which benefit from a increased national and international visibility, as well as funding for the implementation of sustainable tourism development projects.
Currently, there are 44 sites labeled Grand Site de France, among which we can cite the Marais Poitevin, obviously but also Mont Saint-Michel, the Gorges du Verdon, the Pointe du Raz, the Cirque de Gavarnie, the Bay of Somme, the Calanques of Marseille, or even the Puy de Dôme.
The Ramsar label
Designation as a site Ramsar constitutes, for each wet area concerned, an international label of recognition , here reward et values the actions of sustainable management of these areas and encourages those who implement them to continue them.
This registration cannot be limited to a “label” that is more or less exploited economically or touristically. It creates obligations which, without being strictly regulatory, nonetheless remain strong.
Indeed, by signing the Ramsar convention, France has undertaken to report to the secretariat of the convention on the “conservation of ecological characteristics” wetlands for which it has obtained registration. Furthermore, at the international level, it is essential that France demonstrates that it still has a dynamic and innovative vision of the preservation and sustainable management of wetlands.
source: https://www.zones-humides.org/s-informer/association-ramsar-france/le-label-ramsar
