Parc Naturel Régional de l'Avesnois
The Parc Naturel Régional (PNR) de l'Avesnois is one of the 45 French regional nature parks. A PNR is a rural area with an exceptional natural and cultural heritage that has received national recognition, for ten years, which is renewable. This area is organized around a project designed to ensure its economic and social development with respect to the preservation and enhancement of its natural and cultural heritage. It also benefits from a quality trademark.
Some figures
- The PNR de l'Avesnois is part of the Nord Pas-de-Calais region, and has a border with Belgium.
- It was created in 1998.
- The PNR contains 129 municipalities; it stretches on 124.000 hectares and counts 130.000 inhabitants.
- 70 % of its area is for agricultural purposes (mainly dairy productions).
- The typical landscape of the Avesnois is the bocage, basically composed of pastures (47% of the territory) surrounded by hedgerows, with small woodlands as an additional element.
Goal
The Avesnois regional nature Park implements a project of sustainable development, which objectives are set in the Park Charter, the planning document established for ten years. The Park project is run by an organization gathering elected people from the local communities and associating local stakeholders in the decision-making. Its financial means are essentially provided by public funds.
Missions
- To protect its heritage.
- To implement economic and social development.
- To participate in the spatial planning of its area.
- To welcome and inform the public.
- To carry out experiments.
The main stake of the Avesnois Park is to preserve and promote its typical landscape, the bocage. For ten years, the Avesnois has been experimenting with alternative models of governance, ecosystem management, spatial planning, and local and community development.
Contact
Syndicat mixte du Parc naturel régional de l’Avesnois
Maison du Parc naturel régional de l’Avesnois
Grange Dîmière – 4 cours de l’Abbaye – BP 3
59550 Maroilles
France
Phone: +33-3-27775160
Contact person: Yvon Brunelle
E-mail address: yvon.brunelle@parc-naturel-avesnois.fr
Website: www.parc-naturel-avesnois.fr
