Context
The Regional Park of Corsica: the most beautiful garden in the world
Martine Chalvet
Made in 1976, this news film is about the creation, the mission and the management of the Corsica's regional park, whose aim is to protect the natural, cultural and historical heritage by developing an economy and a tourism respectful of nature and the Corsican traditions.
Currently the Regional Natural Park of Corsica covers over 350,000 hectares or nearly 40% of the island and includes more than 140 municipalities, most of the mountains and 80 kilometres of coast-line. Created in May 1972 to preserve Corsica's landscape heritage both natural and cultural, it fits perfectly into the French policy of regional natural parks. Based on rules for the protection of nature which are less restrictive than those of a national park, the regional park encompasses inhabited rural areas with a remarkable natural and cultural heritage but also provides the public with areas for recreation, rest and tourism. In the 1970's the regional natural parks were a way of developing difficult rural areas so as to support the people living there, while simultaneously protecting the environment and the landscape. In other words a way of conciliating the protection of nature with economic and social development.
The Regional Natural Park of Corsica was thus created to provide a balance between the inhabitants, the elected representatives and those who wanted to protect nature, like Roger Molinier, lecturer in plant biology at the Science Faculty at Marseille University. The regional natural park is managed in different ways. Management is centred round 3 organisations: a joint union management composed of elected representatives; the administration and the Association of the Friends of the Regional Park, a sort of think tank which liases between management and the public. Approved by the state, the park set out its various programmes for preservation and development in a charter.
At a time which saw the first ministry of the envirnoment (1971), the Coastline Law (1975) and the law for the "protection of natural spaces and landscapes, the preservation of animal and plant species, the maintenance of biological balance to which they participate and the protection of the natural resources against any form of degradation which may threaten them" (1976), the programme of environemental protection is even more important. It puts Corsica in a special case. Tourism was expanding rapidly, there was enormous pressure to build – the natural park of Corsica aimed to protect the forests, mountains, high-altitude lakes and some of the coastline as well as some sites well-known such as the Bavella pass, the Scandola nature reserve, the gorges of Restonica and the Fango valley. The setting up of a park also strengthened the protection of wild-life, particularly the bearded vulture, the osprey and mountain sheep, and the flora, particularly the endemic species. It also meant a more effective fight against the destruction of habitats by forest fires, uncontrolled camping, cars and boats and helped control the endless spread of flats and hotels. Witness of its own success this policy of protecting certain sensitive areas of the park has been re-inforced by specific legislation, and the Park now has international status. The Scandola peninsula has been classified as a national reserve (1975) and as a protected section of sea. It also appears on the list of Unesco world heritage sites (1983) and in Natura 2000, the European network.
Another aspect is that protection of nature must take into account the economic and social needs of the locals. It does not stop economic activity nor the exploitation of natural resources. Once held responsible for all the destruction of the woods and undergrowth, but also for the forest fires, the shepherds have been included in the park's remit. The forests are looked after by the ONF, who try to stop people clearing areas too close to already cleared areas, and preventing drastic cuts. On the coast fishing, without being totally forbidden, is controlled. Tourist development is also encouraged by e setting up places to stay and marked trails for walkers notably the well-known GR20. Nevertheless it must be a tourism of discovery. The errors of tourism development in the Var and the Languedoc must be avoided. Finally the park is founded on the respect for Corsican traditions and identity. The local craftsmen, the local cooking specialities, the popular traditions, local knowledge, architectural tradition and the Corsican culture are encouraged as means to develop sustainable tourism. In the same way the island culture is promoted. In the Levie region the park has suported the creation of a county museum of the Alta Rocca with an archaeological walk. From the Mare a Mare footpath the sites of Cucuruzzu and Capula can be admired, two casteddi (fortresses), remains of the Bronze Age. This is all part of an educational programmeto help visitors and school-children discover ethnology, ethnobotany, the architecural heritage, the landscapes and archaeology during a guided visit, or stays, green classes and discovery days.
Bibliography
- Héritier S., (coord.), Nature et patrimoine au service de la gestion durable des territoires, Ed. MRCT/CNRS, Meudon, 2009.
- Richez F. et J., « Parcs naturels et Tourisme en milieu méditerranéen français », Léandro Pedrini (coord.), Actes du colloque de géographie du Tourisme, Taormina, 2-5 avril 1973, tourisme et vie régionale dans les pays méditerranéens, publié en 1975
- Revue Travaux scientifiques du Parc naturel régional de Corse et des Réserves naturelles.