The Mercantour National Park is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. On this occasion, a presentation of the future program and challenges took place at the Asian Arts Museum in Nice. The event was attended by Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Department, Christophe Viret, Director of the Park, numerous elected officials, and forest rangers.
In his introductory speech, Charles Ange Ginésy revisited the history of the Park from 1979 to the present, highlighting the most significant events. “160 years ago, King Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia created a Royal Hunting Reserve on the slopes of the Argentera and Mercantour to restore populations of chamois and ibex. But it was a motion by the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes on November 20, 1946, requesting the creation of a ‘park in the manner of American national parks for the protection of the site, its flora, and fauna,’ in the Boréon sector that marked the first official act of a protection wish,” he stated.
However, it was not until 33 years later, in 1979, that the Mercantour Park was established, which led to intense local confrontations. Today, the core of the Park covers an area of 679 km² with specific regulations for human activities. An adherence area of 1,122 km² complements this space, with no other decrees apart from the environmental protections in force at the national level.
In the face of climate change, the speakers made the fight for biodiversity preservation a crucial issue for the Park’s future. “As President of the Department, I want to be the foremost defender of territorial solidarity, and I have made sustainable development a priority for the departmental community with the GREEN Deal,” emphasized Charles Ange Ginésy.
In 40 years, Mercantour has become a remarkable natural reserve for flora and fauna. For example, in 2019, there were 11,000 chamois and 1,650 ibex, whereas their populations were critical in 1979. It is also important to remember the natural return of the wolf in 1992, resonating with two amendments submitted a few months ago by Alpes-Maritimes senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, regarding the issues caused by the large population of this species and the increase in attacks on herds.
To mark this anniversary, events will punctuate the rest of the year, notably through three highlights:
– On July 6 and 7 in Valberg, numerous activities and creative workshops for the general public, as well as the first screening of Luc Jacquet’s short film about the Mercantour Park.
– An open weekend at the Park on August 3 and 4, with activities led by park rangers (hikes, educational activities).
– The closure of the 40th-anniversary celebrations in Nice, alongside the opening of the exhibition of portraits of Mercantour residents at the Espace Lympia on November 8.
