Recreational drones incompatible with the tranquility of nature and users in the heart of the Mercantour National Park.
Despite the seemingly harmless appearance of these small flying objects, park rangers at the Park have made an alarming observation: noise disturbances, disruption, and flight of wildlife, risk of collision with birds of prey, disturbance of visitors make this practice a real problem for the respect of the tranquility of the National Park.
While the mountains are a space of freedom, a few simple rules allow respecting the place, the peace, and the nature of this preserved territory.
This is why the use of drones is now strictly prohibited in the heart of the Mercantour National Park for recreational purposes and is regulated for professional and commercial purposes.
Drones: sources of significant disturbance for wildlife
In concrete terms, despite its small size and the efforts of manufacturers, the use of drones is now a new source of disturbance for wildlife: noise is the main factor of nuisance, even if the object itself can also scare small animals on the ground and birds. The drone is often perceived as a predator. It generates intense stress and an almost immediate flight response or attack reactions, especially in some large birds of prey when the device gets too close to their nest. The result is a real disturbance of the vital daily activities of the animals (feeding, resting, reproduction, etc.) that can endanger the animals’ ability to survive, especially in winter and spring. In the wild, any energy expenditure or unusual behavior by animals can indeed cause their death, not to mention the risks of abandoning young or broods.
Drones: sources of disturbance for herds
Flocks of sheep or cows present in the alpine meadows can also be disturbed by the presence of these devices. The increasingly distant range allows pilots to take images without presenting themselves to shepherds and therefore without permission, nor, for some, respect for their work.
Intrusive practices for visitors
Simultaneously, for many people, the pursuit of calm, natural soundscapes, and a certain intimacy are reasons for visiting natural areas; drones counter these aspirations with the intrusive nature of their movement and method of image capture.
This practice goes against the expectations of the majority of hikers who come to the National Park seeking rejuvenation, tranquility, and the natural and authentic character that is the strength of great mountain natural sites.
The regulation of drone use in the heart of the Mercantour National Park
Recreational drone users are often individuals who know very little about the national regulatory framework applicable to their practice (even outside the protected area). For the moment, no federation brings them together and helps them have the right information. Faced with a trend that sees usage multiplying, the Mercantour National Park has been forced to regulate very strictly this activity on its territory.
