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How the Ecrins National Park is run The Park is administered by a public authority which is answerable to and largely financed by the central government (Ministry of Environment). It is controlled by a board of governors who are appointed from local mayors and councilors together with representatives of various social and professional fields and nature conservation associations. The board is assisted by a scientific advisory committee and reaches its decisions after taking into consideration the conclusions of specialised commissions. It is the board of governors which votes in the Park's annual budget which in 1985, for example, amounted to 22,500,000 F. The park's objectives Rangers have four main assignments: 1. To patrol and safeguard the park's central zone. All the rangers are sworn in and their authority is extended to the peripheral zone when dealing with any problems concerning hunting, shooting and fishing and likewise to the remainder of the departrnents of Hautes-Alpes and Isère when dealing with problems covered by the 1976 law on countryside protection. In all, the Park has 54 rangers covering its seven sectors which are the districts of Briançon, Oisans, Valbonnais, Valgaudemar, Haut-Champsaur, Ernbrun and Vallouise. 2. To carry out scientific fieldwork and research Work which is based on the drawing up of inventories of flora and fauna together with systematic analysis of snow cover and soil texture. These studies are aimed at producing a pool of geographical, biological and scientific information concerning the conservation area including that of the peripheral zone. More than 100,000 pieces of data are now on record. This information is used, amongst other things, for helping with ground allocation, for example when controlling development and carrying out research into the probable impact of future projects. Finally, particular effort is being made in the field of genetic conservation of wild and cultivated plant species and particularly the southem Alps genetic conservatory, which is based at Charance, near Gap, has now been established. 3. To provide visitors with information and facilitate their access to the park Here, the park takes particular interest in school children and each year some 20,000 of these plus 65,000 other visitors pass through our different information centres. In order to help these visitors to understand better the region and its wildlife, rangers have laid out nature trails, mounted exhibitions, slide shows and illustrated talks, and produced leaflets and other publications. 4. Local development The park takes a deep interest in the social and economic development of the local communities and gives aid towards attracting and catering for the tourist. It takes on the restoration of old buildings of interest, maintains footpaths, assists farmers and shepherds using more traditional methods. The park is also getting together with local and regional associations involved in tourism in order to develop schemes for promoting hiking and trekking of different kinds, an aspect of tourism that has not yet been sufficiently developed in the region. |
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