10 Naturals Parks : about us > IPAMAC ?

An exemplary network

Map of the Natural Parks of the Massif Central

The ten natural parks of the Massif Central have created an association (Act 1901): IPAMAC - Massif Central Inter-Parks Association.

The following Parks are members: Volcans d'Auvergne Regional Natural Park, Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park, Pilat Regional Natural Park, Monts d'Ardèche Regional Natural Park, Grands Causses Regional Natural Park, Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park, Millevaches en Limousin Regional Natural Park, Morvan Regional Natural Park, Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park and Cévennes National Park.

This network, created in 2000, strives to ensure economic and social development of the remarkable landscapes, heritage and fragile territories of the Massif Central.

The IPAMAC covers 6 regions: Limousin, Auvergne, Bourgogne, Rhône-Alpes, Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées.

Its actions are financed by the member Parks and supported by the State under the Inter-regional Massif Convention - Massif Central and by Europe under the Leader+ programme.

Towards sustainable tourism

Monts d'Ardèche Regional Natural Park

Thanks to the diversity of landscapes and the quality of the heritage, tourism is an important vehicle for the Regional Natural Parks to implement their charters. The opportunities for developing the rural environment and the saturation of certain destinations still remain a threat for these fragile territories. To save their attractions, the Parks are committed to economically sensible tourism which respects and preserves natural, cultural and social resources. This is the basis for permanent tourist activity that meets the needs of residents and tourists seeking a high-quality environment.

This is why, since 2002, the Natural Parks of the Massif Central have undertaken to apply the "European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in protected areas". This process offers the administrators of these areas and tourism professionals a series of guidelines for defining strategies and action plans on the scale of their territory. As pioneers in this approach, the Natural Parks of the Massif Central have been recognised as pilot territories nationwide and in Europe.

At the same time, the IPAMAC has undertaken actions to promote holidays in the Natural Parks of the Massif Central, aiming to contribute to considerably increasing the range of services and tourist holidays and to increase tourist flows into the territories of the Massif Central.

Tourist holidays in the Natural Parks of the Massif Central are based on strong values: environmental quality, eco-citizenship, openness and sharing.

A commitment to:  

• Ensuring travellers have a "unique experience",
• Enabling an understanding of the region,  by meetings and exchanges,
• Promoting responsible behaviour.