Volcans d'Auvergne Regional Natural Park
Natural environments Volcans d'Auvergne Regional Natural Park
The layered formation of the vegetation, a direct consequence of weather conditions modified by altitude, or even the variation of geological substrates, the effects of hillsides, slope and orientation, create a true diversity of environments. In this way, from the dry hillsides of the Limagne plain at an altitude of 400 m to the Sancy meadows at an altitude of 1,886 m, a huge number of natural habitats can be found.
However, without the action of mankind, the territory of Volcans d'Auvergne Park would be essentially covered by forest. The land was deforested for cultivation or pasture, creating diverse environments, in permanent change.
In fact, the human pressure exerted on this territory has been more or less considerable during previous centuries. Periods of heavy human settlement, where woods became scarce and meadows became impoverished, were succeeded by periods of development of the moors and then of the forest. After an intense spatial occupation at the end of the last century, farming pressure has gradually relaxed to finally leave room for a local reduction of farming.
Nowadays, forests, high-altitude meadows, moors, prairies, peat bogs, etc. make up the panel of different natural environments in the Park territory, at times containing exceptional protected fauna and flora. The Arverne mountain apollo, a small butterfly from the Auvergne highlands or even the Auvergne Jasione, an autochthonous mountain flower, are two symbols of this.
This remarkable biodiversity is therefore subject to national and European recognition aiming to ensure its protection. 30 Natura 2000 sites have been listed in the territory of the Park and 4 national nature reserves have been created to protect, manage and create public awareness about these natural treasures.
