Reserve of biosphere

What a reserve of biosphere?

Some of us do not know it or forgot it, Luberon was declared in 1997 " reserve of biosphere ".

Biosphere contains all which is alive in the surface of the globe, as well on ground as in the sea. The term of "reserve", translated by English, seems to make reference to a closed system while it is all the opposite the reserve of biosphere is a place of exchanges among the man and its environment.

Besides our region, the UNESCO solemnly defined more than 350 reserves of biosphere distributed in 90 countries. It is the chance that to have been appointed, a chance for us what let us have in heart to protect our environment.

Luberon reserves of biosphere

Luberon was distinguished from a report: the patrimony (nature, environments, traditions) is very diversified. To protect this unique patrimony, it would be necessary to maintain agricultural activities and to protect balances enter tourism and rural society.

The inhabitants of Luberon can notice that things change, that more and more second homes replace old farms, what modifies landscape and has deep consequences on the fauna, the flora and the vitality of our region.

The reserves of biosphere try exactly to bring solutions and to answer the question, determining for the future of our children: how to preserve the variety of resources and to use them, without degrading them or to destroy them?

Every reserve of biosphere contains three zones:

- An ecological valuable central zone, so protected
- A plug zone where are encouraged the practices which respect environment
- A transition zone including local communities, farmers and the other partners, worried to avoid any destructive activities.

The reserves of biosphere

The reserves of biosphere are situated except municipal managements. By their mission of information, sensitization, they hope to contain the imbalance which risk to affect their territory and try to find ideal dosage between sometimes conflicting necessities:
-To preserve variety (resources, ecosystems, sorts, landscapes)
-To promote a reasonable economic development
-To protect cultural values by favoring studies and search.

The reserves of biosphere have to allow the populations which live there to bloom in accordance with the natural environment and, more than privileged islands, they desire to become models of " DURABLE management ". Durability is indeed magic word.

While certain zones, as the peripheral belt of cities or the concreted sea fronts, are irreparably "wasted", the reserves of biosphere, without imposing new constraints but by mobilizing willingnesses, by coordinating them, turn to the future and reconcile durably the man with the nature.

Those that would like to obtain more information can address in:
Pierre Frapa, who takes charge of the reserve of biosphere of Luberon in the Regional Natural reserve at Apt.
Phone.04 90 04 42 23 ou pierre.frapa@parcduluberon.fr