Natural Parks and Protected Landscapes

France's network of regional natural parks represents an attempt to preserve not just nature but living rural landscapes. These parks, covering about 15% of the country's territory, recognize that the countryside's value lies not in pristine wilderness but in the sustainable interaction between human communities and their environment.

In parks like the Morvan, the Vercors, or the Luberon, traditional activities like extensive grazing, small-scale forestry, and artisanal production are supported as essential to landscape maintenance. These areas serve as laboratories for sustainable rural development, seeking to balance conservation with the economic needs of resident populations.