| Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park | |
| Location: | Puy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire, Loire Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes France |
| Coordinates: | 45.603°N 3.55°W |
| Established: | 1986 |
| Governing Body: | Fédération des parcs naturels régionaux de France |
| Website: | http://www.parc-livradois-forez.org/ |
Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park (French: Parc naturel régional Livradois-Forez) is a regional natural park located on three French department : Puy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire and Loire. The two biggest urban areas are Thiers (19,000 inhabitants) and Ambert (11,000 inhabitants). Courpière, Billom and Vic-le-Comte have a secondary place in the territory.
The park is managed by several structures on a cooperation basis. There is the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Puy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire and Loire's departments, by 24 EPCI (French: Établissements publics de coopération intercommunale, which are Public institutions of intercommunal cooperation) and also by 164 towns certified parc naturel régional (Regional natural park). Since March 2008, Tony Bernard, Châteldon's mayor, presides the park. The certified zone of the park covers an area of 311,035 hectares.[1] Its population is of 103 948 inhabitants.
Its headquarters, originally in Thiers, is now located in the municipality named Saint-Gervais-sous-Meymont.
Located between the old Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes regions, the park extends 110 km from north to south, in three departments (Puy-de-Dôme, Allier and Haute-Loire). It's composed of 176 municipalities gathering 103,172 inhabitants in 2014.
The highest point of the park (1634 m) corresponds to the highest point of the Forez mountains and is located at Pierre-sur-Haute, within the territory of the municipality of Job, in the Puy-de-Dôme department.[2]
Some big geographic zones:
| +List of the biggest cities of the park on 1 January 2015 | ||
| commune | number of inhabitants | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 805 | ||
| 6 743 | ||
| Vic-le-Comte (commune associée) | 5 027 | |
| 4 745 | ||
| 4 234 | ||
| 2 704 | ||
| 2 120 | ||
| 1 772 | ||
| 1 757 | ||
| 1 749 | ||
| 1 611 |
The park is constituted of two major cities, Thiers and Ambert. There are other urban areas but less important.The majority of the biggest cities in the park tend to see its population decrease. Meanwhile, Thiers the biggest city of the park, increase.[3]
We can find various raptors in the Livradois-Forez regional natural park :[4] pigeons, hawk, circaete Jean-le-Blanc, red kite, buzzard, harrier Saint-Martin, gray buzzard, tengmalm owl, little owl, etc.The Black woodpecker and the Ring ouzel can also be seen in the park.
Apart from its punctual participation as a supporter, editor of numerous books (historics, etc.) published by various editors of the region, the Park released a twice yearly 8 page magazine, Journal du Parc naturel régional Livradois-Forez, which contents are linked to the environment protection, social life, traditions and culture.