A national nature reserve, in French réserve naturelle nationale, (RNN) is a protected area that is part of natural reserves of France (RNF) and whose status is defined by the law on local democracy of February 27, 2002. It is a tool for the long-term protection of spaces, species or geological objects.[1] The duration of its protection is unlimited.[2]
In 1912, the first French nature reserve was created in Sept-Îles archipelago as a private ornithological reserve. It will be classified in 1976.[3] In 1961, the first RNN created is Lake Luitel in Isère.
The Law n° 57-740 of July 1, 1957 amended the Law of May 2, 1930 by adding an article 8 bis allowing the classification of a site as a "nature reserve".[4] It allowed the subsequent creation of national nature reserves by Law n ° 76-629 of July 10, 1976 relating to protection of nature.[5] Afterwards, the law on local democracy of February 27, 2002 redefined their status[6] by distinguishing between:
National nature reserves are classified by ministerial decree or by decree in the Council of State.
See main article: article and List of National Nature Reserves of France. As of February 1, 2020, there are 167 national nature reserves covering 67,681,656 ha distributed in:
The smallest RNNs are Toarcien with 0.61 ha and Gravelle Cave with 1.37 ha[7]
The largest are French Southern Territories with 67,200,000 ha, Nouragues with 100,000 ha, Kaw-Roura Marshes with 94,700 ha, La Trinité with 76,000 ha and High Plateaus of Vercors with 17,030 ha (the largest in mainland France).