BARCELONA ESPAGNE Parc de Collserola Parc Serralada Litoral Surface : 8 070 hectares Population : 3 millions residents Cerdanyola Region : Catalunya Parc Natural del Garraf Organisme gestionnaire: Consorci del Parc de Collserola Adress : Carretera de l'Església, 92 E 08017 Barcelona Mataró Tel. +34 93 280 06 72 BARCELONA Fax. +34 93 280 60 74 Aeroport del Prat e-mail : [email protected] web : http://parccollserola.amb.es La Sierra de Collserola is part of the coastal cordillera, a mountainous, 300 km-long landscape along the Mediterranean Ocean. The park's northern boundary is the Besòs river and Vallès depression, and it is bordered by the Llobregat river and city of Barcelona in the south. In 1987, a special management and environmental protection plan was established for Collserola. It is based on the principle of protecting and strengthening ecosystems. At the same time, infrastructure construction has allowed the public to use this space rationally, without endangering the park's precious natural and landscape resources. The site, managed by the Collserola park Consortium, is a diversified spectrum of natural Mediterranean environments, where forest areas predominate. There are also a few agricultural areas. The park's highest point is on the Tibidabo mountain (512 m). It has a typically Mediterranean climate. The average temperature is 14°C, with pluviometry of 620 mm/year, although microclimates due to diverse hilly terrain must also be considered. Natural heritage. The park is home to a wealth of plant and animal species characteristic of Mediterranean ecosystems. Thus, endemic Iberian Peninsula species are found among the arthropods, some of which have been observed exclusively on the Collserola site. Vertebrate family members include mammals such as the hedgehog, squirrel, rabbit, weasel, badger, genet, fox, and boar; birds such as the Eurasian kestrel, vulture, and common buzzard can be observed, as well as innumerable passerine species. White pine, oak, and green oak are the predominant plant species. There are coastal pines as well as scrub and bush on slopes exposed to sunlight. Most of the soil is composed of shale. Granite rock can be found on the southern side. Main activities. Hiking and walking are the main activities, followed by mountain biking. Hunting is authorised on ha of the park's surface area. Park picnic area sites are extremely popular. The park's centre organises activities such as guided nature hikes. Special features. Remains of structures from the past can be found in the park, such as caves that were inhabited 6,000 years ago (tools from 100,000 years ago have even been found) as well as Romanesque hermitages and XVth to XVIIth century farms. The "modernist" movement's architectural heritage is represented by many buildings and fountains. More recently, structures that the public associates with the park's image have been built. For example, there is an amusement park (Tibidabo), two funiculars, and the 1992 Foster telecommunications tower that provides a mirador with a 360° view. www.fedenatur.org LE MANS FRANCE Alençon Bonnétable N 138 A 11 Sortie Le Mans-Est D 301A 11 Surface area : 450 hectares A 81 Sargé- l’Océane Lés-Le-mans Population : 190 000 habitants Paris Laval Region: Pays-de-la-Loire Coulaines l’Arche de N 224 la Nature LE MANS Managing entity: Communauté Urbaine du Mans N 157Rouillon Paris Angers Adress : Immeuble Condorcet / 16, avenue François Mitterrand / 72039 Le Mans Cedex 9 Changé Tel. : +33 2 43 50 38 45 Allones N 23 Fax : +33 2 43 50 38 46 N 138 Angers Angers e-mail : [email protected] Tours web : www.arche-nature.org/ The "Arche de la Nature" is a vast natural area located ten minutes from the heart of Le Mans and managed by the Le Mans urban Community. Visitors discover typical department landscapes along the trails. A total of 450 hectares of nature are open to the public, permanently and free of charge. The forest, part of which is listed as a natural reserve, stretches over 350 hectares. The "Maison de l'eau" water and environment centre, a former water works building, has three aquariums with main fresh water fish species. Many local animal breeds live in the cowshed, pigsty, sheepfold, farmyard, stables or meadows in the Prairie Farm. The public can visit the site in vehicles drawn by Percheron horses. Classes, outings and theme festivals offered throughout the year make it possible for a wide public to learn more about "Mother Nature" (8 000 school children per year and over 80 000 visitors during festivals). Water, meadow, and forest. These three elements are the core of the park's identity. The "Maison de l'eau" is enhanced by the presence of the nearby Huisne river. The grove pathways and meadows are representative department landscapes. The forest is made up of 60% coniferous trees, while many broad-leaved species provide additional varieties. Popular festivals and school outings. The many activities offered throughout the year provide a genuine nature discovery area. Whether they are led by Arche de la Nature activity leaders or partner organisations, events and outings are extremely popular. Many points of interest. The former water works, with its turn-of-the-century windows, traditional stables, and wooden footbridge are part of a remarkable constructed heritage. Many trees (chestnuts, oaks, etc.) are considered to be unique, due to their age. The ambition to preserve animal species, including endangered species, and plants, including an orchard with over 100 apple varieties, represent the "Arche de la Nature"s strong points. www.fedenatur.org LISBON PORTUGAL Parque Florestal de Monsanto Sintra Surface area : 900 hectares Population : 2,5 millions residents Region: Lisboa LISBONNE Organisme gestionnaire: Dept. Estrutura Verde, Câmara Municipal de Lisboa Cascais Adress : DMAEV-DEV-Divisao de Matas, 1500 Lisboa Tel. : +35 12 13 61 44 00 rio Tejo Fax : +35 12 13 62 78 65 e-mail : [email protected] Setubal web : ------------ The park is located in the Southwest part of Lisbon, occupying one of the seven Lisbon's hills, the one that gives his name to the park - Monsanto. Here we are almost in the centre of the city, only 15 min away by bus, it is also a very important scenic feature for those who cross the Tagus river and those who work everyday in the city. This is a very young periurban park, it has only 66 years, since the first plantations begun in 1934 in the deforested Monsanto's hills. The first thoughts began as earlier as 1888 with the idea of copying some similar parks around Europe and to provide providing a closer source of wood, for energy purposes, to the demanding city of Lisbon. These first ideas took importance and gave birth to dense woods, with some recreational facilities, viewpoints, tracks and restaurants. Nowadays, the City Council through its Environment Department had defined a new document, which emphasises new concepts in planning and management that improves the awareness of the ecological importance of the park and looks forward to improve the sustainable use by the people. A new identity. The major problem that we had to deal with, is the global image of the park for Lisbon's citizens. This image is quite blurred due to several years of lack of interest by the administration and to its reputation of supporting marginal activities. This has been overcomed by creating a corporate image based on the presence of the introduced red squirrel. Some new tools. Other major problems refers to the lack of information available to people. The park should support the increasing need of public use of the park in terms of outdoors recreational and educational activities. Making nature better. Monsanto' Forestry Park is not a natural park. There aren't any important regional or national ecological features. Nevertheless, its importance at local level, its 1 000 ha of heavily forested areas in the centre of the city, and its role as a site for the establishment of a natural "continuum" with several other Nature Reserves and Parks in the Metropolitan area of Lisbon, makes it quite important at city and regional level. It is also an excellent laboratory for fieldwork on evolving Mediterranean ecosystems on Environmental Education schemes, at any level. www.fedenatur.org LILLE FRANCE Armentières Roubaix Surface area : 350 hectares Population : 1,6 million residents Parc de la Deûle Region: Nord-Pas-de-Calais Val de Marque Managing entity: Syndicat Mixte de Parc de la Deûle Seclin Adress : Parc de la Deûle, Espace Naturel Métropolitain / 2, Place du Concert / 59043 Lille Tel. : +33 (0) 3 20 63 33 95 Fax : +33 (0) 3 20 63 33 64 Ostricourt Foret de e-mail :[email protected] Lens Phalempin web : www.cudl-lille.fr Area: 350 hectares have been landscaped; a second phase is planned to start in 2004 with another 350 hectares. Stakeholders: In its current phase, the park spreads across six districts. It will involve six more from 2004. Since 1st October 2002, it has been run by a mixed administrative body, Espace Naturel Métropolitain, representing forty districts and Lille borough council. Le conseil général du Nord, le Conseil Régional Nord Pas de Calais and the State are associate members. Population: The park is within easy reach of about 1,600,000 French and Belgian residents within a 35 kilometer radius of its centre, a fifteen minute drive from the middle of Lille. The six original districts together have about 50,000 inhabitants. In March 1995, the landscape gardeners Jacques SIMON, from Burgandy, and Jean Noël CAPART, from Brussels, sketched an outline plan for a park joining Lille and the old mining district of Pas de Calais.