Protected areas
Our fragile natural environments
The territory of the Chamonix Valley is located in an exceptional natural setting. Eternal snow, glaciers, mountain pastures, forests, high-altitude lakes and wetlands wherever you are, these landscapes are within your reach.
Very early on, local authorities became aware of the special nature of their environment and its fragility by carrying out numerous actions.Today, this competence has been taken over by the Community of Communes, which wishes to reconcile environmental protection, human activities and public awareness by carrying out actions to protect, manage and enhance natural areas with its partners.
Sensitive natural zones
More than 90% of the territory of the Chamonix Valley is covered by protective rules and regulations. Whether they are regulatory or not, these measures can lead to management plans or specific action programs.
Nature Reserve
Three reserves are on the territory of the Chamonix Valley:
- The Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve, 3279 hectares;
- The Vallon de Bérard Nature Reserve, 540 hectares;
- The Carlaveyron Nature Reserve, 598 hectares.
In Haute-Savoie, the State has delegated the management of Nature Reserves to ASTERS, Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels. A management plan has been drawn up for these three reserves, it sets the main objectives and the actions to be taken in order to protect the natural heritage by 2022. At the same time, the animation and awareness missions have been entrusted to the Community of Communes of the Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley.
Nature Reserves in the Valley of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
You can also consult our blog to discover rich articles on these subjects (CREA Mont-Blanc, ski lift approach, etc.)
Listed and classified sites
These sites, natural or built, present a certain interest with regard to the criteria provided for by law (artistic, historical, scientific, legendary or picturesque). Strictly speaking, no specific regulations apply, but this classification has the effect of subjecting any modification to the condition or appearance of the premises to a special authorization from the Minister in charge of the sites or the Prefect of the department.
In the Valley of Chamonix, there are 2 classified sites:
- The mont Blanc massif, the largest of the Rhône Alpes region with 26.000 hectares.
- The Balcon du Mont-Blanc, 470 hectares on a balcony above the village of Les Houches, facing Mont-Blanc.
And 2 listed sites :
- Les gorges de la Diosaz (75 hectares)
- The Tréléchamps hamlets and its surroundings (38 hectares)
