Article

The idea injector

Luberon became a UNESCO biosphere in 1997, but environmental and development activities had been carried out in the region for a much longer time, coordinated by an organization called the "Regional Natural Park of Luberon" (PNR Luberon)

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"Regional Natural Parks in France", explains Pierre Frappa, coordinator of the biosphere activities, "already involve the idea of peaceful coexistence of man and nature. All municipialities that want to participate and benefit from the regional network have to sign a charta that defines the regional development for 10 years, including environmental questions." Environmental education, nature protection, even a veterinarian service for injured animals were already taking place.

After two decades, the park's administration applied for the UNESCO biosphere designation. "Our nomination was the result of an emerging desire to reach a different scale, to launch a new project, to remobilise forces". With the designation of the Luberon as a UNESCO biosphere, new projects were initiated along four main axes: Applied scientific research, educational activities, public participation and international cooperation.

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Since then, many things have happened in the Luberon. Scientist are doing research into rare plants on agricultural fields, school classes have visited other French UNESCO biospheres, public conferences about atmospheric pollution and genfood took place in local bars. A few days ago, Pierre Frapa has visited the Algerian MAB commitee on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea. "It was their first meeting after the civil war, a reformation, a new start. Extremely interesting".

In the park's entrance hall, a panel informs the visitor about the MAB idea and the World Network. Pierre Frappa feels that the "UNESCO biosphere" label is important for the Luberon. "Every day, I am injecting the idea of the MAB concept in the work of my colleagues". He sends the park's economists to a meeting about UNESCO biosphere labels, or another colleague to a European conference about environmental education. The effect? "I think a lot of people know that the Luberon is a UNESCO biosphere". And he adds: "Unfortunately, many don't know what that means."

A fact, I think, that I am going to observe in many other UNESCO biospheres as well... (if you don't know, you find the answer here)

04.10.2005 16:51h

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The idea injector

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