Project type                                                             Culture and Identity

Promoter                                                                  City of Marseille

Start date                                                                 2012

Budget                                                                     4.979.385 €

Website                                                                    www.calanques-parcnational.fr

The National Park of the Calanques is a beautiful and natural site in the proximity of Marseille. Since late 90’s the aim to preserve this territory and its part of sea were widely discussed in the region. In 1999 the first attempts to manage it by institutionalization began, and achieved in the consideration as National Park in 2012. It is ruled by a law of 2006, which gives a lot a responsibility to the municipalities, and is mostly funded by French State. The park is composed by a terrestrial part, a marine one, and the land and sea closets areas, with a lower level of preservation.

It’s ruled by a Board of directors, with 51 members: 12 Municipal members; 19 individual local members representatives of the region; 9 state members; and 9 individual members appointed by the state. There is also a representative of the staff of the Park and a representative of the Scientific Committee. This empowerment of the municipalities make them more accountable to what is approved in the closest areas of the Park, and commit them with the reality of the Park.

The joint management of the different municipalities with the help of the state and the involvement of representatives of local associations is the key value to retain, is a way of empowering the local governments and people in the territory. Their proximity to the Park increases the attention to its needs as well as its integration to the city and its development.

• Preserved areas

Sea: 43.500 Ha

Land: 8.500 Ha

• Closest areas ruled together:

Sea: 97.800 Ha

Land: 2.600 Ha

• 2 million visitors
• 140 preserved species, both vegetal and animal
• 60 preserved marine species
• Preservation of the cultural heritage in the sea bed
• Promotion of culture and identity
• Environmental protection: marine and terrestrial
• Decentralisation