The herd of animals or the group of vacationers, which is more difficult to channel? The answer could be derogatory. In natural parks, refuge for French tourists in search of space, we have had this curious experience since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic: “As much as we can work with the breeders to prevent their animals from going to drink in the river, it is more complicated with tourists”, observes Thibaut Thierry, director of development of the regional natural park of Armorique (Finistère), which extends from the island of Ouessant to the mountains of Arrée.
Mr. Thierry tries to protect the plant cover and the river banks in the Huelgoat forest, a world of rocky chaos, korrigans and, now, hikers. “On the coast, we have been managing overcrowding for decades. In a forest environment, we are less comfortable, adds Mr. Thierry. The National Forestry Office had recently taken steps to promote the discovery of the forest. Today, we must already rationalize the pathways to limit the pressure on natural environments. “
The eleven national parks and 56 French regional parks are grappling with the explosion of their attendance, often by a regional clientele seized with a passion for hiking and cycling. The attraction for natural parks did not start with the Covid-19: the 2010s had already marked the rise of green tourism, which was starting to be exploited by private actors and encouraged by parks. But the deconfinement of May 2020 blew a ceiling.
“Not used to the gestures to adopt”
This explosion is visible to the naked eye for the locals but difficult to estimate, since there is no gateway to a natural park in France. The eco-meters placed on the hiking trails record increases of 30% from summer 2019 to 2020 in the Ecrins national park (Hautes Alpes and Isère) or at the Gavarnie cirque, a major site in the Pyrenees. The increase will be noticeable again this summer, if we are to believe the figures for mountain reservations. In the summer of 2020, the scars of overtourism appeared at altitude: full parking lots, quarrels between visitors, waste, hikers’ traffic jams …
Park officials insist it’s not that novices behave badly – they even find them increasingly environmentally conscious – it’s that they aren’t “Not familiar with the actions to be adopted in a protected natural environment”, politely said Michaël Weber, president of the Federation of regional natural parks of France. Tap-dance to a mountain lake? Pick up flowers ? Approach a goat that grazes quietly? Lighting a fire or its portable speaker? Bad ideas. Park rangers and mountain rescue services have finished the summer leached.
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