Exchanges of good practices for development of local resources

We hope to benefit from the experience of an area which works for the development of its products, but also to develop its “image”. We hope to exchange information on the methods to reinforce its attractiveness (receive new economic actors and tourism clients). Secondary issues: - Structuring of networks: fig, chestnut… - diversification of activities for a ski resort (an altitude of 1300m and created in the 70s-80s) - Pierres sèches: training for professionals in dry stone; dry stones and cultural terraces - Receipt of new assets - New forms of porterage for agricultural land - Study of the social cost of the abandonment of farmland

The people from the Cévennes have always established cultural terraces: a means of managing the land and gaining space to develop agricultural products like “the sweet onion from the Cévennes” which now has an AOC. Chestnuts, pelardon cheese, apples, honey, aromatic and medicinal plants are some of the products found in Cévennes. The marketing in local networks, which is well established in Cévennes, enables producers to gather together to market their produce and meet the daily needs of the local population. Several school canteens offering local, organic produce have been established or are emerging. The local craft trade has also developed and numerous steps have been taken towards the recognition of expertise around the pierre sèche (formal training). We also have quality art crafts in the district with a festival organised in a rural area. A forest charter has been put in place: the economic and ecologic management of the forest (reflection around a maritime pine path), its exploitation and the reduction in the risk of fire are some of the issues broached. The tourist activity is a large generator of economic development for the Cévennes: sites to visit (the Cévennes steam train, bamboo plantation, caves, Mont Aigoual weather station…), leisure and activities in the country (skiing, hiking, climbing, swimming, canoeing…), events… which can be found throughout the year. A varied choice of accommodation enables you to delve inside typical old farms in Provence or even to discover unusual accommodations (yurts, cabins..), the district works to promote “modern Cévennes” with tourism which develops original initiatives called “the special worlds of Cévennes”.

Exchanges of good practices Common study or works on the development of Mediterranean paths Reciprocal interventions

A district characterised by: • A sparsely populated, isolated, rural area; an area on the border. A district which has: Local resources (forest, tourism, agriculture) which are developed or are in the process of being developed (quality label, identified tourist destinations, structured procedures) • Chosen “cautious” development (3rd option) by specifically tending towards eco-tourism, local networks… • Known a period of abandonment of farmland • A strong image, organised as a National or Regional Park, • Which finds difficulties in “benefitting” from this strong image to develop the area’s economy. • Mediterranean specificities (cultural, agricultural, heritage...), and area in a “disadvantaged” area - dry -

Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Malta, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Spain, Slovakia, Belgium, Germany, Finland, Romania, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Lithuania, Latvia

Spanish, English

Products(food), Tourism

29/10/2010