At the Balcons du Dauphiné, we love nature and it gives us back a hundredfold! Judge for yourself: 20 sensitive natural areas and 2 nature reserves. If protected species such as the European pond turtle or the beaver have become emblematic of our territory, you should also know that out of 33 species of bats present on the national territory, you can come across 25 at Les Balcons! And what about the floristic diversity without being short of superlatives with in particular about forty orchids which are observable in spring.

Here, for several decades now, we have understood that we are only the guardians of nature and not its owners. Also concrete actions of preservation and mediation have been undertaken so that the discovery of all these natural resources is done with respect for the living. The actions carried out by the Department of Isère or by the Lo Parvi association go in this direction.

Sensitive Natural Areas (ENS)

Claude Tauleigne

Sava Lake

You may be able to observe beavers or our emblematic European pond turtle on this site laid out for visits… Keep an eye out!

A Sensitive Natural Area (ENS) is an area “whose natural character is threatened and made vulnerable, currently or potentially, either due to urban pressure or the development of economic or leisure activities, or due to a particular interest having regard to the quality of the site or the characteristics of the plant or animal species found there”. The ENS are at the heart of the environmental policies of the departmental councils. They generally contribute to the national green and blue network, which declines the pan-European ecological network in France. At the Balcons du Dauphiné, there are 20 ENS who mesh our territory with the good part of the wetlands but also some dry lawns on the communal areas of Trept, Marsa (Panossas) and on the Larina plateau.

Les Balcons du Dauphiné, 1st territory of Isère in terms of attendance during ENS events!

Visit the ENS all year round!

The visit of the ENS can also be done in total autonomy all year round. Thanks to on-site mediation (including simple and educational presentation terminals), you will learn much more about the different animal and plant species that make up the astonishing biodiversity of these ecosystems. And the icing on the cake (or water lily on a pond!), at the pond of Lemps you can even, thanks to a paper support available to adults and children, take part in an orientation course. The course discovery brochures are available free of charge on the ENS website or in our offices. So which of the hare or the tortoise…?


Denis Palanque

The French Haut Rhône National Nature Reserve

Nature reserves

National Nature Reserve is a tool for the long-term protection of functional natural environments that are representative of biological diversity in France. These sites are managed by a local organization in consultation with the actors of the territory.
The Haut-Rhône alluvial valley was protected in 2013, over 1707 hectares, i.e. 13 municipalities, 5 of which are present on our territory: Brangues, Creys-Mépieu, Le Bouchage, Les Avenières and Saint-Victor-de-Morestel. This protected area, managed by the Syndicate of Haut-Rhône, covers many wetlands and rich alluvial woods around the Rhône, such as the Méandre du Saugey.
The Regional Nature Reserve of the Creys-Mepieu ponds, created in 2001, is managed by the Lo Parvi association. Composed of a mosaic of environments: ponds, reedbeds, peat bogs, dry lawns, woods, hedges, crops, it reflects the diversity of the local natural heritage.

Les Balcons du Dauphiné labeled!

The territory holds the Natura 2000 label over more than 13 hectares and represents the 600th French site in terms of diversity of species of European interest.

Our inspirations… nature!

The emblematic species of the Balcons du Dauphiné

Hortense Giraud is a photojournalist. Passionate about nature, she shared the daily life of the Espace Naturel Sensible de la Save for an entire year, during her artist residency. She recounts her encounters, her exchanges and notably presents the emblematic species of our territory in a book entitled “Au fil de la Save”. Extract… The European pond turtle…

Gaëlle

We tested… an ENS outing with a nature guide

Fanny

Honey, it bites!

Lauriane

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