The Montious Massif (illustration). - Occitanie Region / S. Lapeyrere

The Montious Massif, nestled in the heart of the French Pyrenees, has become the 14th Regional Nature Reserve (RNR) of Occitania, in particular for its “old Pyrenean forest”, the Region announced on Tuesday. Located in the Hautes-Pyrénées, in the municipality of Bordères-Louron, it is presented as a “biodiversity reservoir” for its 739 hectares of forests, wetlands and moors.

This decision aims to preserve "a refuge territory at altitude in order to offer species a preserved area to facilitate their adaptation to climate change" according to the authorities. "The main interests of the site lie in the presence of an old Pyrenean forest with a very strong heritage stake, a lake and associated plant communities", explains the Region.

Occitania, the leading region on the surface of protected territory

The Montious massif, located in the Louron valley, about twenty kilometers from the Spanish border, is recognized for its “remarkable diversity in terms of species and natural habitats”. Since 2013, the site has been co-managed by the municipality of Bordères-Louron - which is the sole owner - and the Nature en Occitanie association (NEO).

Occitania now preserves “12,286 hectares of exceptional nature”, which makes it “the 1st region in France in terms of territory protected by an RNR”, she underlines. Nature reserves aim to preserve areas of exceptional biodiversity and to facilitate access and discovery to the general public.

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