UNESCO/Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve
Camargue (delta du Rhône)
General information
Situated in the delta of the Rhône River on the French Mediterranean coast, the Camargue Biosphere Reserve is made up of a mosaic of lagoons and represents one of the most important wetlands in Europe. Located between river and sea but also between Europe and Africa, the exceptional biological richness of the reserve is illustrated by the 272 species of birds found here. The area is also designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Other habitats include freshwater and saline marshes, freshwater and saline ponds, halophilous steppes and grasslands with glasswort (Salicornia spp., locally called ‘sansouires’), beaches, dunes and woods.
Detailed information
Key data
Year of nomination
1977
Country
France
Total population
105000
Area
Surface
346,211.00 ha
Total terresterial area
169,951.00 ha
Total Marine area
176,260.00 ha
Location
Latitiude: 43.425 - Longitude: 4.506
Contact
Ecosystem-based network
EuroMAB
Ecological Characteristics
Situated in the delta of the Rhône River on the French Mediterranean coast, the Camargue Biosphere Reserve is made up of a mosaic of lagoons and represents one of the most important wetlands in Europe.Located between river and sea but also between Europe and Africa, the exceptional biological richness of the reserve is illustrated by the 272 species of birds found here. The area is also designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.Other habitats include freshwater and saline marshes, freshwater and saline ponds, halophilous steppes and grasslands with glasswort (Salicornia spp., locally called ‘sansouires’), beaches, dunes and woods. Wetlands; saline steppes; beaches; sand dune systems; humid depressions between sand dunes; lagoons; floating or submerged vegetation; Mediterranean xerophyllic grasslands; Mediterranean gallery forest with Salix alba and Populus alba; Carex communities; agroecosystems.
Socio-Economics Characteristics
About 110 000 people live permanently within the biosphere reserve. However, the number rises up to 220 000 in the summer (1997) making tourism one of the main management issues. People in the region are mainly engaged in the tourism industry and services, agriculture, salt extraction and fisheries.