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The Occitanie Regional Hunting Federation has initiated a network of protected areas managed by hunters, aiming to ensure the environmental management of already acquired sites and to highlight the hunting community’s role in conserving protected areas through land ownership. The initiative, implemented by the departmental hunting federations (FDC), has established a regional network of 45 sites covering over 1,100 hectares of natural habitats. Ownership of the sites may rest with the Foundation for the Preservation of Nature, the departmental federations, hunting associations, or private landowners.
Coordination and management of the network are organised and funded through a project supported by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) and the National Hunting Federation (FNC) via the eco-contribution scheme.
In addition to land acquisitions, the federations implement long-term ecological management plans in line with recognised environmental standards, notably the national ‘CT88’ framework. These management actions aim to preserve habitats, restore ecological functions, and enhance biodiversity across diverse landscapes.
The network already contributes significantly to regional ecological coherence and actively supports nature conservation policies:
- 65% of the sites are located within biodiversity hotspots or ecological corridors.
- 21 sites are classified as protected areas or high-protection zones.
The Occitanie initiative is widely recognised and serves as a model for the development of a national network of protected areas by the National Federation of Hunters and the Foundation for the Preservation of Nature.
By combining local commitment, structured land management, and concrete habitat restoration actions, hunters in Occitanie demonstrate the principle of conservation through sustainable use, delivering tangible benefits for wildlife, ecosystems, and ecological resilience in France.
