Lorraine Regional Natural Park ( French : Parc naturel régional de Lorraine ) is a protected area of pastoral countryside in the Grand Est region of northeastern France , in the historic region of Lorraine . The park covers a total area of 205,000 hectares (510,000 acres). The parkland is split in two non-contiguous parcels of land between the cities of Metz and Nancy , and spans the three departments of Meuse , Meurthe-et-Moselle , and Moselle . According to the World Database on Protected Areas , it is an IUCN category V area.
3-685: Ancient ruins and modern monuments are common throughout the area. The land was officially designated a regional natural park in 1974. The park is crossed by the LGV Est high speed rail line, with large viaducts. Animal species found in the park include badger, European wildcat, fox, polecat, roe deer, weasel, wild boar, and wolf, as well as a large variety of birds. Forests are composed of beech and hardwoods such as maple, cherry and whitebeams . Sessile and pedunculate oaks are often accompanied by hornbeam . There are also ash trees, lime trees, alders, birches and aspens. There are 193 communes within
6-529: The area. A PNR sets goals and guidelines for managed human habitation, sustainable economic development, and the protection of the natural environment based on each park's unique landscape and heritage. The parks also foster ecological research programs and public education in the natural sciences. As of 2024, there are 58 PNRs. These account for 15% of all French territory, over 7,000,000 hectares (17,000,000 acres). The parks encompass over 4,200 communes with more than three million inhabitants. The PNR system
9-517: The parkland boundaries. Regional natural park A regional nature park or regional natural park ( French : parc naturel régional or PNR ) is a public establishment in France between local authorities and the French national government covering an inhabited rural area of outstanding beauty in order to protect the scenery and heritage as well as set up sustainable economic development in
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