The Geopark of Haute-Provence (via its Provence Alpes Agglomération umbrella organization) is involved in the ALCOTRA Trame Noire project, which aims to reduce light pollution and ensure a positive, sustainable impact on the incredible cross-border biodiversity of the Western Alps.
What is the ALCOTRA Trame Noire project?
The Alpes-Maritimes and Préalpes d’Azur are a true biodiversity hotspot. To reduce light pollution and guarantee a positive, sustainable impact on this biodiversity, it is essential that a strong partnership, deployed over a vast cross-border territory, acts in a coordinated way by building a network of projects.
The Trame Noire project will implement an integrated, multi-level cooperation plan, divided into two phases:
1) Transfer of know-how from the French side to the Italian side in order to bridge the current knowledge gap and combat light pollution;
2) co-design and implementation of concrete actions to protect and conserve nocturnal biodiversity, of two types: pilot interventions to reduce light pollution and actions to improve critical sites for nocturnal species.
The project will run for 3 years, starting on September1, 2025.
Project objectives
– Improve knowledge of light pollution and its impact on biodiversity, by designing and implementing a standardized cross-border network for monitoring the quality of the night sky and conducting a cross-border study of the state of public and private lighting;
– Implement concrete actions to support nocturnal biodiversity, including coordinated monitoring of key species with a view to targeted interventions;
– Raise awareness among local players, schools and the general public of the impact of light pollution and the importance of conserving nocturnal biodiversity.
Partnership and network creation
The Trame Noire project is supported by the European Union as part of the Interreg VI-A France-Italy ALCOTRA 2021-2027 program, and is 80% financed by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and 20% by public contributions.
Project partners :
- Organisme gestionnaire des Aires protégées des Alpes-Maritimes (IT – leader)
- Mercantour National Park (FR)
- Municipality of Cuneo, manager of the Gesso and Stura River Park (IT)
- Provence Alpes Agglomération (FR)
- Communauté de Communes Alpes d’Azur (FR)
- Syndicat mixte du Parc naturel régional des Préalpes d’Azur (FR)
Read more :
Total project budget: €1,986,043.60
Budget for PAA: €149,100.00
European Union funding (80%): €119,280.00
PAA self-financing share (20%): €29,820.00
The main actions to be undertaken by the Haute-Provence Geopark :
– Communication activities aimed at administrators, experts and the general public on the issues (problems and solutions) linked to light pollution and the negative impacts of artificial lighting on nocturnal biodiversity;
– Design and implementation of a cross-border network for measuring and monitoring the quality of the night sky, including analysis and mapping of the state of public and private lighting;
– Nature monitoring activities to improve knowledge of the presence, distribution, abundance and movements of nocturnal species in the cross-border area, as well as the impact of light pollution on these species, with particular emphasis on cross-border bat studies;
– Concrete actions to support nocturnal species through biodiversity enhancement projects;
– Make decision-makers aware of the impact of light pollution, so that they can implement enlightened policies to optimize lighting (awareness campaigns);
– Nocturnal biodiversity training for operators and cross-border exchange of skills between trainers;
– Activities for the general public and schoolchildren.
The Haute-Provence Geopark’s participation in this ALCOTRA Trame Noire cross-border cooperation project reinforces the momentum generated by the territory’s 2023 application for the “International Dark Sky Reserve” label.
