The Haute Vallée de la Sarthe Natura 2000 site should be extended in 2026

Classified as a Natura 2000 site since the early 2000s, the Upper Sarthe Valley covers 3,500 hectares, from Moulins-la-Marche to Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei in the Alpes mancelles. It is managed by the Normandie-Maine Regional Nature Park and UNESCO World Geopark.

Over 80% of this unspoilt natural area consists of permanent grassland used for mowing or grazing, with 15 different types of natural environment, ranging from dry to wetter areas. The diversity of these habitats helps to maintain an ecological balance conducive to a wide variety of species listed in the European Habitats Directive. The diversity of these habitats helps to maintain an ecological balance conducive to a wide variety of species listed in the European Habitats Directive.The site's management strategy is based on three priorities:

• preserving meadows,
• sustainable management of water resources
• safeguarding the bocage.

As part of this, farmers have committed 2,200 hectares of their land to Agri-Environmental and Climate Measures (MAEC), a scheme that encourages them to maintain extensive practices for five years. These measures help to preserve biodiversity while supporting local livestock farming.

In 2024, the Upper Sarthe Valley Natura 2000 site will enter a phase of revision of its management plan. Consultations are underway with farmers, elected representatives and users to consider the inclusion of new plots of meadowland or woodland within the current site, particularly along the tributaries of the Sarthe (the Vézone, the Paillerotte, the Bardelle and the Hoëne).

The aim of this collaborative project is to propose to the local authorities an adjusted perimeter by 2026, to strengthen the preservation and enhancement of this unique natural heritage.