National Wildlife Reserve of Orlu

Natura 2000 is the largest network of protected areas in the world!

It is a European label awarded to sites selected for their richness in natural environments and remarkable or threatened animal or plant species on a European scale. These are habitats or species of Community interest.

The Natura 2000 site ranges from 590 meters to 2,912 meters above sea level and covers an area of 14,997 ha.
Two municipalities are concerned:
- Larcat (267 ha), 28.8% of the territory of the municipality,
- Aston (14,694 ha), 95.2% of the territory of the municipality.

A great diversity of habitats:
The 26 habitats of community interest (moors, wetlands, forests, lawns, cliffs and scree, etc.) cover 12,933 ha or 86.65% of the site!

Rare species:
The site is home to 11 species of community interest:
- 5 species of bats
- the Rosalie des Alpes and the Lucane Cerf-volant, two insects whose larvae feed on dead wood
- green Buxbaumie, a small moss that grows on dead wood
- Aurélio's Lizard
- the Pyrenean Otter and Desman, semi-aquatic mammals.

Main issues:
- Preservation of remarkable lawn and moorland environments by supporting pastoralism
- Conservation of forest habitats favorable to saproxylic insects and bats
- Maintenance of the quality of aquatic habitats for the European Otter, the Desman of the Pyrenees...
- Preserve the habitats of the Aurélio Lizard.

Animation of the site:
At the heart of the territorial dynamic, the animation of the site consists in associating the local actors in the management and the conservation of their natural heritage to set up sustainable actions.

Animation of the site: Mountain Observatory.

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