agreste

Agreste cahiers n° 41 - septembre 1999

With over 680,000 hectares, high mountain pastures cover one sixth of the Alps mountain range, and nearly half its agricultural acreage.

With over 680,000 hectares, high mountain pastures cover one sixth of the Alps mountain range, and nearly half its agricultural acreage. These pastures are used in an extensive way, and only during summer. Two thirds belong to public authorities, often communes. They are generally rented. For pastoralism is well alive on the whole mountain range : in the summer, pastures take in nearly 100,000 cattle heads and over 800,000 sheep. One third of the sheep come a long way. Leaving from the plain of Crau and the Var plateaux, they practice great transhumance. But the image of the shepherd walking up along a path with his herd and his loaded mule is a rather old-fashioned one. With access road suitable for vehicles, water supply, fixing of fence or fitted out shed..., high mountain pasture has been modernised.