Timeline

Origin and history

The Regional Natural Park of the Eastern Forest was established in 1970 in the Aube department, in the Grand Est region. It is one of the first five regional natural parks in France, covering 80,000 hectares in 58 communes and housing around 23,000 inhabitants. This territory is distinguished by its varied landscapes, mixing oak forests and charms, private ponds, and three large artificial reservoir lakes, built in the 1960s to regulate the flow of the Seine. These lakes, managed by the Interdepartmental Institution of Dams reservoirs of the Seine basin, also play a major ecological role as a port of call for migratory birds.

The park's economic activities focus on the wood sector, the largest local employer, and on tourism, with water sports such as sailing, swimming or motonautism. Lake Amance is notably recognized as the largest lake in Europe dedicated to motonautism, while Lake Temple is distinguished by its lack of nautical facilities, thus preserving its natural character. The park also houses two nature reserves: the National Reserve of the Eastern Forest (established in 2002) and the Regional Reserve of the Wetlands of Courteranges (2010), integrated into the Wet Champagne Wetland Area, classified under the Ramsar Convention.

The park's biodiversity is remarkable, with migratory species such as black storks, ash cranes or wild geese. The 25,000 hectares of forest and the 5,000 hectares of lakes make it a key territory for preserving the ecosystems and landscapes of the country. Hydraulic structures, such as dikes and canals, are managed in collaboration with the city of Paris, stressing the strategic importance of these infrastructures for water management in Île-de-France.

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