A wonderful site for its floristic biodiversity, this web page seeks to inform you about a small patch of calcareous land  situated  3 km  upstream of the town of Montjean sur Loire.. You can appreciate its biodiversity from the lists and pictures of some characteristic species at the          "site calcaire de Montjean-châteaupanne." (Académie de Nantes Sciences et vie de la terre)

ZNIEFF class 1 and 2, for a long time this piece of countryside has been a favourite area for specialists in calcicolous flora, especially  for ." Professeur CORILLION",
( post the professor's letter on the biological wealth of Châteaupanne, bibliographic link and photos of some typical  species).

Châteaupanne is distinguished by being listed among the 40 French areas of "major ecological interest" in the    NATURA 2000.see below, perspective.
You can visit it by contacting the people and associations mentioned below.
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Set on the bank of the river Loire, the area is composed of a diversity of vegetation systems. Fritillaria meleagris -locally named Gogane - referred to below is present on the flood meadows of the Loire.
This calcareous system  is the finest for its biodiversity, but also the more  seriously threatened
" L' Expertise  Phytocoenotique et Floristique  des Lentilles Calcaires de Châteaupanne et de Leurs Abords" is  available for consultation in the Town Hall  on request.
In order to preserve this threatened area, an association for protection and evaluation of the land has come into being.  protection et de la mise en valeur du site  et de ses habitats  (  CORINE classification habitats).
Mr C.Maillet, the  president of our Association is also Mayor of the municipality.
The municipality is also famous  for many other reasons, see:http://perso.club-internet.fr/aflam/

The association includes just one part-time worker , but has many active volunteer members.

    This employee is responsible for disturbing the earth during the winter in order to maintain biodiversity and to promote the beauty of Châteaupanne for all it many kinds of visitors.
At present this job is for only 20 hours a week but it could be extended to a full-time post.

 
Scientists and active members

1.  The mucicipality of Montjean-sur-Loire 49570      Tel: 02 41 39 80 86.         A bibliographic article can be consulted on request  cf map
2. Mauges-Nature Association.Cholet  49300
3. Association "SESA "(Société d'Études Scientifiques de l'Anjou).Angers  49000                 (link called " la sauvegarde de l'Anjou").
4. The CPIE Association Carrefour des Mauges.Saint-Florent  49410 Tel 02 41 72 52 37
5. Association LPO Anjou ,  Protection of birds in Anjou.Angers 49000 (List of birds with photos in châteaupanne, link with LPO  site , list of arachnida, lepidoptera, orthoptera, mammals ,etc...)
6. The Landowners , Farmers and  CTC",  (Carrières et Travaux de Châteaupanne).

1. Assesment,managment and conservation of a valuable heritage site.
2. Communication and understanding on the managment of calcareous lands.
3. The rehabilitation and maintenance of a degraded  area with important biological potential.
4. Safeguard of threatened species in the Pays de Loire region.
5. Work with schools and universities in " Département " 49 and possibly also on a larger scale.

In order to preserve their integrity, some links cannot be translated into English..

Six pages   for a beautiful description of Châteaupanne, and its  cultural heritage, by Mr. P Cayla

This English version has to be improved.

Thanks also to all of the associations mentioned above for their participation.

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