Paper short abstract:

Over the past 60 years, Vanoise National Park has witnessed a series of social conflicts. Our research uses an historical approch to reconstruct the narratives and stakes of these conflicts and show how this knowledge can be used to inform more sustainable and equitable decisions for the future.

Paper long abstract:

This paper proposes an exploration of the intricate relationship between social conflicts and socio-ecological transitions in the context of Vanoise National Park and its 5 natural strict nature reserve, situated in the heart of Savoy. Over the past 60 years, Vanoise has witnessed a series of social conflicts, driven by factors including environmental concerns, economical sustainability and ecological growing concern. These conflicts have been intertwined with the creation and management of the park, reflecting broader trends in environmental history.

Our research uses an historical archives analysis and oral sources to reconstruct the narratives and stakes of these conflicts, revealing the diverse stakeholders and their motivations. We analyze how these conflicts have shaped the park's policies and decision-making processes, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of socio-ecological transitions in IUCN’s protected areas categories I/II.

Moreover, this paper analyse how the author use this historical knowledge to provide the Vanoise National Parc executives via his participation to its Scientific Board. This paper will highlight how a deeper historical understanding of long time socio-ecological trajectories helps decision making. We argue that this historical lens can inform more sustainable and equitable decisions in the management of the park, particularly in a rapidly changing environmental context.

This paper contributes to the broader discourse on environmental history and its significance in addressing contemporary environmental challenges. It showcases the importance of considering historical socio-ecological conflicts when shaping policies for a sustainable future, with Vanoise National Park since its creation in 1963 as a compelling case study.