Conservatoire d'espaces naturels d'Auvergne

The Conservatoire d’espaces naturels d’Auvergne (CEN Auvergne) is a nonprofit nature conservation association founded in 1989 and supported by citizens, volunteers, and local partners. It works to protect the region’s landscapes and biodiversity, from river plains and dry hillsides to peatlands, forests, and wetlands. The organization manages a network of more than 300 natural sites across Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal, and Haute-Loire, using land ownership and conservation agreements to safeguard habitats over the long term.

It also provides technical support to local stakeholders and contributes to projects involving agriculture, wetlands, thermophilic habitats, geological heritage, and old-growth forests. Its services include support for Natura 2000 sites, protected-area initiatives, natural heritage inventories, and measures addressing invasive species and environmental compensation. CEN Auvergne offers training and educational activities, publishes resources, and organizes nature events and volunteer workdays.

People and organizations can get involved through membership, donations, volunteering, or naturalist observations. With staff, volunteer site stewards, and hundreds of members, the association combines practical conservation work with public awareness and local collaboration