The Pointe du Raz before and after the environmental protection project of 1997.

© Marc Rapilliard, Conservatoire de l'espace littoral et des rivages lacustres, Ministère de l'aménagement du territoire et de l'environnement, Syndicat mixte pour l'aménagement et la protection de la pointe du Raz et du cap Sizun.

Nature is barely present in our cities: urban parks, trees dismembered by roads, tree-lined avenues, flower beds in traffic circles. But apart from officially contained nature, there is a secret nature of untended plants growing spontaneously on sidewalks, in empty lots and abandoned properties. And an even more hidden, private nature: interior bonsai or pots of flowers on back balconies. Official urban "nature" is a sanitized "other", for which citizens are expected to be grateful.

The country, with its natural spaces, is essential to human populations. Our well-being and sense of balance depend on its care and preservation. We need to provide zones of forest and open country around cities. We also need spaces where rain falls. Maintaining a cover of vegetation prevents rapid runoff and allows the water to feed our underground springs.

Governmental authorities have defined certain areas as nature preserves. If it is necessary to enforce these decrees, it is also essential to fight the trampling of conservation sites by millions of tourist. Before we can do our share for nature, before we can begin to respect it, we must first get to know it.