Parc Naturel Régional

   A regional area of outstanding natural beauty, or environmental value. Natural Regional Parks are frequently but erroneously described as National Parks; it is however true to say that the environmental constraints and legislation applied in many Natural Regional Parks are similar to those applied in the peripheral areas of National Parks, or in non-wilderness national parks in other countries (such as Exmoor in the U.K.). There is no intrinsic reason why the "Cevennes" hills should have the status of National Park, but the "Parc des Volcans" just north of them be designated as a regional park; but that is the way it is. As "regional parks", the PNRs are the responsibility of the regions, not of the state.